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.
Thanks
Cloud Cult Lyrics
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And I am staring at the ceiling plaster
A movie screen of all my days
That came and left with grace
It's Halloween and the smell of burning
Pumpkin takes me back through all the
People I have dressed up as
And it is so wonderful
It is so wonderful
Beautiful
And I give thanks to my youthful days
Of grass-stained knees and trick-or-treat face
I pray I'll find as innocent a place
When I am 88
And I give thanks to my present day
It just got here so please don't go away
I finally see it's what I choose to make
I choose to make it into gold
And it is so wonderful
Beautiful
I give thanks to my youthful days
Of grass-stained knees and trick-or-treat face
I pray I'll find as innocent a place
When I am 88
And I give thanks to my present day
It just got here so please don't go away
I finally see it's what I choose to make
And I choose to make it into gold
The song Thanks by Cloud Cult is a reflection on life, nostalgia, and gratitude. The first verse describes the singer lying awake in the middle of the night, staring at the ceiling and reminiscing about the past. The "movie screen of all my days" implies that the singer is replaying memories in their mind, and the reference to "all the people I have dressed up as" suggests that they are imagining different versions of themselves.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "it is so wonderful, beautiful," is a testament to the singer's appreciation for life, both past and present. The verse that follows expands on the themes of gratitude and innocence, with the phrase "grass-stained knees and trick-or-treat face" evoking a childlike sense of wonder and joy.
The final verse brings the themes full circle, with the singer expressing thanks for the present moment and a willingness to make the most of it. The image of turning "it into gold" suggests that the singer is committed to finding meaning and value in their life, even in difficult or uncertain times.
Overall, the song Thanks is a poignant reflection on the power of gratitude and the importance of cherishing life's fleeting moments.
Line by Line Meaning
It's 4-o'clock in the morning
It's a lonely hour, I'm wide awake, just staring at the ceiling and thinking.
And I am staring at the ceiling plaster
My thoughts are causing me to zone out, staring at the ceiling and ruminating on life.
A movie screen of all my days
I'm replaying all the moments of my life in chronological order, as if watching a movie.
That came and left with grace
Even though some of those moments were painful or challenging, I recognize that they came and went as they were meant to.
It's Halloween and the smell of burning
The scent of pumpkin burning reminds me of all the past Halloweens I've experienced.
Pumpkin takes me back through all the
The smell of pumpkin is a trigger that sends me on a mental journey back in time.
People I have dressed up as
I remember all the different costumes I've worn in the past, and how they made me feel.
To tell myself I have a pretty soul
I used to dress up in costumes to try and look good on the outside, but now I know that true beauty comes from within.
And it is so wonderful
Despite all of life's challenges, there is something truly wonderful about the human experience.
It is so wonderful
I repeat this line to emphasize how wonderful life can be when we focus on the good things.
And I give thanks to my youthful days
I am grateful for the memories of my childhood, when life was simpler and full of wonder.
Of grass-stained knees and trick-or-treat face
I remember playing outside as a child, getting my clothes and skin dirty, and going trick-or-treating on Halloween.
I pray I'll find as innocent a place
I hope that as I age, I will be able to maintain a sense of childlike wonder and innocence.
When I am 88
I'm referencing a specific age, but really I'm talking about the end of my life, whenever that may be.
And I give thanks to my present day
I am grateful for the current moment, and all the good things that are happening in my life right now.
It just got here so please don't go away
I've waited a long time to experience this moment, so I am asking it to stay with me for as long as possible.
I finally see it's what I choose to make
I realize that life is largely a product of the choices I make, and I am taking responsibility for that fact.
And I choose to make it into gold
I am choosing to take the opportunities and challenges that come my way, and turn them into something valuable and beautiful.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN B. YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind