Understanding Cake's Lyrics
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INFO: John McCrea is the lead vocalist and multi instrumentalist of the American rock band Cake that was founded in 1991. Nirvana's Nevermind had just come out and the grunge movement had reached its peak in the realm of mainstream music. McCrea didn't resonate with this type of music at all. So lyrically and stylistically he sought to create the antithesis of mainstream rock music. From watching a few of his interviews we find out that he generally cares about the world. He stands against deforestation. He's a truth seeker, someone who questions what's happening in our society. He's also a person that likes to enjoy life for what it is. And these two facets of questioning the mainstream narrative and enjoying life can be traced throughout so many of his songs. Bringing attention to common sense and a life of well-being.
What rock band/artist should be next?
Foals /╲/( ͡⎚ ͜U ͡⎚)/\
Lie Likes Music modest mouse
KISS
The band Pain (the American one)
Ian Macakye
I think short skirt/long jacket is definitely meant to be ironic.
Or... It's a song about Daria...
@@hermeticascetic hmm. You mean like the one thats called Daria? Because I think that ones about Daria.
@@okayimsorry5473 it's like both of them are about Daria
@@hermeticascetic now substantiate.
@@okayimsorry5473 he spends the entire song describing his "ideal woman" and finishes off each verse with "I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket"
Literally Daria's outfit.
He wants a real world Daria.
Not to mention half the physicality described is Daria.
This ain't rocket science.
I really love Cake. One of my favorite bands ever. I once walked by a free Cake Concert in DC. They weren’t playing yet but I saw the big crowd in the park and thought huh, “wonder what’s going on there?”I got home later that night to PA, and realized it was a free Cake concert and I just strolled on by. I deeply regret that mistake to this day.
@LTrain45 45 best comment I've ever seen! 😂😂😂
That’s how you afford that rock and roll lifestyle
Cake is one of the most underrated and consistently awesome bands of all time.
They're one of the rare bands who've never released a bad album. I'm almost always content to play their full discography from beginning to end, and the band clearly take their time in creating quality albums.
That being said, holy shit, they haven't released an album since 2011. To quote from a song off that particular album: it's been a long time.
To quote another, maybe there is just to much carbon monoxide around for John McCrea to release something new.
this is less understanding cakes lyrics and more editorializing your own ideas at many points
He also speaks like he's constantly making up his script off the top of his head and it's frustrating to listen to lol
Thank you. I felt like so much of that was projection.
@Route Zero Actually, McCray has said in interviews that he wanted to write a song where the preformance of the economy could be equated to a woman's attractiveness. Damn, check out the dividends on that!
Andrew Stolzmann out of all of the comments yours has the most truth
Yup
Great band. They've been sorely missed since 2011. A new album would be awesome.
I've heard that a new album will be comming out next year so hopefully we can look forward to that
I believe they released a single at the end of last year
I think they're waiting for Trump to be impeached to release their next single. It's going to be age of aquarius.
They've released a few songs over the past year or so. Look up their single Sinking Ship, or their covers of Roger Miller's Reincarnation and (as mentioned above) The 5th Dimension's Age of Aquarius. They are all very good.
I saw them live last year. Playing was good, singing was out of pace, 6 songs, then "Goodnight Richmond."
He did speak out against tRump indirectly and promoted planting trees by giving one away. Spoke environmentally a bit between songs.
Understanding Type O negative would be cool
DeathBurn this will be so interesting :)
I concur
Type o rules whats your favorite album
@@cameronfogarty3312 I would probably say Bloody Kisses or Origin of feces. You?
A 6'7" park maintenance worker with a double bass hung over his shoulders like a guitar, juxtaposing religious fervor with animal lust; whats not to get? :)
It’s so nice to see someone acknowledge and notice CAKE for once
Motorcade of Generosity is a nearly-perfect album, and remains among my personal favorites.
It really is fantastic, but I think I'm going to have to pick prolonging the magic as my favorite. It's just really hard to pick favorites between cake albums though, it's like picking favorites between your children.
Fashion Nugget was my favourite, Frank Sinatra was such a great track.
