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
The Curse
Cults Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
because I knew that this was cursed
Knew I never want to see you again
Left you hopeless, high, and dry, and
I moved on
because I thought that I was strong
I was thinking about myself
And since that day,
but the Lord has made me pay
All I think about is you and when I do I
cry, every night
cry, every night
cry, every night
cry, every night
It makes me wonder what I do
I left first
but then went back to make it work
but he gave his heart to someone new
and now I'm left to cry, and cry, and...
In the song "The Curse" by Cults, the singer reflects on a past relationship that was cursed from the beginning. The relationship was so doomed that the singer made the decision to end it, without any intention of ever seeing the person again. She left the person feeling hopeless, and even though she thought she was strong for leaving, she now realizes that it was a mistake. The regret seeps through as she admits that she now thinks about the person every night, and she is consumed by the grief and pain of the failed relationship.
Despite her attempts to move on, she eventually went back to try and make things work. Unfortunately, it was too late. The person had already moved on and given his heart to someone else. This has left her with a deep sense of sadness, one that she cannot shake off even many nights later. The chorus repeats the line "cry, every night" four times, emphasizing the anguish that the singer feels and the way the pain has become a part of her life.
The lyrics of "The Curse" capture the sadness and sorrow that can come with a relationship that was never meant to be. The song is a poignant reminder of the importance of listening to our intuition and making difficult decisions when it comes to matters of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I left first*
I decided to leave the relationship before things got worse.
because I knew that this was cursed
I sensed that there was something wrong with the relationship that would not get better.
Knew I never want to see you again
I made a conscious decision to not have any further contact with you.
Left you hopeless, high, and dry, and
I abandoned you when you were vulnerable and in need of my support.
I moved on
I began to focus on my own life and needs instead of the relationship.
because I thought that I was strong
I believed that I was capable of dealing with the aftermath of the breakup.
I was thinking about myself
I prioritized my own interests and feelings over yours.
And since that day,
From that moment on,
I just don't have too much to say
I found it difficult to express myself about the situation.
but the Lord has made me pay
I believe that there are consequences for my actions, likely of a spiritual nature.
All I think about is you and when I do I
You are constantly on my mind and when I think of you I
cry, every night
Experience intense sadness and probably guilt on a nightly basis.
It makes me wonder what I do
I question my own actions and decisions in the relationship.
I left first
I initiated the breakup process.
but then went back to make it work
I attempted to reconcile with you despite my initial decision to end things.
but he gave his heart to someone new
You moved on and developed feelings for someone else.
and now I'm left to cry, and cry, and...
Now I am alone, heartbroken, and unable to move on from the relationship.
Contributed by Allison E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@phuongho5587
I left first*
Because I knew that this was cursed
Knew I never want to see you again
Left you hopeless, high, and dry, and
I moved on
Because I thought that I was strong
I was thinking about myself
And since that day,
I just don't have too much to say
But the Lord has made me pay
All I think about is you and when I do I
Cry, every night
Cry, every night
Cry, every night
Cry, every night
It makes me wonder what I do
I left first
But then went back to make it work
But he gave his heart to someone new
And now I'm left to cry, and cry, and...
@wellfucc3104
It makes me soooo sad that this song and Make Time aren’t officially a part of Cults and only exist through fans
@guppy222009
LOVE THIS SONG!! Her voice is amazing!!!
@Etiima
this duo are really impressing me
@TheGing478
im addicted to there music
@phuongho5587
I left first*
Because I knew that this was cursed
Knew I never want to see you again
Left you hopeless, high, and dry, and
I moved on
Because I thought that I was strong
I was thinking about myself
And since that day,
I just don't have too much to say
But the Lord has made me pay
All I think about is you and when I do I
Cry, every night
Cry, every night
Cry, every night
Cry, every night
It makes me wonder what I do
I left first
But then went back to make it work
But he gave his heart to someone new
And now I'm left to cry, and cry, and...
@Ac220404
this duo's going places. Mark my words. Theyre going to be huge.
@VinceSlzr
they've tapered off with their third and fourth album.
@PokiRet
Lmao
@MairaaMachine
YES!! this band is amazing,. this song makes me think of black keys ..love 'em too. so chill, just need me some 'erbs
@excel04
This song is a Quentin Tarantino movie scene waiting to happen. Half cut beautiful girl, high heels, glass of scotch loosely clamped in her finger tips dangling at her side staggering through her pain and the bar. Why it hasn't been used yet I don't know