Day 6 - Caves

This is technically not related to caves per se, but here are some of my opinions on some of Cavetown (Robin Skinner)'s lyrics, and my thoughts on them! (Also this is being published a little early to make up for my hiatuses.)

First song, Devil Town: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLOjLW6lYko

This was the first Cavetown song I ever listened to, and I loved it immediately. Here are the lyrics, for those who don't know:

Life's alright in Devil Town

Yeah, right, no one's gonna catch us now

Dad has bought a new car now

We're fine, no one's gonna catch us now (okay)

You said something dumb again

She's mad, at least that's what they say

Mum and daddy aren't in love

That's fine, I'll settle for two birthdays

Devil Town is colder in the summertime

I'll lose my mind at least another thousand times

Hold my hand tight, we'll make it another night

I still get a little scared of something new

But I feel a little safer when I'm with you

Falling doesn't feel so bad when I know you've fallen this way too

We're all dead in Devil Town

That's fine 'cause nothing's gonna scare us now

We're all in our dressing gowns

Mine's white and stripy, yours is green and brown

I forgot my name again

I think that's something worth remembering

Spiders in your favourite shoes

Just leave them be 'cause they're more scared of you

Devil Town is colder in the summertime

I'll lose my mind at least another thousand times

Hold my hand tight, we'll make it another night

I still get a little scared of something new

But I feel a little safer when I'm with you

Falling doesn't feel so bad when I know you've fallen this way too

Devil Town is colder in the summertime

I'll lose my mind at least another thousand times

Hold my hand tight, we'll make it another night

I still get a little scared of something new

But I feel a little safer when I'm with you

Falling doesn't feel so bad when I know you've fallen this way too

---

Brilliant, right? Personally, my favourite bit is this:

Devil Town is colder in the summertime

I'll lose my mind at least another thousand times

Hold my hand tight, we'll make it another night

I still get a little scared of something new

But I feel a little safer when I'm with you

It reminds me of one of, if not my best, friend. It's not quite certain what Robbie is talking about when he references "devil town," most people assuming it means an unideal growing-up environment, which is basically what the song is about, along with the more complicated anxieties of growing up. I love songs on the subject of growing up naturally I am an... uh... wait a moment...

...AJR fan. Yeah. Naming the fandom like that does seem kind of crazy obessive (I'm sorry Swifties) to me, but that's a discussion for another piece.

Anyways, back to the topic!

Devil Town talks about the more complex anxieties of growing up, change, and, one of Robbie's signatures, parents falling out of love. (Wow revisiting this my two top artists/band/one artist one band have a lot in common, hmm?) There's some hints on depression, derealisation, and depersonalisation as well. (We're all dead in devil town (dead inside)/I forgot my name again, I think that's something worth remembering (According to my research, depersonalisation can do this sometimes.))

Overall, I really like this song, and it is what got me into Cavetown in the first place, so it will always be special to me.

Next song, my personal most relatable, 1994: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvy25Z8Mq7k

I love this song. My friend and I attempted performing this at school once. I failed spectacularly. I messed up the timings and order. I also conveniently forgot the fact that I can't sing for life.

Here are the lyrics:

I'm trying to forgive myself for things I didn't do

For words I didn't say and things I didn't choose

Spending every day decomposing in my room

I'm not okay, but there's nothing I can do

I'm tryna love the person I was when I was born

Hating on a kid doesn't serve me anymore

Sylvanians making stories on the floor

Mum and dad in love like it's 1994

Say you're coming around

I need you lately, everything's been getting me down

Yeah, the kids are growing up, I feel like I'm stuck

But I don't wanna catch up right now

I'm tryna get a better sense of what I'm worth

'Cause I've been on the fence and in the dirt

Taking it easy

But I forgot I have a job and nothing ever stops so

Say you're coming around

I need you lately, everything's been getting me down

Yeah, the kids are growing up, I feel like I'm stuck

But I don't wanna catch up right now

Say you're coming around

I need you lately, everything's been getting me down

I broke a glass on the floor, it was the last straw

It's like I woke up on the wrong side of town

Say you're coming around

I need you lately, everything's been getting me down

I felt so much older than the kids 'round the corner

But I feel so much younger now

Overtook them all and slowed back down

Blamed a child in a daisy crown

---

This song is about once again, parents falling out of love, the complexities of growing up, and gender dysphoria. The song is really deep and sorrowful, recounting pains and asking for the friend the song is talking to to come round and help out.

