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
Most Wanted
Cults Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't you see that I'm trying?
Trying so hard to hold on
To the things I know
But in the evening I will have to go
What I most want is bad for me I know
Out in the dark, shaking hands
Drifting away from my family towards my foes
My mother told me you'll reap what you sow
What you most is want is bad for me you know
Back in my home late at night
All alone, I'm flying
Flying above all my troubles
My mind's a gull
When I am happy my heart starts to slow
What I most want is bad for me I know
Late in the morning I wake
All alone, I'm crying
Crying for all of the people who love me so
But when we get sad we know where to go
What we most want is bad for us we know
Flirtation
Drug use
Adultery
In Cults' song Most Wanted, the singer is struggling with their desires and impulses. The song opens with the singer alone at night, trying hard to hold onto the things they know to be right, but knowing that what they really want is bad for them. The song then moves to a scene of the singer out in the dark, shaking hands on the street and drifting away from their family towards their foes. The chorus repeats the mantra that what they most want is bad for them, as their mother warned them that they will reap what they sow.
Later in the song, the singer is back at home, alone and flying above their troubles. They reflect that when they are happy, their heart slows down. However, in the morning they wake up crying for all the people who love them, knowing that what they most want is bad for them. The song touches on themes of addiction, loneliness, and the difficulty of balancing one's desires and responsibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Up late at night all alone
Feeling lonely and secluded, with no one to talk to or share thoughts with.
Can't you see that I'm trying?
Putting in a lot of effort to hold on to things that are precious and dear, but there are obstacles in the way.
Trying so hard to hold on
Struggling and striving to maintain a grip on things that are slipping away or coming apart.
To the things I know
Holding onto what is familiar, even when it may not be good or healthy for oneself.
But in the evening I will have to go
Eventually having to leave behind the comfort and security of what is known, to venture out into the unknown and possibly dangerous.
What I most want is bad for me I know
Understanding that the things one desires the most may not be good or helpful, but still pursuing them anyway.
Out in the dark, shaking hands
In unfamiliar and possibly dangerous surroundings, surrounded by people who may not be trustworthy or supportive.
In the street, I'm drifting
Moving aimlessly through life without a clear sense of direction or purpose.
Drifting away from my family towards my foes
Growing distant from the people who care for and support oneself, while being drawn closer to those who may be a negative influence or harm.
My mother told me you'll reap what you sow
Advising that the consequences of one's actions and choices will come back around, with either positive or negative outcomes.
What you most want is bad for me you know
Awareness that the things that someone else desires may not be healthy, helpful or positive to oneself.
Back in my home late at night
Finding comfort and solace when alone at home late at night.
All alone, I'm flying
Freedom and release when alone, like soaring free from the constraints of the outside world.
Flying above all my troubles
Escaping from the issues and problems that are causing stress or distress in one's life.
My mind's a gull
Feeling light and unburdened in thought, with a sense of weightlessness and freedom.
When I am happy my heart starts to slow
Finding a sense of calm and peace in happiness, and being able to let go of stress and anxiety.
Late in the morning I wake
Rising later in the day after a restless or disturbed sleep.
All alone, I'm crying
Feeling sad and emotional in times of solitude, with no one to comfort or console.
Crying for all of the people who love me so
Longing for the affection and care of those who care deeply for oneself, even when it may not always be evident.
But when we get sad we know where to go
Finding comfort and support from those who care deeply, even when feeling down or distressed.
What we most want is bad for us we know
Understanding that the things that one desires the most may not be good or helpful, but still feeling conflicted and drawn towards them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN MICHAEL MATTOS, MADELINE FOLINE MCKENNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind