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Artist: The Lumineers
Track: Cleopatra

Lyrics
I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no plans, yeah

And I left the footprints, the mud stain on the carpet
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant
Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around

But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah, yeah

While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you

But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time

And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part

I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters
But that's all in the past love, gone with the wind
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom
It's a bed and a bathroom
And a place for the end

I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Meanings
The Lumineers Wrote “Cleopatra” About A Taxi Driver They Met In The Republic Of Georgia
“As she looks back, she realizes that at that age, we try on all of these masks of identity, like an actress.”
​The Lumineers – Cleopatra
This is the title track off the new album and in a video posted to The Lumineers' VEVO account, the lead singer and production team explains that the song is about a taxi driver he
​The Lumineers – Ophelia
“Ophelia” is “the cornerstone” of The Lumineers’s sophomore album, Cleopatra. It was the first track written and recorded for the album, following which band member Jeremiah
​The Lumineers – Patience
“Patience” is the closing track to Cleopatra and The Lumineers' first instrumental piece. In an interview, the band’s drummer Jeremiah Frates said the inspiration for “Patience
​The Lumineers – Sleep on the Floor
[Intro] / Pack yourself a toothbrush, dear / Pack yourself a favorite blouse / Take a withdrawal slip, take all of your savings out / 'Cause if we don't leave this town / We might
​The Lumineers – My Eyes
[Verse 1] / Oh, the devil's inside / You opened the door, you gave him a ride / Too young to know, too old to admit / That you couldn't see how it ends / [Chorus] / What did you do
​The Lumineers – Life in the City
[Intro] / Woo, woo / Woo, woo / [Verse 1] / And if the city's skyscrapers rise over this island / Would you be glad to see Manhattan for once? / I knew the dream, it died, JMZ line
​The Lumineers – White Lie
“White Lie” is a bonus song available only in the deluxe edition of Cleopatra. The song is about a man being caught in a lie in a relationship and pleading for forgiveness. He
​The Lumineers – Cleopatra (Acoustic Demo)
[Verse 1] / I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress / When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand / But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress / With my
​The Lumineers – Long Way from Home
The song is written about Wesley’s father losing his battle with cancer.
​The Lumineers – Angela
[Verse 1] / When you left this town, with your windows down / And the wilderness inside / Let the exits pass, all the tar and glass / 'Til the road and sky align / [Pre-Chorus
​The Lumineers – Gale Song
Perhaps one of the best songs on the soundtrack, Gale Song is written from Gale’s point of view. People only focus on Katniss' side of the love triangle, so this gives us a view of
​The Lumineers – Gun Song
Lead singer Wesley Shultz explained the moment that inspired this song: This song was [from] the time when my dad had just passed away – so soon after that that the clothes were
​The Lumineers – Boots of Spanish Leather
“Boots of Spanish Leather” appears on the Target Deluxe Version of Cleopatra. It was also released to streaming services as a single in late 2016. The song, which was originally
​The Lumineers – Stubborn Love
Stubborn Love is the second single from The Lumineers' self-titled debut. It was released on October 3rd, 2012. The song is about second chances and forgiveness; the writer
​The Lumineers – In the Light
[Intro] / I don't know why I just can't let it go / I don't know why I just can't let it go / Mm-mm-mm / Memory's old but I just can't let it go / The idea's gone but I just can't
​The Lumineers – Dead Sea
[Verse 1] / I stood alone upon the platform in vain / The Puerto Ricans, they were playing their salsa in the rain / With open doors and manual locks / In fast food parking lots
​The Lumineers – Everyone Requires a Plan
[Verse] / He whispers secrets through a thick mustache / And she listens to him / Flicks her cigarette's ash / And smoke hangs velvet curtains / And hides her lips / And she hopes
​The Lumineers – Sailor Song (Moitessier)
[Verse 1] / Loneliness oh won't you let me be / Let me be and I will set you free / Don't you think if it was up to me / I would choose to be happy / [Verse 2] / Let me go, say my
​The Lumineers – For Fra
