The Lumineers - The Ballad Of Cleopatra

No words to describe this .

Since so many are confused let me explain.
The story begins with the youngest girl in this video, she's young and in love. Her father has died and the love of her life asks her to leave, it shows what would happen if she would have left (which is ultimately fall deeper in love, explore, get married, and essentially live a happy fulfilled life.). However in reality she doesn't leave with her true love, instead she stays and he leaves, skipping over to the song Angela (the middle age women) she is now pregnant with another mans child and is living an unhappy life, she decides to leave one night, which ends in her and her new man getting a divorce, now onto Cleopatra (the woman driving the taxi) she is older now and drives the taxi for fun and sees many people that remind her of her and her love. She visits with the song she gave birth too and states that god gave her two blessing, birth and a divorce, now onto the 4th and final song, she is way older now and is now in a nursing home, she explains to the aids there that she was so amazing when she was young, and since they are a younger generation they don't quite understand, so they just shrug it off. She has a collection of the love of her life's pictures and she regrets not going with him, she knows she is going to die in the nursing home, old and alone. The what if moment comes when she decides to leave the nursing home. The end. Ultimately this ballad is a lesson about choices, regrets, and life. She regrets not leaving with her soulmate which in turn leads to her living a depressing life, in which the only blessing are birth and a divorce. You're very welcome.

Anyone else notice this is a 25 minute video without a single ad to interrupt? Definitely a rare thing today, Lumineers did not want anything to take away from the story. I highly respect that. This is also a perfect piece of art, the first time I watched I cried more than once. Thank you! Absolutely beautiful and stunning, the music, lyrics, visuals all of it.❤

Everytime I watch this, I cry.
But it’s also a reminder that we all have a chance at having such an amazing, unique, Bold and beautiful lives to create in our short time we got on this big blue ball.
We all end up at the same sort of ending, this music video shows it. But it’s what we did in the time we had that matters the most.
A little goddess lives in all is us.
I hope to whoever reads this, put the phone down,
call the girl or boy you had a crush on and tell them you always love them (what’s the worst they are gonna say?),
Do the little road trip out of the city you always wanted to do,
Quit that job you hate and take the leap into that new business idea you have,
LEAVE YOUR HOMETOWN AND SEE THE WORLD!
You deserve it ;)

WHAT ATIME TO BE ALIVE, ONLY TO DIE AGAIN WITH THIS VIDEO.

"you're always one decision away from a completely different life."

Been 6 years, and I still come back to it outta nowhere. The beauty and depth of this masterpiece is unimaginable and would never get old ♥️

This band will always have a place in my heart. I lived an incredible story with my brother, we traveled from Colombia to Argentina for Vacations and the Lumineers were in the city on November 1st. The concert was sold out, but you could listen to them from the stadium parking lot. The night was cold and windy, but we ended up listening to half of the concert outside. A Security guard was going to take us out of the place and suddenly an Argentinian guy gave us Two tickets to enter the show. It was magic. What I could hear from the stands was beautiful, from this day I learned to trust when you are perseverant and I am sure that my relationship with my brother was strengthened.

respect for putting no ads in the mid of the video btw

"in the end we only regret the chances we didnt take"

