I Was a Cub Scout was originally a one-man band, consisting solely of Todd Marriott. Lacking a drummer, Marriott used a drum machine to create the sound. William Bowerman joined the band in mid 2006, and has played drums until their split.
The band spent about six months playing house parties and night clubs in England, their exposure gaining them some popularity. They also maximized their exposure by touring extensively, playing in the 2007 Carling and Download Festivals, as well as embarking on a tour with DARTZ!.
On 6th June 2008, lead singer Todd Marriott announced their split via Myspace bulletin. He blamed "countless problems" and said it was "a very sad day".
In early March 2011, Todd announced that IWACS is back. With himself being the only member.
Close to Me
I Was a Cub Scout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've made myself so sick
I wish I'd stayed asleep today
I never thought this day would end
I never thought tonight could ever be
This close to me
Just try to see in the dark
To feel the fear before you're here
I make the shapes come much too close
I pull my eyes out
Hold my breath
And wait until I shake...
But if I had your faith
Then I could make it safe and clean
If only I was sure
That my head on the door was a dream
I've waited hours for this
I've made myself so sick
I wish I'd stayed asleep today
I never thought this day would end
I never thought tonight could ever be
This close to me
But if I had your face
I could make it safe and clean
If only I was sure
That my head on the door was a dream
The lyrics of the song Close To Me by I Was a Cub Scout appear to depict the feelings of anxiety, insecurity and vulnerability. The opening line “I've waited hours for this, I've made myself so sick, I wish I'd stayed asleep today” indicate that the singer is probably anticipating an event or confronting a situation that is causing them immense stress and anxiety. The singer never thought this day would end, but is scared of what the night may hold.
The lyrics that follow suggest that the singer is trying to brace themselves for what may come, by trying to see in the darkness and feeling the fear before it arrives. However, it appears the singer is overwhelmed with panic and can’t keep the shapes from getting too close as it sends them into a state of terror where they pull their eyes out, hold their breath and wait until they shake.
The singer then wishes they had the same faith and confidence as someone else who could make them feel safe and clean, as they doubt whether they can trust their own perceptions. The last line “If only I was sure that my head on the door was a dream” indicates that the singer is unsure whether their anxiety and fears are rooted in reality or not, and just wishes that they could escape from it all.
Line by Line Meaning
I've waited hours for this
I have been waiting for a long time for this moment to arrive.
I've made myself so sick
The anticipation and anxiety have made me nauseous and unwell.
I wish I'd stayed asleep today
I regret waking up and facing the challenges of this day.
I never thought this day would end
The day feels never-ending and I didn't realize it would be so difficult.
I never thought tonight could ever be
I didn't think tonight was a possibility or that I would make it this far.
This close to me
This moment is so intense and overwhelming, it feels like it's right next to me.
Just try to see in the dark
Attempt to navigate through difficult times without certainty or clarity.
Just try to make it work
Put effort into making things function, despite the challenges.
To feel the fear before you're here
To feel anxious before the event has even occurred.
I make the shapes come much too close
The challenges or obstacles seem like they are getting uncomfortably close to me.
I pull my eyes out
To scrutinize over the details, examining everything.
Hold my breath
Attempt to remain calm and composed.
And wait until I shake...
Waiting for the anxiety and nervousness to subside.
But if I had your faith
If I had your belief or confidence in myself or the situation.
Then I could make it safe and clean
I would feel more secure and have peace of mind about the situation.
If only I was sure
I wish I was more certain about the outcome or future events.
That my head on the door was a dream
I wish that my current state of mind or perception was just a temporary illusion.
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
XaaliOReilly
Wow! Cool! I love the druming and when loads of mouths appear! The whole thing is excellent!!
XaaliOReilly
Wow! Cool! I love the drumming and when loads of mouths appear! The whole thing is excellent!!
Marco Paredes
SO cool!! i loved being able to see how the drums were working. really loved it
xioutube
I used to put this on loop 2 years ago and never get tired of it....ran into this song in 2010, still doesn't get tiring. :]
Jennie Parker
Guys...you're such legends! I went around T-Vital with a big huge "I was a cub scout" sticker on me for the day!...The paradox is...I actually WAS a cub scout, back in the day! Great to see you featured, you're only going to get bigger from here on in :-D Hopefully I'll catch you in Dublin soon!
Tom Novak
These guys' videos are always the best! When is the full length coming out?!
Kim Jong-un
i miss these guys so much :(
theone2225
wow that was awesome, i love the whole drummer section!
rossmorris
i had the pleasure of meeting these guys.. they were reli nice! :) and Will Bowerman is one of the best Drummers i have ever seen!
WoopaTV
I bought their CD as soon as it was released, and oh boy - that CD is gold! (though it doesn't include I hate nightclubs)