@@acidstrummer Frank Sinatra is an absolute banger. Easily my favorite cake song. I just think that prolonging the magic is really consistently fantastic.
@@nedbrookes6481 that's fair, I love both albums equally but it's probably my bias for Frank Sinatra that colours my opinion
For me it's kind of impossible to pick a favorite cake album, it's like picking a favorite son
The most impressive part of the band as a whole is their ability to "layer" all of the sounds in their music.
Each instrument has its OWN part. But each part is interesting on its own, there are no "supporting" instruments.
"Friend is a Four Letter Word" is a great example.
The instrumental in Friend is a Four Letter Word is insane
short skirt long jacket is clearly about wanting a successful/overachiever type woman with a wild side
My first CDs were Cake “Fashion Nugget”, 311 “311”, & Bush “Sixteenstone”;
Always interpreted “Short skirt/long jacket” as a lady in the streets & freak in the sheets;
Speaking of Bush, Gavin Rosdale had some interesting songwritings...
How about Morphine ? They're so underrated...
That would be so great!
Agreed, one of the best bands ever, great docu here th-cam.com/video/8KkUINW0rg0/w-d-xo.html
You should check Whitey too (the musician, not the band), another strangely forgotten one.
@@mauriciocorrea4811
Ditto!
Yes!
cure for pain is one of the best songs i've ever heard
When the house was standing
You'd never have believed it
When the house was standing
You'd never have believed
The bricks and mortar
Have all given way
At first they resisted but then they began to sway
How can you say forever is at your command
How can you say the future's in the palm
In the palm of your hand
🙌🥰❤️
Beastie boys next!
YESSSSSSS!!!!!!
Why is William Osman in this video's thumbnail picture?
I see Short Skirt/Long Jacket as commentary against what is expected of women or at least what is expected of them if they want to find someone- the problem being that every time he mentions a trait he'd like a girl to have, the next trait is the complete opposite.
Jax3636 I think that’s more accurate
To be honest I never cared what the singer was on about; to me the best thing about this band is the bass player.
Understanding cake's basslines
Or the trumpet
you do realize they've had two different bassists? right?
I know the bass player
The Clash!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Bungle or Jane's Addiction
Fashion nugget is a big influence on me
8:10 now i may be a dumb college student and not a licensed professional, but maybe the reason that young people are more depressed nowadays is because A) there's more of an understanding in pop culture of what it is, B) they feel disconnected to people around them because it's harder to interact to people in person because we spend most of our time online, C) we're all working way too hard to reach an arbitrary goal (monetary success) that's harder to reach thanks to the assholes of the previous generation who fucked the planet and raised prices while stagnating wages, or D) all of the above
idk might be wrong tho
I think the gap between younger and older people is the biggest problem, and is the root of disconnection for sure. People that wouldn't touch the internet past going onto social media have the most control in our society right now. The news takes a lifestyle they don't understand and turns it on it's head because they know the older folks that watch news are looking for answers. We've been given opportunities with the internet, but it's still even new to us, though we already found ways to turn it into jobs or profit. Younger people work for something the people with power don't understand, and instead of embracing more experimentation they pretty much spit in their fucking face and berate them on every media that captures an older crowd, begging to keep things the way they've always been. That would sure make me depressed.
I mean if you take the distance at face value sure... but its really about struggling with both an amphetamine addiction and a crippling histrionic personality disorder, and McCrea has confirmed this, boyo
Congrats "boyo" you're so smart!
Understanding Jane’s Addiction
Ew
Arlo KILpatrick
Ur funny
Jane is doing well. She never made it to Spain though.
Short Skirt Long Jacket is definitely a sarcastically observant commentary on how specific men are when it comes to choosing a woman to date.
Ironically, Cake is exactly the kind of thing that inspired grunge artists to create. To be fair, grunge artists eventually fought to be called alternative instead to stop being pidgeonholed or restricted to the grunge sound and branch out to new sounds. I wouldn't be surprised if Cake was one of the influences of that change.
How could you not talk about Comfort Eagle!? Jk lol still a good video. More people need to listen to Cake they really are an amazing band!
Comfort Eagle! has always been my favorite.
Stick shifts and safety belts is the only song I know from this band. It has been my favorite song since the first time I heard it.
