In a video interview with NME, lead singer Yannis Philippakis stated that the track was "the most straightforward song on the album. It's trying to deal with somebody being two-faced or, even to the extreme, someone having a split personality. The reason for why it's called Cassius - Cassius Clay who became Mohammad Ali, it's almost like there's two people in one and Cassius, the conspirator who instigated the assassination of Julius Caesar, who is a very literal symbol of being two faced".[1]
The video was directed by Dave Ma and shows the band playing with hanging hearts and pills.
"Cassius" peaked at number 26 on the UK singles chart and is their second highest charting song after "My Number" . The song was number 45 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.
Released : 10 March 2008
Format : Digital download, 7" Vinyl, CD
Genre : Math rock, dance-punk
Length : 3:49
Label : Transgressive Records
Cassius
Foals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cassius away!
Cassius these daydreams, these daydreams decay!
Cassius an accident!
Cassius an accident!
Accident!
Accident!
Accident!
Cassius it's over!
Cassius away!
Cassius these daydreams, these daydreams decay!
Lighthouse (Life) is an accident!
The lighthouse (Love) is an accident!
Accident!
Accident!
Accident!
Wish you've gone-a, wish you've gone away, what you've gone-a
What you've got has always gone away
Cassius! Cassius! At best, it's all that we could do,
All that we could do
The wind is in, the wind is in my heart, the wind is in-
Now what you've got has always gone away
Cassius! Cassius! At best, it's all that we could do,
All that we could do
Cassius, is over! You're second best!
Cassius, it's over! You're second best!
It's over! You're second best!
Second best!
Second best!
Second best!
Cassius is over!
Cassius away!
Cassius these daydreams, these daydreams decay!
Lighthouse (Life) is an accident!
The lighthouse (Love) is an accident!
Accident!
Accident!
Accident!
Wish you've gone-a, wish you've gone away, what you've gone-a
What you've got has always gone away
Cassius! Cassius! at best, it's all that we could do,
All that we could do
The wind is in, the wind is in my heart, the wind is in-
Now what you've got has always gone away
Cassius! Cassius! At best, it's all that we could do,
All that we could do
Cassius, is over! You're second best!
Cassius, it's over! You're second best!
It's over! You're second best!
Second best!
Second best!
Second best!
Wish you've gone-a, wish you've gone away, what you've gone-a
What you've got has always gone away
Cassius! Cassius! At best, it's all that we could do,
All that we could do
The wind is in, the wind is in my heart, the wind is in-
Now what you've got has always gone away
Cassius! Cassius! At best, it's all that we could do,
All that we could do
The song "Cassius" by Foals seems to be about letting go of something that has been holding the singer back. The repeated phrase "Cassius is over" emphasizes this idea, as if the singer is trying to convince themselves that they no longer need this thing in their life. The song also refers to "daydreams" and "accidents," which could represent unrealistic or unexpected hopes and dreams that have held the singer back.
The lyrics also mention a "lighthouse," which could represent guidance or direction, but is described as an "accident." This could suggest that the singer has been relying on something that ultimately proved to not be helpful or successful. The final lines of the song, "Wish you've gone-a, wish you've gone away, what you've got has always gone away," could be interpreted as a message to move on from whatever has been holding the singer back.
Overall, "Cassius" seems to be a song about coming to terms with the end of something and accepting that it's time to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Cassius is over!
The situation that Cassius represents has come to an end
Cassius away!
Cassius is no longer present and has left
Cassius these daydreams, these daydreams decay!
The illusions related to Cassius are disappearing and losing their appeal
Cassius an accident!
Cassius is an unfortunate circumstance
Cassius it's over!
The situation that Cassius represents has come to an end
Accident!
An unfortunate occurrence
Wish you've gone-a, wish you've gone away, what you've gone-a
What you've got has always gone away
Regretful thoughts about things that are now gone and will never return
Cassius! Cassius! At best, it's all that we could do,
All that we could do
Cassius was the best option but not necessarily a great one
The wind is in, the wind is in my heart, the wind is in-
Now what you've got has always gone away
Feelings of sadness and loss regarding things that have been lost
Cassius, is over! You're second best!
The situation represented by Cassius has ended and what is left is less desirable
Second best!
Not the best option and inferior to what has been lost
Lighthouse (Life) is an accident!
Life is an unpredictable and often unfavorable occurrence
The lighthouse (Love) is an accident!
Love is an unpredictable and often unfavorable occurrence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edwin Thomas Congreave, Jack William Bevan, James Andrew Smith, Walter James Morrison Gervers, Yannis Barnabas Emanuel Philippakis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alejandra Gelz
Cassius, it's over, Cassius away
Cassius, these day dreams, these day dreams, okay
Cassius, an accident
Cassius, an accident, accident, accident, accident
Cassius, it's over, Cassius, away
Cassius, these day dreams, these day dreams, okay
The lighthouse is an accident
The lighthouse is an accident, accident, accident, accident
I wish we'd gone
Wish we'd gone away
And what you've got
And what you've got is always gone away
Cassius, Cassius at best
It's all that we could do
It's all that we could do
The wind is in
The wind is in my heart
The wind is in
And what you've got is always gone away
Cassius, Cassius at best
It's all that we could do
It's all that we could do
Cassius, it's over, you're second best
Cassius, it's over, you're second best
It's over, you're second best
Second best, second best, second best
Cassius, it's over, Cassius away
Cassius, these day dreams, these day dreams, okay
The lighthouse is an accident
The lighthouse is an accident, accident, accident, accident
I wish we'd gone
Wish we'd gone away
And what you've got
And what you've got is always gone away
Cassius, Cassius at best
It's all that we could do
It's all that we could do
The wind is in
The wind is in my heart
The wind is in
And what you've got is always gone away
Cassius, Cassius is best
It's all that we could do
It's all that we could do
Cassius, it's over, you're second best
Cassius, it's over, you're second best
It's over, you're second best
Second best, second best, second best
I wish we'd gone
Wish we'd gone away
And what you've got
And what you've got is always gone away
Cassius, Cassius at best
It's all that we could do
It's all that we could do
The wind is in
The wind is in my heart
The wind is in
And what you've got is always gone away
Cassius, Cassius at best
It's all that we could do
It's all that we could do
Aleza De Leon
15 years and this song is still a banger 💛
Icarus
yesssss
Andrew D
Makes me miss Q and Not U
Pissy Willy
I love how they use Brass in their songs. It just makes it sound extra great! :)
NoanProduction
He sounds so different on this compared to their later work. This is very much 2000s alternative Rock ... with wind instruments. At first I couldn't really tell it's Foals lol.
KILCHO MAN
I really love this tune. My body dance automatically
Brixtaan
This band seem to attract negative comments by prejudiced morons on youtube.Who cares? The fact is the tune is unique,pacey,melodic and excellently performed with passion.And on that basis they deserve to be watched thereafter.
Johanna Eliasson
I remember the first time i heard this song tree years ago. I haveh an an unconditional lonve for Foals ever since. The best band
kvxtthe
and now your comment is three years ago. crazy, right?
Jorge De Bracamonte
7 years now