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
Never Saw The Point
Cults Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I would only let you down
And I just couldn't take you down there with me
I just can't stand to see you drown
I never saw the point in crying
'Cause I can't be the way you want
And I don't want lay around here waiting
I
Just keep on telling myself
That I
I don't need anyone else
Yeah I'd
Be just fine on my own
That I
Can make it out
I should, I know
I never saw the point in trying
'Cause I would only let you down
And I just couldn't take you down there with me
I just can't stand to see you drown
I never saw the point in crying
'Cause I can't be the way you want
And I don't want lay around here waiting
Waiting for you to change your mind
I
I don't know what else I can do
Now I'm,
Done trying cause you
Yeah I
Could never sight, marrying you
But there's
Nothing else for me to do
I never saw the point in trying
'Cause I would only let you down
And I just couldn't take you down there with me
I just can't stand to see you drown
I never saw the point in crying
'Cause I can't be the way you want
And I don't want lay around here waiting
Waiting for you to change your mind
What I wouldn't give for the chance to see you smile
I did what I could to be yours just for a while
What I wouldn't give for the chance to see you smile
In "Never Saw The Point," Cults' lead singer Madeline Follin shares her feelings of inadequacy and despair in a crumbling relationship. She admits to never having seen the point in trying to be what her partner wants because she fears only disappointing them since she can be the complete opposite of what they're looking for. Madeline acknowledges her partner's love and affection, but she has nothing to offer them, and it's easier for her to let them go than to watch them suffer alongside her. She keeps telling herself that she doesn't need anyone and that she'll be fine on her own.
The chorus repeats twice, with Madeline lamenting that she never saw the point of even trying to save the relationship because it would only result in her bringing her partner down with her, and she can't bear to watch them struggle.
The song's final lines express Madeline's yearning to see her partner happy and smiling again, despite the pain and torment of the deterioration of their relationship.
Overall, "Never Saw The Point" is a raw and honest exploration of the internal battles that can arise in a romantic relationship when one partner lacks self-confidence and doesn't feel worthy of the other's love.
Line by Line Meaning
I never saw the point in trying
I don't believe my effort or attempts will go anywhere or be successful.
'Cause I would only let you down
My actions will disappoint you in some way or cause you to have less faith in me.
And I just couldn't take you down there with me
I cannot allow myself to bring you into my personal struggles or problems.
I just can't stand to see you drown
I am unwilling to watch you suffer or struggle, especially if I made it worse or contributed to it.
I never saw the point in crying
My emotional reaction to feeling defeated or inadequate won't actually make a difference or improve the situation.
'Cause I can't be the way you want
I cannot fulfill your expectations or desires for me, and I don't want to pretend otherwise.
And I don't want lay around here waiting
I refuse to stay inactive or hold out for something that likely won't happen, despite my desire for it.
Waiting for you to change your mind
I cannot rely on you to shift your perspective or opinions, even if I believe they're misguided or limiting.
Just keep on telling myself
I try to reassure myself, despite my doubts or insecurities, to maintain my sense of independence and self-reliance.
That I don't need anyone else
I am capable of functioning on my own without relying on anyone else's support or approval.
Yeah I'd be just fine on my own
I am confident in my ability to manage my life and make decisions without depending on someone else's guidance or companionship.
That I can make it out
I believe that I am capable of overcoming any obstacles or challenges that come my way, despite the difficulty or hardship.
I should, I know
Although I have doubts or fears, I understand that I need to rely on myself and not wait for others to help or rescue me.
I don't know what else I can do
Despite my efforts or attempts, I am at a loss for how to change the current situation or fix the problem.
Now I'm, done trying cause you
I have given up on trying to improve the situation or fix the problem because of your actions, decisions, or inability to change.
Yeah I could never sight, marrying you
I realize that a future or long-term commitment with you is not feasible or desirable, even if there are some positive aspects to our relationship.
But there's nothing else for me to do
Despite my disappointment or frustration with the situation, I have no other options or courses of action to take.
What I wouldn't give for the chance to see you smile
Despite my desire to move on and focus on my own life, I still care about you deeply and wish to see you happy.
I did what I could to be yours just for a while
I attempted to establish a romantic connection or relationship with you, even if it was only temporary or short-lived.
What I wouldn't give for the chance to see you smile
Despite our current circumstances, I still cherish the positive experiences and memories we shared together.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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