Ben and Alex Moore lived in Peru until the age of 5 when their family moved to New Mexico. When they were 14, they started playing Gypsy Jazz together in the style of Django Reinhardt at restaurants, coffee shops, bars, breweries, and street corners in Albuquerque. They purchased their first car, a green Ford Explorer, with the money they received from gigs and began writing their music at the age of 16. Two years later, the brothers drove to Los Angeles in that Ford Explorer to play music.
Shortly following their move to LA, Oliver Riot took home first place in the Grammy's annual "Rock The Mic Competition", showcasing emerging California artists, and was awarded studio time with legendary producer, Mike Clink (Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Eddie Money, etc.).
Oliver Riot released their debut EP, Hallucinate, in November 2015. The album was produced in its entirety by Real Miilk[3] in the back room of a Korean Church. Alex lived in his van parked outside of the church while creating the record, and both brothers continued to do so while recording the duo's next album. Often compared to James Vincent McMorrow, James Blake, and Passenger, Indie TrendSetters says, "Oliver Riot is a dazzling point of unnoticed incandescence, an ineffable aurora devoid of deserving admirers, a true work of underground art that makes mainstream music look like a superficial sham."
Based in Los Angeles, the twins finished their second highly anticipated EP entitled Neurosis, which was released in part in December 2016. Oliver Riot is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency. After taking a musical break, the duo released a single entitled Nervous in October 2019.
Hallucinate
Oliver Riot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life, you're my cage
I've been a bad man biting the hand of fate
Fighting for freedom - please, don't wait
I've been waiting
Wardens weigh in my brain
Oh lay
Hoping, hiding
Hating how I can't wait
Hallucinate
Up, on the move
Do, that thing you do
I've been a bad man biting the hand of fate
Fighting for freedom - please, don't wait
While
I've been waiting
Wardens weigh in my brain
Oh lay
Hoping, hiding
Hating how I can't wait
Hallucinate
And I wonder if it means
Oh I wonder if it means
Oh I wonder if it means… anything
And I wonder if…
Oh I wonder if…
Oh I wonder if…
The lyrics of Oliver Riot's song "Hallucinate" depict the inner turmoil of a person who has been fighting against life's restrictions and limitations for freedom. They are metaphorically compared to being locked up in a cage, waiting for a chance to break free. The phrase "Light, pave the way" can represent the glimmer of hope that the person is holding onto, and that they believe that something better awaits them. On the other hand, "Life, you're my cage" represents their perspective of life being oppressive, which restricts their freedom.
The line "I've been a bad man biting the hand of fate" implies that the person has been making reckless decisions and ignoring consequences in the hope of finding their desired freedom. However, they are aware that their actions might cause problems for them in the future. The line "Hoping, hiding, hating how I can't wait, hallucinate" suggests that they are finding it hard to deal with their reality, and they turn to losing their sense of reality or "hallucinating" as a form of escapism.
In the last part of the song, the phrase "And I wonder if it means..." repeats multiple times, establishing the ultimate question of whether the person's constant craving for freedom and their actions to achieve it will have any consequences. The ending of the song is left unresolved, leaving it up to the listener's interpretation of whether the person will achieve their desired freedom or not.
Line by Line Meaning
Light, pave the way
Hope guides me through difficult times.
Life, you're my cage
Life's restrictions are confining.
I've been a bad man biting the hand of fate
I've made poor decisions that have led to unfortunate consequences.
Fighting for freedom - please, don't wait
I'm actively working towards being liberated from my current circumstance.
I've been waiting
I'm anticipating change, but it hasn't arrived.
Wardens weigh in my brain
Internal conflicts are clouding my judgment.
Oh lay
Waiting idly for something to happen.
Hoping, hiding
Enduring the struggle and concealing my true feelings.
Hating how I can't wait
I'm frustrated with the slow progress of change.
Hallucinate
Escaping reality through fantasy.
Up, on the move
Taking action to alter my situation.
Do, that thing you do
I must take ownership of my actions.
While
Although.
And I wonder if it means
Questioning the significance of my efforts.
Oh I wonder if it means
Anxious about the possible outcomes of my decision.
Oh I wonder if it means… anything
Doubting if my actions will yield a desirable result.
And I wonder if…
Continuing to question the effects of my choices.
Oh I wonder if…
Expressing my uncertainty about my future.
Oh I wonder if…
Conveying my hesitation to take action.
Contributed by Sebastian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@GerichoFernandez
Light, pave the way
Life, you’re my cage
I’ve been a bad man biting the hand of fate
Fighting for freedom - please, don’t wait
I’ve been waiting
Wardens weigh in my brain
Oh lay
Hoping, hiding
Hating how I can’t wait
Hallucinate
Up, on the move
Do, that thing you do
I’ve been a bad man biting the hand of fate
Fighting for freedom - please, don’t wait
While
I’ve been waiting
Wardens weigh in my brain
Oh lay
Hoping, hiding
Hating how I can’t wait
Hallucinate
And I wonder if it means
Oh I wonder if it means
Oh I wonder if it means… anything
And I wonder if…
Oh I wonder if…
Oh I wonder if… anything
@cameroneverett417
This is the prettiest song I’ve heard all year :))
@freya_171
so underrated 🥺😔
@hanakohonda1585
The EP as an ode to our feelings towards difficulties in life. it is fairly gorgeous.
Being imprisoned in your own brain is different kind of loneliness.
@VictorGarcia-fy6ry
That made me cry a river and I don't even know why
@quaziobaid
Virgin River ❤️
@sarthakgoelmusic
This song is too good to not to be famous👏👏
@manishagarwal4824
Ikr
@studyfreak1655
yeah
@thefreetwins
Heavenly.
@somemusician3832
Beautiful underrated music. Thank you 🌻 for sharing 4.22.22