Ophelia Meaning :
The film opens with “Ophelia.” This is really one of the only parts of the film in which The Lumineers actually appear. It’s a way for them to introduce the ballad, with a song they hold close to their hearts. “Ophelia” deals with the success, expectations, and pressure the band has gone through since rising to fame, which is why this song means so much to them.
I, I got a little paycheck
You got big plans and you gotta move (whoo!)
And I don’t feel nothing at all
And you can’t feel nothing small
“Ophelia” is a constant reminder for The Lumineers. It allows them to take a step back and appreciate all that has happened to them, and that’s exactly what the video depicts. The band is playing the song for a crowd when lead singer, Wesley Shultz, steps out of his own body and removes himself from the chaos of his current life; just as the meaning of the song depicts. He exits the building and begins to dance along the street to the beat of the music. The song continues as he pleasantly strides along. As the music of Ophelia fades out, transitional notes fall in, eventually leading Shultz into the taxicab, of one, Cleopatra. They share a conversation unheard to our ears, and thus, the story begins.
Cleopatra Meaning
Shultz exits the car and “Cleopatra” the song begins as Cleopatra, the driver, waits for her next passenger. The “Cleopatra” portion of the ballad follows the beautiful taxi driver with wild gray hair and eyes full of wisdom, through her shift. As she drives along the busy streets you are able to see that she is reminiscing. She is reminiscing on the “what ifs” that life inevitably brings you. It’s not so much about regret, as it is about thinking about the path you took in life, and realizing that for whatever reason, it was the path you needed to take.
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
And I left the footprints,
the mud stained 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
Casts of characters enter in and out of the cab, some familiar and some not, some metaphorical and some literal. Each character has a different story, and each taken in by our seasoned Cleopatra.
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
Eventually she turns the meter off, and picks up her adult son from the airport, who enters the front seat with a wide-eyed smile and a grand hug. They drive until dusk. They stop to enjoy burgers with full smiles and genuine laughs before night falls and she must take him to his father. The song comes to a close as she drops her son off to his father’s home, and that’s when the first “what if” of the ballad, a theme that reoccurs throughout, happens. Cleopatra imagines going in to make amends with the father so they can enjoy their son’s stay together, as a family. However, instead she turns around, gets in her car, and drives away.
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
She drives. Her face is sullen and soft. A smooth transition begins as Cleopatra transforms into a much younger version of herself, driving away from something else, with the same soft and sullen look upon her face. What comes next is the beginning for Cleopatra, the beginning of the “What Ifs.”
Sleep on the Floor Meaning
Peaceful piano track “Patience” plays as we see the youngest version of Cleopatra sad and transfixed, staring deeply into her boyfriend’s eyes, standing at her father’s funeral. As the keys of the piano put you at ease, everything moves in slow motion. The boy slowly approaches her and whispers, “If you don’t leave now you may never make it out.” With that, “Sleep On The Floor” begins, and Cleopatra imagines what could have been if she left with the love of her life on that very day.
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 never make it out
I was not born to drown
Baby come on
“Sleep On The Floor” takes us on a journey. The young and in love couple drive across the states. They wander in and out of dirty motels, they meet new people, and they find themselves free. Although they have nothing stable or secure - they have each other. And what we come to find, is that is quite literally all that they need. They eventually marry, happy as ever, and dance into the night. As they lay down to sleep on their wedding night “Sleep On The Floor” comes to a close. The young Cleopatra locks eyes with the camera before the scene shifts out of the “what if” scenario and into reality. She’s now back in her car, just as we saw her before the song began, with that soft and sullen look on her face. She looks in the rearview, only for a second, and then continues to drive on, always moving forward.
Angela Meanign
“Angela” begins with Cleopatra slightly older and pregnant. She’s in bed with her husband, safe and secure in a nice home. However, it’s easy to tell she does not want to be there. At this point in the ballad you know who the Cleopatra character is, or at least who she wants to be. She’s “taller than the rafters.” Life has gotten in the way of who she wanted to become, but that still doesn’t change who she is at her core. And so, as the guitar plucks of “Angela” continue, we see the older, pregnant Cleopatra leave her body, and begin to imagine what life would be like, if she left him when she wanted to.
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
The strangers in this town,
They raise you up just to cut you down
Oh Angela it’s a long time coming
And your Volvo lights lit up green and white
With the cities on the signs
But you held your course to some distant war
In the corners of your mind
She’s back to driving, back where she always seems to be - on the open road, on her own, moving forward. But this time the look on her face is not soft or sullen. It’s determined. Determined to hold her course. She drives far and wide until she reaches a motel. She gets out of the car, looks to the sky, and for the first time in the ballad she expresses joy, celebration, and finally, peace. The “Angela” video takes us on the journey of the heart and soul that is the Cleopatra character - following your gut and your heart to its wits end.
My Eyes MEaning
“My Eyes” is the bow that ties the story of this legend together. She’s older now; older than she was when we first met her in the taxi. She’s in a nursing home, sharing stories with the nurse, and waiting for her time to end.
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
What did you do to my eyes
What did you sing to that lonely child
Promised it all but you lied
You better slow down baby soon
It’s all or nothing to you
Before it ends, we see Cleopatra shift out of her body one last time, to make the move we know she wants to make. She walks down the empty halls, out of the nursing home door, and into the abyss.
“The Ballad Of Cleopatra” spreads the wisdom of this character onto those who view it. She shows you to be strong and to stay true to yourself. She shows you that you may not end up exactly where you thought you would. And she shows you that even if you don’t become who you thought you would be - it doesn’t matter, becuase in the end, the only thing that really matters in your life are the people you could never and would never want to life without. So choose those people, and hold on to them tight.
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,
when I die I’ll be on time
Cleopatra was also based from a real person. inspired by a real-life encounter with a much different woman. “Cleopatra” tells the life story of an elderly female taxi driver that guitarist and lead vocalist Wes Schultz met during a trip to the Republic of Georgia between Europe and Asia.

