Prior to being a recording artist, he was a record store owner and a club DJ at a nightclub in Salt Lake City as a way to make ends meet for him and his wife. After he and his wife moved to San Francisco he landed a job as a A&R man at OM records, where in addition to reviewing demos for the label he also submitted his own material, which would pay off big time for him. In 2001 he went from behind the desk to behind the turntables and the recording studio as an artist in his own right. In 2003 Kaskade released his first album, "It's You It's Me", which was well received by critics.
It would be his follow up, "In The Moment" in 2004, that would put Kaskade on the map. The first single off the set "Steppin' Out" would become a major hit on the Dance Radio Airplay that year as well as a top 10 hit on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. His biggest breakthrough would come the week of May 14, 2005, when his follow up, "Everything," would go all the way to #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
Borrowed Theme
Kaskade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It wasn't mine and it was taking over night
Shame traces the edges of your face
Fully lit, independent of this place
Old enough to see
How diamond wedding rings
Has counterfeited things
I've been borrowed
Shame on me
My muse is gone, forsaken of the theme
No motto now--no cradle, no dream
Bathed with a soft, embezzled light
Six feet below an idealistic love
But I still want these things
Flighted childhood dreams
As foolish as they seem
I've been taken
Shame on me
I used to shine
It wasn't mine
Shame, shame, shame
Fully lit
Now only sweet little wishful things
Are bound and gagged, tied up in different strings
No living castles up in the sky
Following unbothered clouds go by
And I've been taken
Shame on me
But I still want these things
Flighted childhood dreams
As foolish as they seem
I've been taken
Shame on me
The lyrics to Kaskade's song "Borrowed Theme" are reflective and introspective. In the first verse, Kaskade talks about how he used to shine with a borrowed light that was not truly his own. He acknowledges that this light was slowly taking over his life and that shame has left an imprint on his face. The second verse talks about how his inspiration or muse is gone and that he no longer has a motto or dream to aspire to. He feels like he has been bathed in a soft and embezzled light, and that he is six feet below an idealistic love.
Despite these setbacks, Kaskade still yearns for his flighted childhood dreams – those wishes and dreams that he had when he was young. He acknowledges that these dreams might seem foolish, but he still wants them. However, he experiences shame because he feels like these aspirations have been borrowed from someone else. He has been taken by something that he cannot quite put his finger on, and he feels both remorseful and guilty.
Overall, "Borrowed Theme" is a song about finding oneself and realizing that some of the aspirations that we have might not be truly ours. It is a reminder that it is important to acknowledge where we come from and what we truly want in life. The lyrics reflect on the idea that sometimes our dreams and aspirations have been influenced by society, loved ones, or the media, and it is up to us to find our own path and follow our own inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to shine the perfect borrowed light
I used to put on a facade of having the perfect life that was not truly mine to present to other people.
It wasn't mine and it was taking over night
The life that I was presenting to others did not belong to me and was becoming all-consuming.
Shame traces the edges of your face
The feeling of disgrace is visible on your face.
Fully lit, independent of this place
The facade I created continued to shine brightly, regardless of the reality of the situation.
I've been borrowed
The life I was living was not my own, it was borrowed from others.
Shame on me
I am responsible for my actions, and I feel remorse and guilt for living a life that was not true to who I am.
My muse is gone, forsaken of the theme
I no longer have inspiration or motivation to continue living a life that is not my own.
No motto now--no cradle, no dream
Without the borrowed life, I am uncertain of my values, my goals, and my aspirations.
Bathed with a soft, embezzled light
The borrowed life was a comfortable and attractive facade that I became comfortable living in.
Six feet below an idealistic love
The reality of the situation was that I was lacking a genuine emotional connection and love in my life.
But I still want these things
Despite the realization of the falsehood in the borrowed life, I still desire the comfort and ease it brought me.
Flighted childhood dreams
The naive and unrealistic dreams of my childhood that I clung to despite their impracticality.
As foolish as they seem
In retrospect, my childhood dreams seem unrealistic and impractical.
I've been taken
I have been deceived and misguided by the borrowed life that I lived.
Now only sweet little wishful things
I am left with only fleeting desires and impractical wishes.
Are bound and gagged, tied up in different strings
My desires are limited and restrained, as they are not in line with my true identity.
No living castles up in the sky
I no longer have grand illusions of an idealistic life or future.
Following unbothered clouds go by
I am resigned to follow the path laid out for me, without any grand dreams or illusions of controlling my own fate.
Shame on me
My actions have led to feelings of guilt and disgrace.
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@StanielTarantino
I was depressed over being dumped by someone I loved. She moved on fast and I was left sulking. I would drive to the desert and park in the pitch black looking at the stars wondering what my life would be like after her. I saw no future. But at the moment all I would see is the beautiful universe, the stars and meditate with this song. I would be smoking cigarettes and literally walking in circles. I was confused, I felt lost. Thank God for music. To this day this song always brings back those passionate emotions. Thank you for for such a healing song.
@onewingangel1117
Hope your hearts found some healing ❤️🩹❤️
@migueljara9399
Today is Saturday 08, March of 2019, 12:03 am. I'm just reading old comments, and geting nostalgia. This is beautiful.
@darkcity2006
Reminds me of walking through the lit up streets of a city at night, with people and the lights of cars passing you by now and then. Or enjoying a beautiful nightly scenery of a city skyline at which you could stare endlessly
@MACterialistic
i've never heard a more soothing song than this. so amazing. <3
@MrSparkles539
this always reminds me of the fascinating fantasies i use to have as a kid... and especially in my dreams. the dreams that you never want to end, the songs like these are in sync and perfectly in tune with my heart and thoughts. this is what will be playing for me when i'm in one of those states now :) thank you kaskade
@straub11
Whenever I try to sing along when the lyrics change from 'I've been borrowed' to "I've been taken' I always get mixed up and sing 'I've been bacon'
@DoctorOctagampusMD
Melancholy songs always bring out the good and bad in reality. Kaskade's songs usually seem to follow some kind of pattern of euphoria and/or the aftereffects. I think he once described it as "the life of the party" and then the life AFTER the party. Always love the dualism.
@bubblezcookielove
such a soft mellow theme
@rufforator100
I love this song. her voice is great.