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Length
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"Telescope" is the third track on Cage the Elephant's second studio album "Melophobia".
Matt Shultz says, “I was sitting around with a couple of friends, and I started to have these revelations about songwriting. What struck me was, the more you try to distance yourself from that honest, bare moment of creativity in order to cater to cool or to look artistic, the further you’re going to get from what really matters, that initial moment of inspiration. What comes first is probably what’s right."
Matt Shultz on Telescope
""Telescope" was a song that was big for me. It was a breakthrough for me in that manner. We had been touring for about five years solid up until this past year, which was the first time that we spent any time at home in the past five years. It was the very first time I had my own place. I just found myself doing life’s meaningless tasks to fill the void to pass the time. I became obsessive compulsive about decorating my house, and once that was finished, I felt obligated to spend time in each room. I felt the need to spend time in the kitchen. Then, I’d move into the dining room and then into the bedroom, as if it had some kind of purpose. I just saw how pointless it was and that nothing was being accomplished.”
What song resonates with you the most right now?
“Probably "Telescope"…"Telescope” is also a song that happened relatively quickly. Again, I was sitting in my living room. A lot of times, I find myself sitting in my living room staring at a blank TV screen for hours on end—especially this winter. It’s not so much like that anymore. You ask yourself, “What am I doing? What the heck?” I wanted to write about my situation, but I didn’t want to write about it by saying, “Here, this is my story!” If we could watch ourselves in our houses and our behaviors, that’s what I was thinking. It was the first time I’d ever been home in an extended period of time. We’d been on the road for five years. There were so many times where I was like, “Okay, I’m standing in the living room. Now, I’m going to stand in the kitchen!” I’d obsess over dusting the countertops or making sure everything is in its right place. For what reason when there’s a world of people out there to be conversed with? “Telescope” is a great reflection on this winter and a portrait into it coming from my standpoint. It has strong roots in that feeling of imminent doom. You think, “My tooth hurts. Do I have a cavity that’s impacted? Is it going to cause an infection in my jaw and go to my brain and kill me?” That was very detailed so you know I’m being honest!"
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