I don't doubt you won't ever see this, but this album and short film have actively made a positive change in my life. A week ago while not exactly sober and thinking about a lost friendship I listened to all these tracks again. I decided to text her, to let her know I missed her and that I was glad to have been her friend.
I woke that morning to a text telling me she felt that way, too, and we met up and hung out today, a week later.
Music about taking chances and living with the regrets of not making them made me change my life for the better. Thank you.

This is the most beautiful illustration of regret I've seen

Ready or not, here comes Love.
Take a chance. Never regret.

When I was younger, there were many sleepless nights I spent looking outside my apartment windows, watching the city lights while thinking of ending it all. Yet every single time, long past midnight, I found myself watching "The Ballad of Cleopatra" and crying, when no one could hear it at all. It gave me strength to think of better days... Now, 5 years later, I just wish to say - Thank you, @The Lumineers

Cleopatra rips my heart out every single time I watch it. Such a powerful piece of art to be able to do that.

im not ready to cry

I just want to point out how in Sleep on the floor, they packed everything but the toothbrush the song asked.

I'll be 43 March 6th. The Ballad will always be the most beautiful arrangement of music of story I've ever experienced. ❤

Never thought I could watch a 24-minute song video over and over. Epic stuff.

sleep on the floor gives me some serious wanderlust

i rewatch this every time when i feel like i need emotion in my body

A master class in story telling and cinematography.

‘I’ve read this script, the casting fits so I play my part’ genius, absolute genius. The lyrics to their songs are so magic.

Greatest Band in the World

What an original idea for a music video. This was a beautiful story.

2024 still jamming this band. One of my top ten bands. I appreciate all of the releases.

When you have to choose between your love, or your career. Hopefully you’ll not make the same mistake as I did. Don’t let that special person ever walk away. You can always find another career, but finding love is a hell of a lot harder.

"Marry, and you will regret it; don't marry, you will also regret it; marry don't marry, you will regret it either way..."-Søren Kierkegaard

This was hands down the best thing I have ever watched in my entire life.

It's 1st Jan,2023 and I have watched this ballad over and over 1000 times approx and I'm still not over it. Thanks Lumineers for this amazing album and power to you this year for your upcoming music.

0:00 Ophelia
4:42 Cleopatra
9:25 Sleep on the Floor
13:23 Angela
18:39 My Eyes
22:25 Patience

the lady who plays old taxi driver is soo beautiful

Finally, the story completes itself!

I think the character that stood out to me the most was the young man with the teardrop tattoo who looks like he's just left prison.
In a short time, he looks so anxious in the back of Cleopatra's cab, but then later on we see him as an aged carer, spending the night with her in her final moments.
It's beautiful that in just a few short scenes, he can embody such a powerful and inspiring change of life, and I for one respect anybody out there who tries to build a new life after experiencing extreme hardships.

It's been 5 years now, am now in my 20s and theses songs are still amazing.
Thank you.

"She was Cleopatra - Maybe she was a young girl whose parents got divorced. And maybe she was raised by her mother alone. Or maybe she stayed with her father, until one day he passed away. Then maybe she ran off with her one true love. Or maybe she decided to stay and never leave. So maybe one day she settled for a man she never loved. But then maybe she decided one night to leave with her child, just like her mother. Maybe when her son had grown into a man, she decided to go back to her husband. Then again, maybe she chose to stay alone, waiting for her one true love to return. And maybe he never does. And maybe someday she will settle for some help, in her old age. But strong as always, maybe she will decide to leave everything one last time, and face the end on her own terms..." from Isaac Ravishankara. I love how all of this is linked to Stubborn Love.