There are a lot of parts I relate to in this song, (I felt so much older than the kids 'round the corner, but I feel so much younger now/I need you lately, everything's been getting me down/Yeah the kid's are growing up, I feel like I'm stuck/I'm tryna love the person I was when I was born, hating on a kid doesn't serve me anymore/Spending every day decomposing in my room (INTROVERTS ONLY FINDING CONFIDENCE ONLINE AT ITS FINEST haha))

Again, I really do like this song, it's deep and relatable. It was also the second Cavetown song I listened to, and another I instantly fell in love with.

Third and final song, my personal favourite, Let Them Know They're On Your Mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F7yhM4bWCo

This was the fifth or sixth song I listened to, and it's also quite relatable for me. Here are the lyrics:

Let them know they're on your mind

I wanna tell you, you're on mine

Yeah, you're in there all the time

In my head, in my bed, in my brain and every enzyme

I wanna see you in the light

I wanna see you when you're stressed

When you're angry, when you're happy, when you're fine

It's okay, yeah, I don't mind

Light a cigarette, you're allowed a little vice

Let them know they're on your mind

(I wanna tell you you're on mine)

(Yeah, you're in there all the time)

(In my head, in my bed, in my brain and every enzyme)

(Let them know they're on your mind)

Baby feels like all her friends got it figured out

Baby's smoking up the track, baby's burning out

Let me see your mind, I can't read the signs

Let me see you cry, let me see your insides

I wanna see you in the light

I wanna see you in the light

Hey, I've got nothing to say, but I'm lonely

Comin' through to let you know you're on my mind

Sorry, I'm a little insane when I'm lonely

I'm just like you (let them know they're on your mind)

Hey, I've got nothing to say, but I'm lonely

Comin' through to let you know you're on my mind

Sorry, I'm a little insane when I'm lonely

I'm just like you (let them know they're on your mind)

Lie on the light, see your body on the ceiling

You're a diagram of something I've been needing (wow)

You're so perfect that it kinda hurts my feelings

Wish there was a way for you to see what I am seeing right now

I wanna see you in your element

(I wanna see you in the light) I wanna love you for the hell of it

Hey, I've got nothing to say, but I'm lonely

Coming through to let you know you're on my mind

Sorry, I'm a little insane when I'm lonely

I'm just like you (let them know they're on your mind)

Hey, I've got nothing to say, but I'm lonely

Coming through to let you know you're on my mind

Sorry, I'm a little insane when I'm lonely

I'm just like you (let them know they're on your mind)

Let them know they're on your mind

I'm just like you, let them know they're on your mind

Let them know they're on your mind

I've got nothing to say, but I'm lonely

Comin' through to let you know you're on my mind

I'm a little insane when I'm lonely

I'm just like you, let them know they're on your mind

I've got nothing to say, but I'm lonely

Comin' through to let you know you're on my mind

I'm a little insane when I'm lonely

I'm just like you

---

Beautiful. A masterpiece. I love this song so much it's hard to express it in words. It's romantic, but with just the right touch of sadness to prevent it from being too cheesy. I can relate, once again, to lots of these lyrics, (Hey, sorry I'm a little insane when I'm lonely/I wanna see you in your element, I wanna see you in your light, I wanna love you for the hell of it/I wanna see you when your stressed, when your angry, when you happy when you're fine, it's okay yeah I don't mind/Let me see your mind I can't see the signs/You're so perfect that it kinda hurts my feelings, wish there was a way for you to see what I am seeing right now) and really feel them.

My favourite parts are "Hey, sorry I'm a little insane when I'm lonely" and "You're so perfect that it kinda hurts my feelings, wish there was a way for you to see what I am seeing right now." It's true I get a little crazy when I feel really lonely, and there is someone in my life so perfect it hurts.

The first mentioned part really hits hard though. I want to be left alone, but I don't want to be lonely, if that makes any sense, and I do get pretty desperate when I do feel alone. It's a hard feeling to explain.

Anyways, that's the end of my lyrics analysis! Hopefully I get to do another one of these somepoint again during the challenge, or maybe I'll just do a couple on my own accord.