Cults formed in 2010, when native San Franciscans Follin and Oblivion were attending school in New York City (Oblivion was a documentary film student at NYU; Follin was studying at the New School). A couple at the time, they wrote and recorded songs in Oblivion's apartment using a computer and a cheap midi keyboard, and before the year was over, they released their self-titled debut EP on Forest Family Records. One of the EP's songs, "Go Outside," which Cults recorded with Paul Kostabi at Thunderdome Studios, became a viral hit, earning acclaim from publications including Pitchfork and NME.
Cults built on the success of "Go Outside" by touring with Richie Follin's Band (the project of Madeline's older brother) for six months. They then signed to In the Name Of, an imprint of Columbia Records founded by Lily Allen. Produced by Shane Stoneback, Cults' June 2011 self-titled album delivered more of their atmospheric, retro-futuristic indie pop and charted in the U.K., Canada, and the U.S., reaching number 52 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart. That year, the duo also appeared on the AIDS/HIV research benefit album Red Hot+Rio 2, collaborating with Superhuman Happiness on a cover of "Um Canto de Afoxé para o Bloco Do Ilê." Along with touring in support of the album, Cults also appeared at the Portishead-curated ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival that September and at ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas festival, which was curated by Battles, that December.
In October 2013, Cults returned with their second album, Static. Recorded with Stoneback in the wake of Follin and Oblivion's breakup, it won strong reviews for its emotive songwriting and peaked at number 114 on the Billboard Top 200. That month, the duo also appeared with Amber Coffman on J. Cole's "She Knows" from his album Born Sinner; the song hit number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Following the 2014 single "Being It," Cults took some time off. In 2016, Follin formed the group Follin with her brother Richie, and released the single "Roxy" that February.
For their next album, Cults took a more collaborative approach, with Follin playing drums and keyboards as well as singing. After working with Stoneback in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco studios, Cults emerged in October 2017 with Offering, which borrowed from influences as wide-ranging as Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, and the Motels, whose music they'd fallen in love with while touring with Total Control in Australia. They explored their passion for the Motels further in 2018 with a track-by-track cover of the band's 1979 self-titled debut that was part of Turntable Kitchen's Sounds Delicious series. The following year saw the release of Offering B Sides & Remixes, which featured reworkings of the album's tracks by Mike Simonetti, Etienne de Crecy, and John Fryer.
Cults began work on their next album in early 2019, teaming with Stoneback on songs that, for the first time, featured live instrumentation and included lyrics by Follin. Mixed by John Congleton and mastered by Heba Kadry, Host appeared in September 2020 and tackled themes of identity and independence.
Biography by Heather Phares
Abducted
Cults Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew right then that he would be taking my heart
I knew right then no one was above him
I knew right then that he would be breaking my heart
He tore me apart because I really loved him
He took my heart away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He broke my heart because I really loved him
I knew right then that she'd been abducted
I knew right then that I would be taking her heart
I knew right then that I'd never love her
The reasons I hope the dream hasn't left her scarred
He tore me apart because I really loved him
He took my heart away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He broke my heart because I really loved him
He took it all away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He tore me apart because I really loved him
He took my heart away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He broke my heart because I really loved him
He took it all away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He tore me apart because I really loved him
He took my heart away and left me to bleed out
The lyrics of Cults' song "Abducted" describe a situation of deep emotional pain caused by a romantic relationship. The singer uses the metaphor of abduction to express the feeling of being taken away against their will and the powerlessness experienced when the heart is broken. The use of present tense verbs and the repetition of the phrase "I knew right then" suggest that the moment of realization was sudden and overwhelming, leaving no room for doubts or hope. The contrast between the certainty of the abduction and the ambiguity of the reasons behind it gives the impression of a chaotic and confusing emotional state.
The chorus, consisting of the lines "He tore me apart because I really loved him/He took my heart away and left me to bleed out, bleed out," reinforces the impression of pain and trauma, emphasizing the helplessness of the victim. The repetition of the phrase "bleed out" creates a vivid mental image of the physical and emotional damage caused by the relationship. The reference to the perpetrator as "he" and then as "she" in the second verse, suggests that the situation is not specific to a gender but rather a universal experience of heartbreak.
Overall, Cults' "Abducted" portrays a poignant image of a person struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic relationship, emphasizing the emotional pain and confusion that can arise from love and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew right then that I'd been abducted
I realized that he had taken control of my heart and emotions
I knew right then that he would be taking my heart
I knew that he would be manipulating me emotionally and exploiting my feelings for him
I knew right then no one was above him
I believed that he was powerful and superior to everyone else, making it difficult for me to resist his influence
I knew right then that he would be breaking my heart
I was aware that he would cause me pain and heartache by using me for his own pleasure and discarding me when he was done
He took my heart away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He emotionally drained and hurt me, leaving me devastated and broken
I knew right then that I'd never love her
I realized that I would never return her feelings, but I chose to manipulate her anyway for my own selfish desires
The reasons I hope the dream hasn't left her scarred
I hope that my actions didn't cause lasting damage to her emotions and psyche, even though I used and discarded her
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lucinaortega5270
I knew right then that I'd been abducted
I knew right then that he would be taking my heart
I knew right then no one was above him
I knew right then that he would be breaking my heart
He tore me apart because I really loved him
He took my heart away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He broke my heart because I really loved him
He took it all away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
I knew right then that she'd been abducted
I knew right then that I would be taking her heart
I knew right then that I'd never love her
The reasons I hope the dream hasn't left her scarred
He tore me apart because I really loved him
He took my heart away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He broke my heart because I really loved him
He took it all away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He tore me apart because I really loved him
He took my heart away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
He broke my heart because I really loved him
He took it all away and left me to bleed out, bleed out
@rememberdecember25
I don't understand why people say this is a boring song. It's called simplicity at it's finest, yet sends a meaningful message.
@suspicious_papaya4307
it's been 11 years, but i still quite agree!
@robertsmith1762
It's my favorite
@joaquinclemens6698
“Boring” because they have no concept of amazing, calm, and emotional music
@mjdietz
Mindand Heart Share ❤soberly with Truth
Isiaah 61 Setting
Jonathan Kleck
Mfatw COT Reports misspell the Narratives ❤
@rexx8257
When I feel blue I always fall back to this, and I should be worse, but it somehow makes me feel better. I love the lyrics and the rhythm, it's almost like a celebration of getting your heart broken.
@luvs7ruck
winner :))
@jorgeestrada5713
You're right!
@jullyaagabel6426
I feel the same
@rabbit9905
as a connoisseur of music of every kind, cults can very easily be listed among my very very very favorite artists of all time and all genres. this song is so simple but its honestly a piece of art when you really listen and consider all of its dimensions.