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.
The Battles: Room Full Of People In Your Head
Cloud Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, there's a room full of people in your head, in your head.
And every single one of them claims your name.
You lost control to the mood, my friend.
Whattcha gonna do if you lose it again?
"I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry."
In the center stands Ego- looking for attention.
And over there's Self Pity, always crying, "Poor, poor me!"
I've got each of these in me.
There's a fight, there's a fight at the party in your head.
Yeah, there's a fight for control at the party in your head.
I don't even know who's at the wheel.
Who wants to play? "Give it to me!"
Who wants to play? "Give it to me!"
"I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry."
Part of me is the Hang Man, looking for a scape-goat.
And part of me is the victim, always crying, "Why you pickin' on me?"
Lock up the gun cabinet, or it's gonna get messy.
I've got each of these in me.
You've gotta follow the voice you wanna follow,
gotta kill off the thoughts that funk up your diddy-diddy.
"You'd be surprised to find how much was in your mind."
Cuz there's a room full of people in your head, in your head.
And they will fight for control of your head, of your head.
"You'd be surprised to find how much was in your mind."
There's Mr. Self Conscious, carrying too much baggage.
and over there's the Chameleon, always crying, "Who you want me to be?"
Let's end the charade. This game is over.
I've got each of these in me.
The lyrics of "The Battles: Room Full Of People In Your Head" by Cloud Cult describe the internal struggles that take place within the human mind. The song starts with the statement "there's a room full of people in your head," suggesting the many conflicting thoughts and emotions that people deal with on a daily basis. The second line of the song reinforces this idea, emphasizing the fact that these people are within one's head. The song suggests that these people within one's head are all fighting for control and attention, with every thought claiming one's name. The singer of the song has lost control to the mood, indicating that mood swings and unpredictable emotions can have a significant impact on one's mental state.
The song highlights the different characters present in one's mind, such as Ego, Self Pity, Hang Man, Victim, Mr. Self Conscious, and Chameleon. These characters represent various thoughts and emotions that drive one's behavior. The lyrics emphasize that one needs to take control of their thoughts and emotions and follow the voice they want to follow, killing off the thoughts that "funk up" the diddy-diddy (which refers to the rhythm of the song). The song concludes by stating that it's time to end the charade, suggesting that people need to stop pretending to be something they're not and take control of their thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a room full of people in your head, in your head.
There are numerous conflicting thoughts and emotions in your mind.
And every single one of them claims your name.
Each of these thoughts and emotions vies for attention and control.
You lost control to the mood, my friend.
Your emotions have taken over your actions and thoughts.
Whattcha gonna do if you lose it again?
What actions will you take if your emotions take over again?
"I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry."
Repetition of apologies for past actions or thoughts fueled by the emotions in your head.
In the center stands Ego- looking for attention.
The ego plays a dominant role in determining thoughts and emotions.
And over there's Self Pity, always crying, "Poor, poor me!"
Self pity is another emotion that can dominate one's thoughts and lead to feelings of victimhood.
Lock up the liquor, or they're gonna get juiced.
Alcohol or other substances can further exacerbate the emotions in your head.
I've got each of these in me.
The songwriter is admitting to experiencing these conflicting emotions within themselves.
There's a fight, there's a fight at the party in your head.
Internal conflicts involving thoughts and emotions are ongoing.
I don't even know who's at the wheel.
Uncertainty about who is in control of one's actions and thoughts at any given time.
Who wants to play? "Give it to me!"
Different emotions vie for attention and control.
"I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry."
Repetition of apologies for past actions or thoughts fueled by the emotions in your head.
Part of me is the Hang Man, looking for a scape-goat.
The thought pattern of blame or seeking to place responsibility on others when things go wrong.
And part of me is the victim, always crying, "Why you pickin' on me?"
The tendency to feel like a victim and question why hardships or negative events are happening to them.
Lock up the gun cabinet, or it's gonna get messy.
Allowing these thoughts or emotions to take over can lead to harmful or dangerous behaviors.
You've gotta follow the voice you wanna follow,
Taking control of your thoughts and actively choosing which emotions and thoughts to entertain.
gotta kill off the thoughts that funk up your diddy-diddy.
Eliminating negative or detrimental thoughts that disrupt one's mindset or take away from their productivity and happiness.
"You'd be surprised to find how much was in your mind."
There may be more thoughts and emotions in one's head than they realize.
There's Mr. Self Conscious, carrying too much baggage.
Feeling self-conscious about oneself and carrying past emotional baggage can affect one's present mindset.
and over there's the Chameleon, always crying, "Who you want me to be?"
The inclination to change oneself or behave differently based on the perceived expectations of others.
Let's end the charade. This game is over.
It is time to stop pretending to be someone or something you're not and accept oneself for who they are.
I've got each of these in me.
The songwriter is admitting to experiencing these conflicting emotions within themselves.
Contributed by Sydney R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.