The Lumineers - Cleopatra Official

The song ends on a bittersweet note of acceptance. Now an older woman still driving a taxi, she acknowledges being "forever late" to her own life, yet remains standing with a fierce lack of self-pity. Musical & Aesthetic Vibe

The opening line, "I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress," captures the "overflowing" confidence of youth—the feeling that you are the protagonist of a grand, world-ruling destiny. The Lumineers - Cleopatra

Reinforcing the "actress" theme, the album cover features a vintage black-and-white photograph of silent film star Theda Bara , who famously portrayed Cleopatra in 1917. The song ends on a bittersweet note of acceptance

The narrative follows a woman reflecting on a pivotal moment of choice and consequence from her youth: Reinforcing the "actress" theme, the album cover features

"," the haunting title track from The Lumineers' 2016 sophomore album, is a masterclass in narrative songwriting that transforms a chance encounter into a timeless folk anthem. While the name evokes the legendary Egyptian queen, the song's true heart belongs to a real-life woman named Manana , a female taxi driver lead singer Wesley Schultz met in the Republic of Georgia.