Your channel is so addicting, please keep it up
Understanding Death from Above, Bloc Party, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Jesse Hughes, Led Zeppelin.
Fr3ddy Tv Bloc Party yes!
Nothing to understand about oasis
I always thought that the distance was about bad sex, like trying to get off without any consideration for his partner? “Trying to think of someone for whom he still burns/he’s going the distance/he’s going for speed/she’s all alone her her time of need”
Everyone I know thinks this
Dammit. This made me reflect more on my own life than I would like to admit. My own overworking mentality, the way it crashed down as I fell into depression. And trying to climb back out. As a teenager I listened to alot of cake. It slowly moved down in the playlist as things got heavier and heavier.(alot of dark metal) these songs all meant more the older I got.
oh. my. god. I have never seen a video about Cake! Finally!
Good job. You're great at finding bands that I personally love. And when you speak about them it feels like it's coming from someone who's actually a fan, but also so smart and inquisitive.
So strange, I knew The Distance from when it came out, and picked up Fashion Nugget about a month ago. And now here's your video that gives this gem some meaning beyond the comedic dead-pan lyrics. Strange coincidence. Thanks for the awesome vid, Lie!
I literally just started listening to this band like a week ago lol, this is perfect timing.
How do I block a channel from showing up on my TH-cam page?
I have loved Cake for years, and this makes me appreciate them even more 🎂
Its crazy theres so many diffrent views I've always thought of short skirt/long jacket to be about expectations men have for woman.
So glad you did Cake! Such an underrated band
One of the most unique vocalists ever
YES! I didn't know I needed this.
Pertaining to your analysis of short skirt long jacket:
I can tell you first hand that a girl just like that exists.
It's basically my wife's theme song. Voice like tinted glass, eyes that burn like cigarettes, eccentric style, changing her name and her car almost as often as her mood (that one is a long story). But still.... the resemblance is uncanny.
Yes she does. I married her!
Ah the band from town. One of my co-workers back in the 90's was dating one of the members, and they would come by the restaurant near closing time to eat Tappa's, and drink wine. Good time's, saw them a few times at the local show venues back in the day in Sacramento. Thanks for the video good sir!
I like how you tied it up with a nice bow at the end. deeeep. Good video
Great idea fora channel. You should do some 'they might giants' songs. I love listening to their albums with a friend of mine and delving into what we think theyre trying to say with any particular song.
Oh hell yea love cake thanks for this. Instant sub.
As a wiser 52 yr old Conspiracy Theorist, I find I appreciate CAKE's lyrics all the more now. And Comfort Eagle is a great MP3 song just prior to SENDING in the ski/snowboard terrain park!
Please do Mild High Club next!
Love your series, really i formative
Great video!
I can't recall where I read it, but Short Skirt Long Jacket also highlights the double standard we hold women to (short skirted sexuality and long jacketed modesty), as well as following a narrative of the idealised woman in question, changing her name and car to the more mature Karen and sensible Chrysler respectively.
It fits with your assertion that the lyricist is a critic of modern society, who frames his analyses in comic or sarcastic ways.
Thats what i thought too
I found the feminist!
@@NessJr You aren't wrong. Out of curiosity, what is the image you have of me, right now, just as you read this?
@@leonadams8097 you know what, I'll play along, sounds fun!
A taller version of Notch, the creator of Minecraft.
Be advised, I am 100% guessing
@@NessJr yeah, that's a miss. I have less girth and more hair :D
To me, quintessential cake is the music video for Short Skirt, Long Jacket---they don't take themselves too seriously and that's what made their music so enjoyable to me
0 views, 5 likes, 23 comments...seems legit. Anyway, great video as always.
Understanding Jeff Mangum/Neutral Milk Hotel
I had The Distance going through my head as I passed this.
I feel this helps sum up why I always say that CAKE is a Punk band in spirit.
That said, I still have no clue what "Mr. Mastodon Farm cuts swatches of all materials" means.
Cake is the 1st band iv seen live! They opened for No Doubt(when N.D.was still ska).I want my Cake and eat it too.Love his voice,very distinct.