This is an ode to birth, to death, to love, to hate, to sadness, to happiness and it is saying it's "live, go on and live". Thank you so much for telling us this beautiful story, it has being a pleasure to follow it. I would like to be able to say more because there are a lot of things to say, a lot more, but all I can say is, Lumineers, thank you, with your music, with your heart, with your art, for making life always better, thank you for making us feel that it is worth it.

That's one of the most beautiful, understated dance segments I've ever seen.

This has me crying. Not a sad cry, but one for memories and adventures and the bonds people share. I needed this today

OMG I'm so happy to come here this early. ❤️

In the video for Angela the motel is called "The Three Ladies". Here it has changed to "The Four Ladies"

This entire album's story is so beautiful and bitter in the end. But what i love about it most; is its real life. it's not pandering like the movies we watch and the stories we hear as children. It's reality. And unfortunately majority of the people in this world, including myself, have regrets. And we all have that one person. That one person that always makes us wonder "what if?". (if you haven't heard this whole ballad you won't get that statement until you do) The Lumineers aren't just musicians, they are a voice for every single one of us just out here livin man. L-I-V-I-N.

6 years later - still the best ballad I have heard. Its flawless, it's a story - no, a dream, just flowing. A purely perfect work of art!

I wanted a happy ending or maybe just a sad one or anything really.. but like life.. sometimes it's just silence, knowledge that you took paths you regret and the simple fact that what is, is. This isn't Hollywood, not some mush filled romance novel.. it's real. And because of that it is so much more powerful, so true and genuine. But if you let that person go, you will survive, you will go forward. That's it.. Forward..Your choices matter.

every time i watch this, i find myself crying because this is the reality of life and i fear that. i personally am bad at making decisions in my life. i am afraid to choose the wrong decision and regret it. but that's life we have to deal with it and be strong just like cleopatra. i miss the lumineers so much

Esse é o melhor álbum que já escutei!! The Lumineers consegue trazer toda a alegria, tristeza e melancolia

Esse álbum sempre será o meu favorito, ele é o meu lar para os momentos ruins e em que me sinto deslocada da vida. Infelizmente não vou conseguir ir ao show aqui no Brasil, mas só tenho a agradecer por ter me ajudado a tomar as redias da minha vida❤️🇧🇷

The story is simple: Choosing between life and what you imagine your life could be.

My girlfriend's household is not a happy one. She jokes about how she wants to run away and never come back. But I know that there is truth behind her joke. I showed her the video, Sleep on the Floor, and told her that we can run away together. Ever since that night, she and I tried to piece these videos together. It taught us to not make the mistake that Cleopatra made. To take the chance to be with your true love. For if we don’t take this chance, we may not ever have a second one. And even if it doesn’t work out between us, then it is better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all. As of tomorrow, we have been dating for an entire year, and we both appreciate this ballad. Thank you illuminating our lives.

A masterpiece for the ages. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

24 minutes of crying, of soul washing, of a sentence growing: "i want to live a life full of love, deep feelings and everything that waits for me down the road". thank you, lumineers, isaac ravishankara and everyone involved.

All the five songs and formed them into a story... beautiful.

In 24 minutes I've had more feelings than I've had in 24 years of my life.

How the Lumineers manage, every single time, to produce such emotion-filled, meaningful, beautiful songs is beyond me. I'm glad I found you guys.

Wow, I've never seen this video. Now I understand how they all fit together. This band is on another level, no doubt.

Sleep on the Floor is the greatest music video of the past 10 years. It starts in 4:3 ratio or what an old box TV is. Then when Cleopatra doesn't leave but her boyfriend does it goes to 16:9 or what a modern TV is. That is the whole dream of what could have happened. Then it returns to 4:3 when we are back in her true reality.

It's so beautiful, yet I'm crying. It's so haunting, but hopeful. Tragic, while transcendent... This captures life so well... Thank you for this...

Still watching this after so many years. Still hits so hard. Much ❤ Lumineers.

I could not express how well done this film was. Every single aspect of it was beyond words and each part tied itself so perfectly to the scenes prior. for the combined hours and days that I have listened to and supported the Lumineers, I'm shocked that this video JUST showed up on my recommended. quite honestly the best video I have ever watched on any platform. Phenomenal.

