Cage The Elephant

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Hypocrite album cover

Hypocrite

Cage The Elephant

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Tonight, bleeding from the holes in my face
But I don't want to give it away
You did it for the family name
Crash collide into space
You, your favorite color red
I guess that I'm the hypocrite
You're not responsible
I'm responsible

[Pre-Chorus]
Who's to blame?
Tell me, who's to blame?
Tell me who

[Chorus]
I won't ever do that again
I've been all over the place
I watched the strawberry fields
Dry up and wither away
And if you ask me to stay
You know that's where I will be
Won't ever do that again
Don't wanna do that again

[Verse 2]
You call me Baby Blue
For all the evil schemes I pull
We sit and watch the waves break
I made a lot of mistakes
Crash collide into space
[Pre-Chorus]
Who's to blame?
Tell me, who's to blame?
Tell me who

[Chorus]
I won't ever do that again
I've been all over the place
I watched the strawberry fields
Dry up and wither away
And if you ask me to stay
You know that's where I will be
Won't ever do that again
Don't wanna do that again

[Bridge]
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh

[Chorus]
I won't ever do that again
I've been all over the place
I watched the strawberry fields
Dry up and wither away
And if you ask me to stay
You know that's where I will be
Don’t wanna do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do that again
[Outro]
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh

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Hypocrite is a song by American rock band Cage The Elephant. This track is the oldest from their album, and it was released on the internet early in 2012. This song is a reflection of the band's early days, and it portrays a punk-rock sound mixed with other musical elements that progress throughout the track.

About Hypocrite

According to Brad Shultz, the band's lead guitarist, this song was one of the first they started writing. At first, it was only a punk rock song with a rough edge, but after working on it, the band realized it had the potential to be more than just a punk song. They approached the song with a "let's-try-everything" attitude, which helped to shape the final version that is now known as Hypocrite.

The song's unique sound was achieved through several accidents that occurred throughout the recording process and the band's experimentation. One of those accidents was the introduction of a horn section that was not meant to be a part of the song. According to Brad, it was a mistake, and it happened when the sound files of other songs got mixed up. The band members, who were working in different studios, realized the mistake after hearing some noise that didn't seem to fit the song.

Initially, the band was confused about the sound, but when they started muting stuff and taking things away, they realized that it was the horn section. Even though it wasn't planned, the horns sounded beautiful, and they fit the song perfectly. The horn section's synchronization was so perfect that Brad believed it was a gift from God.

The song's lyrics are about a person who is lying to themselves and others about who they really are, which is the definition of a hypocrite. Matt, the singer, sings about how they are pretending to be someone else, and how it is hard to keep up with pretending all the time. The lyrics are quite straightforward, and they reflect the band's core message of staying true to oneself and being honest about who you are.

Brad Shultz, in an interview with Genius, said that the song was one of their favorite tracks in the album, and it was incredibly fun to play. Brad's guitar work on this song is outstanding, and it showcases his ability to go from one style to another smoothly. The guitar riffs are unique, and they stand out throughout the song. The drum work, which Jared championed, was also very impressive. The drum work adds depth to the song and provides the perfect foundation for the band's various musical experiments.

In addition to its musical diversity, the overall message of the song resonates with a lot of listeners, especially those who have experienced or witnessed people pretending to be someone else. The song is a reminder to stay true to oneself, and that pretending to be someone else is not sustainable.

Wrapping Up

Hypocrite by Cage The Elephant is an example of how the band's experimentation and mistakes can lead to an outstanding song. The combination of punk-rock and other musical elements, along with the accidentally added horn section, makes this track stand out on the album. The guitar work by Brad, the drum work by Jared, and Matt's vocals help to drive the song's message of staying true to oneself while also being honest about who you are.

As a music expert with over 20 years of experience, I believe that this song is an excellent example of the band's creativity and musical talent. It is clear that this song has resonated with many listeners, and it is an outstanding addition to the band's discography.