indie rock alternative indie pop psychedelic

Filter by
Lyrics
Information
Top Tracks
Related Tracks
Related Artist

Foster the People - Lotus Eater

[Verse 1]
I can never be like you
I don't ever talk like that
You smile with a sparkler drink
And stumble in your lipstick mess
Hollywood philosophies
Yeah, it's a tragedy
But you keep hanging on
With a vacant look
Just waiting around for someone to take you home

[Pre-Chorus 1]
And I know you know I'm not the one
I'm sorry I was late, I didn't wanna come

[Chorus 1]
Aaaaaahhhhhh!
Oh no, man, it's just not that much fun
Oooh

[Verse 2]
Well my eyes are wandering
Can we just eat the news
And dance around the room
In a scattered point of views
Take my hand and breathe
Yeah just count to three
I wish that I could blink and turn all your words
Into ice cubes so I could fill my drink

[Pre-Chorus 2]
And I know you know I'm not the one
I'm sorry I was late, next time I just won't come

[Chorus 2]
Woo!
Aaaaaahhhhhh!
Oh man, yea, I think I gotta run!
Oooh
(Laughter)

[Verse 3]
Hey, what's that called when you're sitting on your couch
And having fun just being by yourself
Wondering why we can't commit to love
The things that we got we always want more of

[Pre-Chorus 3]
I know you'd rather have me fake it but I'm not gonna make it

[Chorus 2]
Woo!
Aaaaaahhhhhh!
Yeah yeah yeah, man I gotta run!
Oooh

The term Lotus-eater comes from Greek mythology, in which Lotus-eaters were a race of people inhabiting an island where their main food source was lotus plants. Lotus plants were narcotics, and induced a peaceful, deeply apathetic sleep. Their most famous appearance is in the Odyssey, when Odysseus lands on their island and his men are influenced by the intoxicating nature of the lotus plants. They suddenly lose the will to return home and want to wallow in the plants' enchantment. The plants are dangerous in that way; they trap the men in an endless cycle and dispel their sense of motivation. Nowadays, the term refers to someone who indulges in pleasure and luxury as opposed to practical affairs. In the song, both Mark and the woman fit this description- Mark has lost himself in drug addiction, and the woman is preoccupied with finding someone to spend her nights with. These situations also reflect that of in the Odyssey: the addictions Mark and the woman have are alike the addiction Odysseus' men had with the Lotus plants, and they must break free of them in order to move on with their lives. Before the song was released, and even prior to the release of the band’s EP "III", the song was played live on many occasions.