The song was released on February 9, 2010, as part of the album “Eyelid Movies.” According to the band, the lyrics are open to interpretation, with both members of the group offering slightly different views on the matter. In an interview with “Ladygunn,” when asked, “Is this song a reflection on being tired and on the road touring?”, Sarah stated that the lyrics were written before they had played any shows and before anything else. This leaves the theme of desolation and loneliness during the creation of the album "in the middle of nowhere" as the main theme of the song.
The first couplet, in general, conveys a positive feeling associated with creating a new album, with "10,000 claps" serving as an allegory for the 10,000 beats that compose the entire album. This is then compared to "10,000 cats" to reinforce the positive feeling of creation. However, the lengthy process required to create an album and the hyper-focus on a task can lead to dissociation, where any social interaction is perceived as bothersome.
The second couplet is dedicated to the anxiety surrounding the release of a new album, with the author anticipating many challenges and meaningless tasks in comparison to process of song creation, along with the presence of dishonest people. As Josh Carter stated in an interview: "I kind of imagined a woman accepting an award at a pageant and all these phony people clapping for her. It’s all just full of shit."
The final couplet expresses a yearning for the release of tension and stress associated with writing a new album, and a longing for home and a normal life after a prolonged period of isolation.
The song was released on February 9, 2010, as part of the album “Eyelid Movies.” According to the band, the lyrics are open to interpretation, with both members of the group offering slightly different views on the matter. In an interview with “Ladygunn,” when asked, “Is this song a reflection on being tired and on the road touring?”, Sarah stated that the lyrics were written before they had played any shows and before anything else. This leaves the theme of desolation and loneliness during the creation of the album "in the middle of nowhere" as the main theme of the song.
The first couplet, in general, conveys a positive feeling associated with creating a new album, with "10,000 claps" serving as an allegory for the 10,000 beats that compose the entire album. This is then compared to "10,000 cats" to reinforce the positive feeling of creation. However, the lengthy process required to create an album and the hyper-focus on a task can lead to dissociation, where any social interaction is perceived as bothersome.
The second couplet is dedicated to the anxiety surrounding the release of a new album, with the author anticipating many challenges and meaningless tasks in comparison to process of song creation, along with the presence of dishonest people. As Josh Carter stated in an interview: "I kind of imagined a woman accepting an award at a pageant and all these phony people clapping for her. It’s all just full of shit."
The final couplet expresses a yearning for the release of tension and stress associated with writing a new album, and a longing for home and a normal life after a prolonged period of isolation.