This video gave me a completely different perspective on a band that I just thought was boring and overplayed on the radio. I really like all the messages behind their upbeat music now. BUT I'M STILL WAITING FOR YOU TO DO A VIDEO ABOUT BECK.
Cake is great!
Favorite album of theirs is “Fashion Nugget”.
I definitely think "Meanwhile Rack James" is their best song.
Back in 11th grade I used to go on CAKEs website and read the daily quotes anytime I was in the library lol
Fucking love your channel dude...please do Interpol
Sublime
Can you do a video on Leonard Cohen?
Were Cake's lyrics hard to understand?
Ya if you're a sheep you go to heaven, if you're a goat you can go to hell. Pretty simple
Some of the most thought provoking bands of the 90's
Tool
Radiohead
C A K E
would u do one on modest mouse?
Modest mouse are ass
John McCrea : THE CAKE" I love you man
I just want to say I love you man.
And The Blues
Robert Johnston, BB King, Howlin Wolf, Albert King, Leadbelly, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Billie Holiday, John Lee Hooker, etc.
Cake is my favorite band... So I guess that's why this popped up in my recommended it.
I always thought Short Skirt is ironic. Like he's aware of how silly it sounds. "Voice that is dark like tinted class"
Can you do Those Poor Bastards? Such an underated and diverse band.
You should do a video about Neutral Milk Hotel. Because there is a severe lack of videos like yours about them and there is quite a lot to talk about.
I love Cake.
Depeche Mode next
I always thought Short Skirt/Long Jacket was about how men expectations on women are unreasonable, impossible to achieve and how being the "girl of a man's dream" demands a huge amount of traits that no person in the world has.
I thought it was about chicks with dicks
I fucking love this man and cake dawg!!!!
Made me want to listen to cake.. never there
Understanding the 13th Floor Elevators, the story of their lead singer is harrowing, not enough know
First concert in 2001 in Berkeley weekend after 9/11 I was six years old
do understanding: the shadows or Hank marvin
I discovered Cake ages ago but forgot about them. Recently, my girlfriend got me back into them!
This was fun listening to some one talk about cake! One of my favourite bands...
I think their lyrics are darker than they were given credit for in this video.
I definitely think of short skirt long jacket as a fun but depressing song. It's set to a happy beat and superficially fun - a bit like hey ya by outkast - but if you really think about the lyrics they hit you .
And same with sheep go to heaven. When I listen the song, I'm left with the sense that mccrae is actually telling the goats to go to hell at the end of the song
Or as some guy once said 3000 years ago:
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.
There's something about pleasure that can leave one feeling even hollowed once it's over.
Anyway - what a cool band
Man what about “Comfort Eagle”
We need Type O Negative NOW!
Me an intellectual: The Distance is about racing cars 😌🙃
Racing horses
Short skirt long jacket is about chicks with dicks
Please do Idles next!
new order please
I’ve never understood really who Spooky Black/Corbin is and came from understanding his lyrics and who he is and why he’s so emotional would be amazing
Love Cake
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SMASHING PUMPKINS VIDEO?????
The Voidz would be great. Julian Casablancas' solo career in general from 2009 onward.
Can you do Understanding Depeche Mode
Chuck
I think your video is great and your commitment to its production is an homage that should be acknowledged and celebrated as the fan/respectful listener that I suppose you must be for realizing this project in the first place; but, when it comes to your synopsis of Short Skirt Long Jacket, which is by no means their best song or the one (in my opinion) that is anywhere near the most worthy of reflection or emphasis, you gave a lot of scenarios of what the song could be alluding to except consideration of a scenario in which it could be written about a specific woman that exudes all the qualities the song describes. In fact, I feel you’ve fallen short by failing to either realize for yourself, or acknowledge if you did consider it, that the lines about Citibank are so specific that it seems to lead credence to a counterpoint that it was written with an actual real life muse as its inspiration and not the idealized woman that you make claims it was written for/about in several different hypothetical scenarios.
Saw cake live at dc 101 chili cook off 2012 with incubus and awolnation probably the best show I seen in person.
You have got to do R.E.M. my dude
Understanding Tom Waits!
William Osman????
I can’t believe I actually got noticed
One of the best bands ever