Album: Thank You, Happy Birthday (2010)

Charted: 55 78

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• This sing along-friendly track is the lead single from American rock band Cage the Elephant's second album, Thank You, Happy Birthday. The song was made available to radio stations on November 17, 2010 and released on November 22, 2010.
• The song features Cage The Elephant percussionist Jared Champion playing on a set of toy drums.
• Thank You, Happy Birthday was recorded in spring 2009 at Nashville's Tragedy/Tragedy Studio with producer Jay Joyce, who was also the man behind the boards for Cage the Elephant's eponymous debut record. The songs were written by the band after they locked themselves away in a remote Kentucky cabin, listened to and discovered old albums from the Pixies, Mudhoney and Butthole Surfers, and studied interviews with songwriting greats like Bob Dylan and John Lennon. Cage the Elephant's Matt Shultz explained to Spinner: "We initially were living in England and came up with 80 song ideas, some complete, some not. We started working on the second record and basically scratched all those ideas. There were a lot of things happening at that time; personal growth and growth as a band. We ended up renting some cabins at a lake in Kentucky and isolated ourselves in the middle of winter. No cell phone reception - it kind of felt like Survivor."
• The guitar riff was borrowed from a song Daniel Tichenor's father had written years previously and the bass line was inspired by the Shins.

Comments: 7

• Haley from Indianapolis, InWhen I heard this song today I was really interested in the video and then the part came where it said "Even on A cloudy day" which reminded me of my cousin who died 4 years ago on April 14 when she was 13. But anyways I started crying. It was just one of those things that hit you when you least expect it.
• Raunchy from Tulsa, OkCTE's new hit "Come A Little Closer" is a cool song. CTE was on "Jimmy Kimmel Show" last night & I loved the performance. Don't care for that dunce Kimmel, but I just wanted to watch CTE. They're coming back to Tulsa this weekend.
• Elmer H from Westville, OkAbsolutely cool song even though it's conveying a sad feeling. I'm a solid fan of CAGE THE ELEPHANT anyway and caught their show in Tulsa OK a month or so ago. These guys are so talented! On this song, the lead vocalist sounds so young & lyrics are intelligent, but all that makes it all the more interesting. This song has a soft melody, but these guys rock too! Love the ELEPHANT!
• Bubblesk from Memphis, TnOoooo! I love "Shake Me Down" everytime I hear it. What a range of emotions & messages is presented in the song! And the vocals are so young-sounding and sexy! Wheewww! Is it HOT in here, or is it just me??!! It's been out there for a few years, but I love it everytime it's on radioplay. Cage the Elephant is super talented and I'm a true fan. "The Elephant" is so cool.
• Melissa from Chicago, IlIt's a very sad, but encouraging song. I totally love it, and the videoclip is just amazing.
• Randy from Ashland, Ohthat's sad..
• Ryan from Anderson, CaEven on a cloudy day...

More Songfacts:

KokomoThe Beach Boys

"Kokomo" gave The Beach Boys their first #1 hit in 22 years. They picked the title because it sounded tropical.

The ReasonHoobastank

"The Reason" by Hoobastank took off on TikTok in 2021 when it soundtracked confessional #NotAPerfectPerson videos about mistakes and regrets. The band made one of their own with the caption: "Realizing 20 years later that you named your band Hoobastank."

Dark HorseKaty Perry

Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" was co-written by Sarah Hudson, who was a member of the pop group Ultraviolet Sound. Though Sarah isn't related to Katy (whose real name is Katy Hudson), she is the first cousin of another famous person with the same name, the actress Kate Hudson.

Love Won't WaitGary Barlow

Madonna wrote a song called "Love Won't Wait" that she didn't want, but became a UK #1 hit for Gary Barlow.

Giving You The Best That I GotAnita Baker

Before the game when he hit a famous shot to win a playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Michael Jordan was listening to Anita Baker's "Giving You The Best That I Got."

RoyalsLorde

16-tear-old Lorde wrote the lyrics to "Royals" at home in just half an hour. She was inspired by the "ridiculous, unrelatable, unattainable opulence" that runs through such albums as Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne and Lana Del Rey's Born To Die.

Editor's Picks

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.