Cleopatra
The Lumineers Lyrics
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When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no plans, yeah
And I left the footprints, the mud stain on the carpet
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah, yeah
While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part
I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters
But that's all in the past love, gone with the wind
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom
It's a bed and a bathroom
And a place for the end
I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah
In The Lumineers’ song “Cleopatra,” the singer is reminiscing about her past – specifically a time when she was young and an actress, and had a suitor who asked for her hand in marriage. However, she was grieving the loss of her father, who had just passed away and was buried in a casket beside her. The singer was sad that the suitor asked for her hand in that moment, as she had no plans for the future and felt lost. She also reflects on how her heart hardened when he left town, leaving behind muddy footprints – a metaphor for the remnants left behind after a relationship ends. The singer admits that she still longs for this person, even if it means being his mistress while he is married to someone else.
The lyrics also touch on the singer’s life after her youth and prime. She mentions how her flesh used to be her currency, alluding to how her looks were once her greatest asset, but she “held true” despite church teachings that discouraged “any lust that burned within.” Now, she works as a taxi driver and the strangers in the backseat remind her of the one who got away. The singer’s life was not without challenges – the only gifts from her Lord were a birth and a divorce – yet, she admits that she has accepted the script and will continue to play her part. The song ends with the singer as an elderly woman being led back to her guest room by a nurse.
Overall, “Cleopatra” is a poignant and introspective song about the experiences and emotions that shape a person’s life – both in times of great love and loss, and in the quiet moments of old age.
Line by Line Meaning
I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress
I used to be full of life and possibilities.
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
You proposed to me when I was at a low point in life.
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
I was grieving the loss of my father and was in no state to make big decisions.
With my father in a casket, I had no plans, yeah
My father's death left me lost and without direction.
And I left the footprints, the mud stain on the carpet
I made mistakes and left behind reminders of them.
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town
Your departure left a permanent mark on me.
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant
Despite everything, I still love you deeply and would do anything to be with you.
Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around
I'd do anything for another chance with you, even if it meant being your secret lover.
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
I missed many chances in life, including the opportunity to be with you.
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah, yeah
My death will be the only thing in life I'll be punctual for.
While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me
Society shamed me for my natural desires.
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true
My body was all I had to offer, but I tried to remain faithful to you.
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
I've ended up with a mundane job that helps me forget my pain.
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you
I often find myself imagining you in the people I encounter.
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
My life has been full of hardships and disappointments.
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part
I've accepted my fate and will do what I need to survive.
I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters
I once felt like a queen and had everything in my grasp.
But that's all in the past love, gone with the wind
Those moments are long gone and can never come back.
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom
I'm old and feeble now, and need help to get around.
It's a bed and a bathroom, and a place for the end
All I have left is a place to spend my last days.
I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
I won't miss this final chance to meet my maker.
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah
I'll finally be on time for something important in life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Wesley Schultz, Simone Felice, Jeremy Fraites
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guerngoit
SUMMING UP for who is lost, under the (great) merit of other people around here...
Ken Tucky1 dia atrás
Ophelia - falls in love
Sleep on the Floor - the man she fell in love with leaves and she can't go with him because her father died
Angela - she marries another man she doesn't love and has kids
Cleopatra - she is old and the passengers remind her of her youth and regrets for not going with the man she loves
Hunter McDonald4 dias atrás
She falls in love with a guy (Ophelia). Her father dies and the guy she
loves asks her to leave town with him (Sleep On The Floor) but she stays
in that town. She marries a guy she doesn't love and has a child
(Angela). When she's old and divorced she regrets not leaving town with
her lover, back when her father died (Cleopatra).
KanKillz2 dias atrás
Really nice theory, now that you've said that I wouldn't be surprised if she is the protagonist in Long Way from Home if they decide to do it. Considering the character they sing about is an aged lover on their deathbed
Raiya3 dias atrás
Anyone else notice the mom and daughter at 0:43 are from Stubborn Love? Was that girl supposed to be the youngest version of the woman?
@jeibypelegrinokiyakaka
Ophelia Meaning :
The film opens with “Ophelia.” This is really one of the only parts of the film in which The Lumineers actually appear. It’s a way for them to introduce the ballad, with a song they hold close to their hearts. “Ophelia” deals with the success, expectations, and pressure the band has gone through since rising to fame, which is why this song means so much to them.
I, I got a little paycheck
You got big plans and you gotta move (whoo!)
And I don’t feel nothing at all
And you can’t feel nothing small
“Ophelia” is a constant reminder for The Lumineers. It allows them to take a step back and appreciate all that has happened to them, and that’s exactly what the video depicts. The band is playing the song for a crowd when lead singer, Wesley Shultz, steps out of his own body and removes himself from the chaos of his current life; just as the meaning of the song depicts. He exits the building and begins to dance along the street to the beat of the music. The song continues as he pleasantly strides along. As the music of Ophelia fades out, transitional notes fall in, eventually leading Shultz into the taxicab, of one, Cleopatra. They share a conversation unheard to our ears, and thus, the story begins.
