Barthel and Carter were friends since junior high school. Barthel pursued a visual arts degree while Carter formed the experimental band Grand Habit. In the summer of 2007 they reunited and worked on finishing some beat ideas Carter made earlier. The duo was originally called Charlie Everywhere when performing around the Saratoga Springs area on the local label Sub-Bombin Records. When they signed to BBE Records they changed the name to Phantogram, to avoid legal issues.
In March 2009, they self-released a five song EP, Phantogram EP, which featured four songs that ended up being on the full length. In the same year they released another EP, Running From the Cops on BBE Records.
The band's debut album Eyelid Movies was released in September 2009, on BBE Records in Europe, and in February 2010, on Barsuk Records in the US. The album received generally favorable reviews. The singles "Mouthful of Diamonds", "When I'm Small" and "As Fas As I Can See" supported the album.
Phantogram have supported acts such as Metric, The xx, J-Live, Brazilian Girls and have toured with The Slip, Zero 7 and Minus the Bear.
Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter were inspired by artists like J Dilla, Serge Gainsbourg, My Bloody Valentine, Madlib, Sonic Youth, The Beatles and David Bowie.
In 1 November 2011, the band issued the EP Nightlife. This EP includes the single "Don't Move".
The duo collaborated with Big Boi from OutKast on three songs from his second studio album, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors: "Objectum Sexuality (feat. Phantogram)", "CPU (feat. Phantogram)" and "Lines (feat. A$AP Rocky & Phantogram)". Phantogram are also credited as producers for the song "Objectum Sexuality".
Official site: http://www.phantogram.net
Futuristic Casket
Phantogram Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A thousand times
When I get out
I'll rule the earth
I saw your face in a past life
I'm ready to move on
In a futuristic casket
To work it out
I'll dig a hole
To crawl inside
And make my home
I saw your face in a film tonight
I wanted to touch the screen
I'll never be cruel again
I saw your face in a past life
I'm ready to move on
In a futuristic casket
I saw your face in a film tonight
I wanted to touch the screen
I'll never be cruel again
The first verse of Phantogram's 'Futuristic Casket' suggests the singer has gone through a myriad of reincarnations or painful experiences - "I must have died a thousand times." They feel powerful as they emerge from their latest "death," asserting that they will "rule the earth." This suggests that the singer's experiences have transformed them into someone who wields great agency and has a substantial level of control over their environment.
The second verse follows a similar theme. The singer is ready to "move on" and leave behind the past. They contemplate building a "home" inside a hole, which is an interesting metaphor, suggesting they have finally found a way to settle down and establish a sense of permanence after multiple "lifetimes" of wandering. The final stanza further underlines this desire to move past the old and embrace the new - this time, acknowledging a willingness to let go of cruelty in favor of forgiveness and kindness.
Overall, 'Futuristic Casket' presents a journey towards self-discovery and transformation. The lyrics suggest that the singer has overcome multiple challenges and is now in a position of power, ready to leave behind the damaging patterns of their past.
Line by Line Meaning
I must have died
I've been through so much pain and suffering that it feels like I've died many times
A thousand times
It's been an overwhelming amount of times that I've felt like dying
When I get out
When I overcome my troubles and problems
I'll rule the earth
I'll be in control of my own destiny and achieve great success
I saw your face in a past life
I feel like I've known you from a previous life
I'm ready to move on
I'm ready to leave the past behind and move forward
In a futuristic casket
I feel like I'm living in a modern, advanced world that's not fully understood
And you're still alive
Despite all the changes around me, you're still here with me
To work it out
To resolve the issues and problems that are holding me back
I'll dig a hole
I'll go deep into myself to find the solutions I need
To crawl inside
To immerse myself in my thoughts and feelings to find clarity
And make my home
To find comfort and solace within myself
I saw your face in a film tonight
I think about you often, even when I see you on a movie screen
I wanted to touch the screen
I feel a deep yearning to connect with you, no matter the distance
I'll never be cruel again
I've learned from my past mistakes and want to treat others with kindness and compassion
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amanda Robertson
This song. Always moves me to tears. It's amazing!
skunk
thee ending is what sells the whole song
L. Siestador
I like the beginning. Lol
labellavita4me
sept 7th can't come soon enough... hope they play this one ...in love with this whole vibe the song brings..and im ready to move on .
Nicole M
9 years later and still a banger
Anthony Wentz
Seen them twice in a small venue awesome delivered both times
Loui S.
real chills at the last lyrics
Sasha Carter
Phantogram please let me know you know you are beautiful. Though my eyes certainly follow Sarah more closely, Josh speaks and moves my heart.
Nick Rigdon
I’ll never be cruel again
FahrerNordschleife
This.. is... hard...