The band's founder and singer Craig Minowa has a degree in Environmental Science, and his environmental, political, and social awareness is reflected in much of Cloud Cult's music. (Note: Craig Minowa actually has stated he intentionally doesn't sing about environmental awareness because he lives it...he doesn't need to preach it) The band's self-created non-profit record label, Earthology Records, uses the most environmentally friendly methods available to ensure minimum damage to the environment.
After two solo LP's, The Shade Project (1995), and Who Killed Puck? (2000), Minowa's sudden loss of his two-year-old son and subsequent separation from his wife, Cloud Cult emerged with They Live On The Sun in 2003, combining concepts of Minowa with performances by cellist Sarah Young and drummer Dan Greenwood, who shortly became members of the band. This album was deeply personal and painful album for Cloud Cult and you don't often hear songs from it in concert.
Minowa continued to use music to cope with the loss of his son on the following album Aurora Borealis. This album did begin to branch out more into exploration of pain and loss instead of just feeling it.
Minowa reunited with his wife, and the next album is widely considered their crowning achievement. Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus involved collaboration from a variety of musicians and has garnered praise from critics, even being acclaimed as "a work of insane genius". This album is capped off with the "happy-go-lucky" song, Lucky Today. This album was selected by esurance to be animated into a commercial. This was a contest for the most environmentally sound band because esurance labels themselves as the paperless insurance provider.
On April 10th 2007 Cloud Cult officially released their sixth LP, The Meaning of 8 (although it was available for sale online in late January): the first single was titled "Take Your Medicine." In April 2008, the band followed it with Feel Good Ghosts.
In 2009 band announced a break till 2010, though they released limited re-releases of their albums Lost Songs from the Lost Years, They Live on the Sun and Aurora Borealis (the last two as a double-disc).
Their concerts are certainly a sight to be seen. Along with Minowa on Guitars (and other fun things), they have got bass, drums, violin and cello. There are two official band members who actually do very little music during the shows; Minowa's wife Connie and Scott are painters. They create original works of art during the show (breaking only occasionally to sing or sometimes Scott plays Trumpet). Then, at the end of the show, they silent auction these paintings off to the highest bidder.
Their official website is www.cloudcult.com.
A Good God
Cloud Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it was so effing precious
It was an 80 year old dog
A little girl kissing a frog
A little boy who thought Jesus was He-Man
And then, and then
And then, and then
I found divinity in the hole in the front of your head
You spoke of bubblegum bums
You dressed the devil in a thong
You turned funeral cries into lullaby songs
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4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5
5 6, 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2 3 4 5 6
The lyrics to Cloud Cult's "A Good God" seem to be about finding divinity or God in unexpected places and experiences. The first verse talks about seeing God in the form of an old dog, a little girl kissing a frog, and a little boy who sees Jesus as a superhero like He-Man. These images are not usually associated with traditional religious representations of God, but they all convey a sense of innocence, joy, and wonder that can connect us to something divine. The repetition of "and then" suggests that these moments of seeing God are continuous and never-ending, always present for those who are open to them.
The second verse is more personal, as the singer seems to be addressing a lover or a friend. The "hole in the front of your head" could refer to the eyes or the mind, and the singer finds divinity there, perhaps in the way the other person sees the world or thinks. The image of "bubblegum bums" and a devil in a thong are playful and irreverent, but they also suggest a kind of innocent rebellion against traditional notions of morality and religion. The idea of turning "funeral cries into lullaby songs" is particularly poignant, suggesting a way to find comfort and hope even in the face of grief and loss.
Overall, the lyrics to "A Good God" are about finding meaning, beauty, and connection in unexpected places and experiences. They suggest that we don't necessarily need to follow traditional religious dogma or belief systems to experience something divine, but rather need to be open to the wonder and magic of life around us.
Line by Line Meaning
And for a moment I saw God
The singer had a profound and powerful experience that made them feel like they saw God.
And it was so effing precious
The experience was very meaningful and valuable to the singer.
It was an 80 year old dog
The singer saw the divine in something unexpected, like an old dog.
A little girl kissing a frog
The artist saw the divine in young love and innocence.
A little boy who thought Jesus was He-Man
The artist saw the divine in a child's innocent interpretation of a religious figure.
I found divinity in the hole in the front of your head
The singer saw the divine in their lover's mind and thoughts.
You spoke of bubblegum bums
The singer's lover said something strange or silly, but the singer still found something divine in it.
You dressed the devil in a thong
The artist's lover did something unexpected or unconventional, but the artist still found something divine in it.
You turned funeral cries into lullaby songs
The artist's lover was able to find beauty or meaning in something sad or difficult, and the artist found that divine.
1 2 3 4 5
These numbers are a counting sequence.
4 5 6 7 8
These numbers are a counting sequence that starts at 4.
1 2 3 4 5
These numbers are a counting sequence starting at 1.
5 6, 7 8
These numbers are a counting sequence starting at 5.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
These numbers are a counting sequence from 1 to 8.
2 3 4 5 6
These numbers are a counting sequence from 2 to 6.
Contributed by Isaiah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.