Cleopatra Meaning
Shultz exits the car and “Cleopatra” the song begins as Cleopatra, the driver, waits for her next passenger. The “Cleopatra” portion of the ballad follows the beautiful taxi driver with wild gray hair and eyes full of wisdom, through her shift. As she drives along the busy streets you are able to see that she is reminiscing. She is reminiscing on the “what ifs” that life inevitably brings you. It’s not so much about regret, as it is about thinking about the path you took in life, and realizing that for whatever reason, it was the path you needed to take.
I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no plans
And I left the footprints,
the mud stained on the carpet
And it hardened like my heart
did when you left town
But I must admit it,
that I would marry you in an instant
Damn your wife, I’d be your mistress
just to have you around
Casts of characters enter in and out of the cab, some familiar and some not, some metaphorical and some literal. Each character has a different story, and each taken in by our seasoned Cleopatra.
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
From the strangers in my backseat,
they remind me of you
But I was late for this,
late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone,
when I die alone, when I die I’ll be on time
Eventually she turns the meter off, and picks up her adult son from the airport, who enters the front seat with a wide-eyed smile and a grand hug. They drive until dusk. They stop to enjoy burgers with full smiles and genuine laughs before night falls and she must take him to his father. The song comes to a close as she drops her son off to his father’s home, and that’s when the first “what if” of the ballad, a theme that reoccurs throughout, happens. Cleopatra imagines going in to make amends with the father so they can enjoy their son’s stay together, as a family. However, instead she turns around, gets in her car, and drives away.
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
But I’ve read this script and the costume fits, so I’ll play my part
She drives. Her face is sullen and soft. A smooth transition begins as Cleopatra transforms into a much younger version of herself, driving away from something else, with the same soft and sullen look upon her face. What comes next is the beginning for Cleopatra, the beginning of the “What Ifs.”
Sleep on the Floor Meaning
Peaceful piano track “Patience” plays as we see the youngest version of Cleopatra sad and transfixed, staring deeply into her boyfriend’s eyes, standing at her father’s funeral. As the keys of the piano put you at ease, everything moves in slow motion. The boy slowly approaches her and whispers, “If you don’t leave now you may never make it out.” With that, “Sleep On The Floor” begins, and Cleopatra imagines what could have been if she left with the love of her life on that very day.
Pack yourself a toothbrush dear
Pack yourself a favorite blouse
Take a withdrawal slip
Take all of your savings out
‘Cause if we don’t leave this town
We might never make it out
I was not born to drown
Baby come on
“Sleep On The Floor” takes us on a journey. The young and in love couple drive across the states. They wander in and out of dirty motels, they meet new people, and they find themselves free. Although they have nothing stable or secure – they have each other. And what we come to find, is that is quite literally all that they need. They eventually marry, happy as ever, and dance into the night. As they lay down to sleep on their wedding night “Sleep On The Floor” comes to a close. The young Cleopatra locks eyes with the camera before the scene shifts out of the “what if” scenario and into reality. She’s now back in her car, just as we saw her before the song began, with that soft and sullen look on her face. She looks in the rearview, only for a second, and then continues to drive on, always moving forward.
Angela Meanign
“Angela” begins with Cleopatra slightly older and pregnant. She’s in bed with her husband, safe and secure in a nice home. However, it’s easy to tell she does not want to be there. At this point in the ballad you know who the Cleopatra character is, or at least who she wants to be. She’s “taller than the rafters.” Life has gotten in the way of who she wanted to become, but that still doesn’t change who she is at her core. And so, as the guitar plucks of “Angela” continue, we see the older, pregnant Cleopatra leave her body, and begin to imagine what life would be like, if she left him when she wanted to.
When you left this town, with your windows down
And the wilderness inside
Let the exits pass, all the tar and glass
‘Til the road and sky align
The strangers in this town,
They raise you up just to cut you down
Oh Angela it’s a long time coming
And your Volvo lights lit up green and white
With the cities on the signs
But you held your course to some distant war
In the corners of your mind
She’s back to driving, back where she always seems to be – on the open road, on her own, moving forward. But this time the look on her face is not soft or sullen. It’s determined. Determined to hold her course. She drives far and wide until she reaches a motel. She gets out of the car, looks to the sky, and for the first time in the ballad she expresses joy, celebration, and finally, peace. The “Angela” video takes us on the journey of the heart and soul that is the Cleopatra character – following your gut and your heart to its wits end.
My Eyes MEaning
“My Eyes” is the bow that ties the story of this legend together. She’s older now; older than she was when we first met her in the taxi. She’s in a nursing home, sharing stories with the nurse, and waiting for her time to end.
Oh, the devil’s inside
You opened the door
You gave him a ride
Too young to know, too old to admit
That you couldn’t see how it ends
What did you do to my eyes
What did you sing to that lonely child
Promised it all but you lied
You better slow down baby soon
It’s all or nothing to you
Before it ends, we see Cleopatra shift out of her body one last time, to make the move we know she wants to make. She walks down the empty halls, out of the nursing home door, and into the abyss.
“The Ballad Of Cleopatra” spreads the wisdom of this character onto those who view it. She shows you to be strong and to stay true to yourself. She shows you that you may not end up exactly where you thought you would. And she shows you that even if you don’t become who you thought you would be – it doesn’t matter, becuase in the end, the only thing that really matters in your life are the people you could never and would never want to life without. So choose those people, and hold on to them tight.
I won’t be late for this, late for that,
late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone,
when I die I’ll be on time
@AlohaNLight2All
I was you before my mother passed.
I never understood her until years after.
..
I realize now my mother was very Mentally ill.
I registered her never speaking about her first child, my half brother, passing within days of birth from a defect due to her drug use.
Never spoke about her next, My half-sister, being taken away at 1 after being found left in a playpen soiled for days covered in one bottle of red juice.
There was also an older puppy in the pen too who had tried eating on her flesh in different areas.
Then there's my full brother at 2 and myself then 1, who were just left with her neighbor for good until I was a teen.
She was in and out of our lives..
We did not get along.
I would wipe her kisses bc she was a prostitute. She hated that.
I saw so much during the 2 years I lived with her in my teens to escape years of every kind of abuse from that home she left us at.
Its so hard and so much.
I'm still healing.
I loved her so much.
I hope your doing okay.
@pabloalthaus
LYRICS
💙 CLEOPATRA 💙
I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no plans
And I left the footprints, the mud stained on the carpet
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant
Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part
I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters
But that's all in the past now, gone with the wind
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom
It's a bed and a bathroom
And a place for the end
I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
@SilBerKellySA
LYRICS:
I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no plans, yeah
And I left the footprints, the mud stain on the carpet
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant
Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah, yeah
While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part
I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters
But that's all in the past love, gone with the wind
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom
It's a bed and a bathroom
And a place for the end
I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah
@EightySixed7
Chelsey Ray Awesome!
I put together some of this so far, you cleared up some questions I had.
Sleep On The Floor
Angela
Cleopatra
She doesn't leave with the boy, gets pregnant of another man and runs away (her mo) and in cleopatra she is the taxi driver, she sees herself in all her passengers. She looks back at her life with a lot of regret, she's plagued by "what if."
@EightySixed7
Perfect. I commented on a like every one of these three videos. With other people helping like you "we" all pieced it together. That is interesting what you wrote about them recording, I had a feeling whomever the subject had to be close to the writer, it's such an intimate story.
I love it!!
Do you think Ophelia fits in somewhere too? I am wondering if that's the start, if that is her as a child.
It took me a bit to realize the "body splitting" were like choices, if she did X then it would have played out like so (or she imagines how it would play out) and if she chooses Y it would play out another way. Like the story of her pivotal decisions and what she did, now looking back she is regretting not taking the chance with the boy in SOTF. I can so relate to this, and I am in an on again off again relationship right now with a woman I love so dearly, due to life circumstances I don't know how it will play out- if we will end up together or not. But I know in my heart what i want, and I think she does too ass even the "off" times in our relationship we still talk often and it's clear neither of us want to just walk away, we are both at that pivotal moment that the character is in on SOTF. We don't want to just give up, "it's too hard to maintain a relationship with work and school ect" or that old bullshit word about timing, "it's not the right time."
When is it ever the right time? This moment is all I have, it's all we have. I don't want to look back like Cleopatra and think, "well.. what if?"
@ViniApollo
Láyrics
I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no plans, yeah
And I left the footprints, the mud stained on the carpet
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant
Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part
I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters
But that's all in the past now, gone with the wind
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom
It's a bed and a bathroom
And a place for the end
I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
@mosesmukasa5769
Leaving a comment so that when someone likes it, I be reminded of this nice song
@tomroberts7728
Hope you enjoy coming it back to it my friend. 😊
@maksgd7074
Come back 😂
@patrickcoyle682
Get back here I liked! 😁
@mustaphaelaabdani3641
Where are you my fridoooo🤔
@aishaal.qahtani8679
Come bk 😂❤
@Amaryn
this song played in the car 3 years ago as I was visiting my hometown and hanging out with one of my closest friends. we were driving and it came on, and it along with the conversation we had earlier that night, helped both of us realize we were in love with each other. I moved back a few months later to be with him. we moved in together, got married, and it's our daughter's birthday today. so thank you, Lumineers, for helping a random couple of people who'd been hurt in the past realize they needed to take a shot at love.
@Anklebreakerize
Amaryn Elizabeth wow your story is amazing.
@heisenbergyo5578
I don't know I'd ever be that lucky.
@arundas186
I wish I could like this comment a 💯 times ... 🤗