Klinghoffer, Walsh and Gardner were all previously members of the touring incarnation of Gnarls Barkley, and were subsequently joined by Hella bassist Jonathan Hischke to create Dot Hacker. Prior to Klinghoffer joining the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the band recorded its debut album, Inhibition, which was released in 2012.
http://www.dothacker.org
Cassandra
Dot Hacker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You soil futures
That fertilizer better work
If you plant the wrong seed
Cassandra warned me
Cassandra loves me
She's constantly warning me
So timber's yelled when a tree falls
What can I scream for my heart
Misled poison smoke signals
Err on the side of caution when you breathe
Will someone love me
Singularly
Sing along with me
Forget along with me
Cassandra's warning
If all I want is flattery
No one to blame to but me
If I let it defect me
Who you doing all this for
Ice skating on a frozen pond in March
Where was the warning
Why weren't you with me
Remember how
It was before me
Cassandra's warning
Pretend you don't see
Cassandra's warning
The first stanza of the song talks about someone (possibly the singer's lover) who is working hard towards something, but the singer questions who they are doing it for. The line "You soil futures, that fertilizer better work, If you plant the wrong seed" implies that this person is taking risks and the outcome could be either positive or negative. The singer then refers to Cassandra, a reference to Greek mythology where Cassandra had the gift of prophecy but was cursed so that no one believed her. The singer notes that Cassandra loves them and is constantly warning them, but it is not clear if the warning is about the person they are referring to in the first stanza or something else.
In the second stanza, the singer is feeling lost and is asking for someone's love, but in return they want singularity. The line "Misled poison smoke signals, Err on the side of caution when you breathe" suggests that the singer has been led astray and is now cautious in their actions. The line "Ice skating on a frozen pond in March" acts as a metaphor for something that seems impossible or difficult to achieve.
Overall, the song seems to be about the struggle of making choices and taking risks, and the importance of listening to warnings and being cautious.
Line by Line Meaning
Who you doing all this for
Questioning the motivation behind actions.
You soil futures
Actions have consequences that can negatively affect future outcomes.
That fertilizer better work
Hoping that efforts put in will have a positive outcome.
If you plant the wrong seed
Making a mistake can lead to negative consequences.
Cassandra warned me
Having a sense of impending danger or negative outcome.
Cassandra loves me
The warning is out of concern and caring.
She's constantly warning me
The warning is persistent and ongoing.
So timber's yelled when a tree falls
Reacting to negative outcomes with loud, audible responses.
What can I scream for my heart
Feeling internal pain or distress that cannot be expressed outwardly.
Misled poison smoke signals
Being given false or misleading warning signs that can be harmful.
Err on the side of caution when you breathe
Taking precautions in all aspects of life to avoid negative outcomes.
Will someone love me
Feeling insecure about love and acceptance.
Singularly
Wanting to be loved uniquely and deeply.
Sing along with me
Seeking companionship and unity with others.
Forget along with me
Wishing to forget painful memories and move on.
Cassandra's warning
The inner sense of impending danger is persistent.
If all I want is flattery
Recognizing the harm in seeking validation only from surface-level compliments.
No one to blame to but me
Taking responsibility for one's actions and their consequences.
If I let it defect me
The risk of allowing negative experiences to impact one's sense of self and confidence.
Ice skating on a frozen pond in March
Taking risks that are dangerous and not well thought out.
Where was the warning
Feeling a sense of betrayal or disappointment when things go wrong despite a supposed warning.
Why weren't you with me
Feeling a sense of abandonment or lack of support when things go wrong.
Remember how
Reflecting on the past and how things were different then.
It was before me
Feeling like events were out of one's control and happened before one could act.
Pretend you don't see
Ignoring warning signs or red flags in order to continue on a path despite the risks.
Contributed by Aaliyah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.