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.
Moon's Thoughts
Cloud Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A little boy with dolphin fins, a bucket of leggos and gin, an atomic bomb, the Dali Lama.
He could not tell me the way, he could not tell me the meaning, until I'm ready to be crucified.
And the wind is made of moon's thoughts
All quickened with poetry and madness,
And if you hold in your lungs for just a few seconds,
You'll feel the burning I speak of.
You'll feel the burning I speak of.
We were born to philosophize.
But if we want to fly, we've got to leave our shit on the ground.
Or is that too much to sacrifice?
And we will not know the Way,
And we will not know the Meaning, until we are ready to be crucified.
And the wind is made of moon's thoughts,
All quickened with poetry and madness,
And if you hold in your lungs for just a few seconds,
You'll feel the burning I speak of.
You'll feel the burning I speak of.
The lyrics of Cloud Cult's Moon's Thoughts explore the idea of uncovering one's true self and embracing it, not shying away from the strange or unexpected parts of one's being. The singer reflects on a moment of introspection where their insides seemed to spill out, revealing a surreal collection of elements that make up their identity. The inclusion of the Dali Lama, a little boy with dolphin fins, and even an atomic bomb, suggests that this identity is complex and perhaps even contradictory. The singer acknowledges that understanding the true meaning and purpose behind these elements will require acceptance and sacrifice.
The repeated image of the wind being made of moon's thoughts, quickened with poetry and madness, creates a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere throughout the song. This ethereal quality supports the themes of self-discovery and acceptance, as the singer urges the listener to breathe in deeply and feel the burning sensation that comes from holding one's breath. This burning sensation could represent the discomfort and challenges that come with self-discovery, or the intense emotion that can accompany deeper understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw my insides fall out, and so I sucked them back in, I was surprised by what was in there---
When I examined my inner self, I realized that it is filled with unexpected elements like a little boy with dolphin fins, a bucket of leggos and gin, an atomic bomb, and the Dali Lama.
He could not tell me the way, he could not tell me the meaning, until I'm ready to be crucified.
The inner self cannot reveal its secrets until one is willing to suffer and be vulnerable.
And the wind is made of moon's thoughts
The breeze carries mystical, poetic, and irrational thoughts that belong to the moon.
All quickened with poetry and madness,
These thoughts are full of creative energy and chaos.
And if you hold in your lungs for just a few seconds,
If you take a deep breath and hold it, you may experience the same intense feelings.
You'll feel the burning I speak of.
You'll feel the same passion and intensity that I'm describing.
We are Buddha, Confucious, and Jesus Christ.
We are all capable of deep wisdom, insight, and compassion, no matter our religion or culture.
We were born to philosophize.
We are naturally drawn to contemplating the larger questions of life.
But if we want to fly, we've got to leave our shit on the ground.
To reach our potential, we must let go of our emotional baggage and limiting beliefs.
Or is that too much to sacrifice?
Letting go of our baggage may be difficult, but it's worth it to achieve our dreams.
And we will not know the Way, And we will not know the Meaning, until we are ready to be crucified.
We won't fully understand our inner selves or life's purpose until we are willing to suffer and be vulnerable.
You'll feel the burning I speak of.
Again, the artist is emphasizing the passionate, intense nature of this experience.
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.