The 4 Ladies Motel.. absolute perfection and artistry

CAN YOU HEAR MY TEARS???

Perfect, from time to time there are real great bands coming to the spotlight that make very good music. Cheers to all your music fans!

One of the most amazing thing's I've watched. Finally got a chance to just watch this in one setting with heaadphones. SO many emotions out of each song and the meaning throughout her story is deep. It's unique to connect the dots between songs and see certian scenes intertwine through the story. I feel like I just lived a life through someone else and get the opportunity to learn. Late to the Lumineers train but glad I got a chance to see their storytelling.

Thanks for this short film, magic history.

It's all about the chances we didn't take... like it says on the song "Too young to know, too old to admit that you couldn't see how it ends"

Absolutely love this. Music, video, story.... Masterfully well done!

I love this so much

how could I fall in love with an album so hard and so fast?

Today I bought two of their albums, I didn't know life had another gift waiting...

This was truly a beautiful ballad to experience. Thank you.

This was brilliant!!

I am in tears. This is art. This is beautiful. I will remember this forever.

These songs brought back memories of my life. I am 75 now. Hoping to die with dignity in these uncertain times. I remember the love of my life. We didn't end up together. I hope she is fine.

omg this collection of songs is like a soul balm 😭 thank youuuu 🥰😇

fabulous these song

THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE MOST AMAZING THING I'VE SEEN! I'M FREAKING OUT!!!

This is a cinematic masterpiece

An absolute masterpiece! Its rare to find these works of art on a Sunday afternoon scrolling through youtube

Lumineers have got me through some hard times and good bless your musical and lyrical gifts guys !

this tells the whole story of "cleopatra" i just realised this even in the beginning how the lead singer meet cleopatra as a old taxi driver and that look of realisation in both their eyes as a silent truth is passed between them when they somehow understood each other without a single word . and he decided to tells the story of cleopatra though this beautiful ballad, a lady who didn't choose love when she had the chance, her one true love
and its in real life that he meet a lady like this you can look it up in an interview
this video is just so beautiful and deeply profound

When I listen to "Sleep on the floor" I WANNA ESCAPE FROM MY DAILY LIFE!!!

Brilliant!

Genuinely can't get enough of this , what a masterpiece

most beautiful thing you'll find today...❤

This is one of the most beautiful things I ever saw...Had to think all the time of my girlfriend. She is gone for 3 months. We both love your music and it keeps us strong and happy!

Omg this is beautiful

Love the music and love the story!

I'm the mins dude now. Also, please like so it can go to the top:
Ophelia: 0:00 - 2:31
Cleopatra: 4:21 - 8:00
Sleep on the floor: 8:21 - 12:55
Angela: 13:23 - 16:42
For Fra: 16:42 - 17:30
My eyes: 18:40 - 22:27
Patience: 22:27 - end

The album, the video along with the storyline combined are such a masterpiece!

I had listened to this album before without knowing the story behind and I liked it, now I listen to it again and all I can say is that this is a master piece! full of real life emotions and experiences

me: *checks notifications*
my notifications: "The Lumineers Uploaded: perfection."

I love the simplicity of this video, it's unique. We complicate our lifes sometimes when it comes to a decision, because inside we do know what we really want but we end choosing the other option because we're afraid of the consequences. Those consequences are worth it if at the end we'll be happy with ourselves and the ones we love.

This is an absolute masterpiece. I will never get tired of listening to this❤️

This amazing concept of songs have the 1% of views that it deserves ♥ Simply magnificent.

I remember in January, I listened to the album first time fully. It was about midnight on a Sunday and it had poured with rain. My grandfather had been admitted to hospital, for he was seriously unwell with an issue with his pacemaker. I listened to "My Eyes", there was just something about it which screamed, "You need this". The next day, my grandfather died. He had a tragic life, similars to this Cleopatra's. He never found proper love until the very end of his life and was an artist until he divorced my grandma when he had to do courier work. It just makes me love this album, even more, thinking that this is what sent him off. Miss you, always will.

Ineffable. Life imitates art, art imitates life.... and so it begins: The Ballad of Cleopatra.

Perfeito, simplesmente perfeito! ♥️

thank u for all these emotions

This has to be the best video on youtube hands down