[Instrumental]
​The Lumineers – Sick in the Head
[Verse 1] / People say I'm no good / Write me off, oh, yes, they should / Fuck 'em, they're just sick in the head / They're writing my history / Think somebody should've asked me
​The Lumineers – Where the Skies Are Blue
[Verse 1] / You're gonna leave, it ain't gonna break my heart, mama / I've never seen nobody quite like you / [Chorus] / And if you ever change your tune / Oh, the world's got the
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SongMeanings Interpretations
The Lumineers - Cleopatra Lyrics
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to ...
The Lumineers - Ophelia Lyrics
The song is Hamlets view on an elusive love he had toward Ophelia whom he idolized. He's being remorse about his pursuit of her leading to her demise. Perhaps ...
The Lumineers Lyrics, Songs, Albums And More
The Lumineers Lyrics, Songs, Albums And More at SongMeanings! song lyrics, song meanings, albums, music and more.
The Lumineers - Angela Lyrics
His very own cleopatra. Moreover, each day we're together, we keep building each other up like a symbolic brick house. Personally, It's been a long time coming ...
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SongTell Meaning
Meaning of "Cleopatra" by ​The Lumineers
The song "Cleopatra" by The Lumineers tells the story of a woman who was once young and ambitious with dreams of love and career success. However, the past...
Meaning of "Sleep on the Floor" by ​The Lumineers
The song "Sleep on the Floor" by The Lumineers is an anthemic plea for a pair of lovers to run away together and start a new life. It urges them to take m...
SongFacts
Cleopatra by The Lumineers - Songfacts
Cleopatra by The Lumineers song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
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Big Shot by The Lumineers - Songfacts
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Brightside by The Lumineers - Songfacts
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Cleopatra by Weezer - Songfacts
Cleopatra by Weezer song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Angela by The Lumineers - Songfacts
Angela by The Lumineers song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Boots of Spanish Leather by Bob Dylan - Songfacts
Boots of Spanish Leather by Bob Dylan song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
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Genius Artists
​The Lumineers
The Lumineers is a band from New Jersey and formed in 2002. The original members consisted of Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites. In 2009, the duo moved to Colorado to be able to
​The Lumineers Songs
​The Lumineers has 99 songs with the most popular being Ophelia, Cleopatra and Ho Hey.
Genius Albums
Cleopatra (Deluxe) by ​The Lumineers
Get all the lyrics to songs on Cleopatra (Deluxe) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Cleopatra by ​The Lumineers
The Lumineers sophomore album, Cleopatra, was released on April 8th, 2016. It’s their first album since their self-titled debut album The Lumineers was released in 2012. Under the
Cleopatra (Target Edition) by ​The Lumineers
Get all the lyrics to songs on Cleopatra (Target Edition) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Winter EP by ​The Lumineers
The Winter EP was a vinyl-exclusive EP released on Black Friday 2012. At the time, all four songs were previously unreleased. All four songs were eventually digitally released as
Song Seeds - EP by ​The Lumineers
Get all the lyrics to songs on Song Seeds - EP and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
BRIGHTSIDE by ​The Lumineers
Get all the lyrics to songs on BRIGHTSIDE and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
III by ​The Lumineers
Aside from being the band’s third studio album, III gets its name from the first ten songs of the album, presented in three chapters. The album is a family tree, spanning three
Gloria Sparks - EP by ​The Lumineers
Get all the lyrics to songs on Gloria Sparks - EP and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Tracks from the Attic - EP by ​The Lumineers
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The Lumineers (Deluxe Edition) by ​The Lumineers
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Lumineers (Deluxe Edition) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Jimmy Sparks - EP by ​The Lumineers
Get all the lyrics to songs on Jimmy Sparks - EP and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Lumineers (10th Anniversary Edition) by ​The Lumineers
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Lumineers (10th Anniversary Edition) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
C-Sides - EP by ​The Lumineers
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