“Cigarette Daydreams” – Cage the Elephant

It was first in 2006 that Matt Schultz, Brad Schultz, Daniel Tichenor, and Jared Champion had a homeless man approach them and repeatedly say the phrase: “You have to cage the elephant.” The inspiration for a genre-bending band would form, which would go to be known as Cage the Elephant. Their style is known to be mixed of elements of rock, punk, folk, indie, house, and pop. Their discography is made up of five studio albums, two live albums, and 17 singles. Their debut album, Cage the Elephant, released in 2008 peaked at 59 on the Billboard 200 with some of their most recognizable songs such as “Ain’t no Rest for the Wicked” and “Back Against the Wall.” However, the album that truly established them as a staple in alternative music was Melophobia, which houses the song “Cigarette Daydreams.”

Cigarette Daydreams opens with the narrator singing to someone in first person, using terms such as you, and asking questions to the listener such as “Did you stand there all alone?” In response, the listener “sighs and looks away” according to the narrator. This shows tension between the narrator and the person he’s singing about, displaying the lack of communication in their relationship while the narrator is attempting to reach out.

Cage the Elephant performing live. Source

The song continues how this other person is “driving all night in the pouring rain, searching for answers.” This could display a struggle on the part of this anonymous figure and demonstrate a disconnect with the narrator. The singer continues to say “You were only 17,” keeping the insinuations of these lyrics fairly vague. This could mean that the narrator is implying that this other person is going through a hard time, or it could hint at the guilt that the narrator feels for possibly doing something to contribute to this person’s hardships.

Then, the singer continues to say “If we can find a reason, a reason to change,” this could confirm the difficulties that both the narrator and the other person are experiencing together. This could perhaps hint at a toxic relationship between the two sides, as he sings earlier “So sweet with a mean streak, nearly brought me to my knees.” The narrator then goes on to state “If you can find a reason, a reason to stay.” This could hint at the end of their relationship, possibly due to the narrator’s treatment of this other person being too much in an already difficult time of youth. This song could also represent the ending of childhood youth and the fondness and complexity of the time, how it’s both sweet and a time of self-discovery.

Finding yourself is a key part of growing up. Source