They released their third and final album Klang in 2009 which included the singles 1989 and That's the Reason.
In October 2009, The Rakes announced that the band was to split with immediate effect: "The Rakes have always been very adamant and proud of the fact that we give 100% to every gig we’ve ever played. If we can’t give it everything then we won’t do it. That was the rule we set ourselves from day one".
Their style can be described as "lo-fi" indie and is vaguely reminiscent of early Joy Division with some catchy guitar riffs and intelligent and humorous lyrics.
Singer Alan Donahoe has a project called Champagne Campaign and drummer Lasse Peterson went on to join Wolf Gang.
When Tom Cruise Cries
The Rakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't know what was going on,
Pictures of home,
Repeated again and again,
Electrical problems,
What they said on CNN,
Electrical problems,
I tried to call your phone,
But the network was down,
Something's happening,
There was no one around,
So I tried your friends, but
their not answering,
Just pick up the phone,
Tell me your okay, just a text anyway,
What's happening?
I try your friends,but their not answering,
Oh what do yours constitute with sparked,
Lights were out I couldn't tell if you were on,
TV's on, Tom Cruise crying on his father's bed,
Reminds me what that French guy said,
From news to movies all the crap with it,
Headlines keep you excited,
Like when Tom Cruise cries,
It's all lies,
I tried to call your phone,
But the network was down,
Something's happening,
There was no one around,
So I tried your friends, but their not answering,
Just pick up the phone,
Tell me your okay, just a text anyway,
What's happening?
I try your friends, but their not answering,
[Repeat: x4]
I tried to call your phone,
But the networks down,
Are you just not answering?
The lyrics of The Rakes' song "When Tom Cruise Cries" depict a narrator who is disoriented and troubled. He wakes up confused, possibly from a dream or a disorienting situation. The lyrics "Pictures of home, repeated again and again" suggest that the singer is haunted by memories of home that keep replaying in his mind. The repetitive and unsettling nature of these memories is further emphasized by the mention of "electrical problems" that keep being reported on CNN. These problems could be interpreted as a metaphor for a deeper sense of decay and disorder that's affecting the singer's world.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly desperate to reach someone he cares about, possibly a lover or a close friend. He tries to call them but can't get through. The absence of this person is further underscored by the repetition of the line "There was no one around." The singer's anxiety is heightened by the fact that he can't get through to anyone, not even mutual friends or acquaintances.
The second half of the song takes a more outwardly critical turn. The singer fixates on the media and their relentless focus on celebrity culture. The mention of Tom Cruise crying on his father's bed is a reference to a scene from the movie "Magnolia," in which Cruise's character has an emotional breakdown. The line "Reminds me what that French guy said" could be a reference to the film critic Jean-Luc Godard, who famously said that all you need to make a movie is "a girl and a gun."
The overall message of the song is a critique of modern society's obsession with superficiality and emotional manipulation. The singer's inability to reach the person he cares about is contrasted with the meaningless spectacle of Tom Cruise's tears, emphasizing the futility of our modern media-driven culture.
Line by Line Meaning
I wake up,
I woke up, oblivious of what was going to unfold
Didn't know what was going on,
I was clueless about the situation
Pictures of home,
Memories of my home flashed before my eyes
Repeated again and again,
The same memories kept playing repeatedly
Electrical problems,
Issues with electricity supply
What they said on CNN,
As reported on CNN
I tried to call your phone,
I attempted to call you
But the network was down,
However, the network was not in operation
Something's happening,
I sense that something is amiss
There was no one around,
The surroundings were desolate
So I tried your friends, but
Thus, I contacted your pals, but
their not answering,
Unsurprisingly, they did not answer
Just pick up the phone,
Please pick up the phone
Tell me your okay, just a text anyway,
Send me a message confirming your welfare, anything will do
What's happening?
What is going on?
Oh what do yours constitute with sparked,
What is your take on the recent controversies
Lights were out I couldn't tell if you were on,
There was no electricity, therefore, I could not determine if you were around
TV's on, Tom Cruise crying on his father's bed,
The television was on, and it was showing Tom Cruise crying on his dad's bed
Reminds me what that French guy said,
It brings to mind what the Frenchman uttered
From news to movies all the crap with it,
Today's media comprises unauthentic news and movies
Headlines keep you excited,
Sensational headlines pique your interest
Like when Tom Cruise cries,
For instance, when Tom Cruise sheds tears
It's all lies,
It's all falsehoods
Are you just not answering?
Are you merely neglecting my calls?
[Repeat: x4]
Repeating four times
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN DONOHOE, JAMES HORN-SMITH, LASSE PETERSEN, MATTHEW SWINNERTON, MATTHEW JAMES SWINNERTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind