Cage the Elephant, 'Shake Me Down' -- New Song

Cage the Elephant have just released 'Shake Me Down,' the first single from their forthcoming album, 'Thank You, Happy Birthday,' due out on Jan. 11.

According to Spinner, the new album was recorded in just two weeks at Nashville's Tragedy/Tragedy studio in 2009. The band originally had over 80 song ideas, but they were all ultimately scrapped.

"We started working on the second record and basically scratched all those ideas," singer Matt Shultz says. "There were a lot of things happening at that time; personal growth and growth as a band. We ended up renting some cabins at a lake in Kentucky and isolated ourselves in the middle of winter. No cell phone reception -- it kind of felt like 'Survivior.'"

From that isolation, the empowered 'Shake Me Down' was born. The song opens with Shultz's distinct voice singing, "Shake me down / Not a lot of people left around / Who knows now / Softly laying on the ground." Then striking guitars enter before he continues with purpose:

"In my life i have seen people walk into the sea / Just to find memories / Plagued by constant misery / Their eyes cast down / Fixed upon the ground / Their eyes cast down / I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun."

'Thank You, Happy Birthday' is the Kentucky rockers' follow-up to their 2008 self-titled debut, featuring hit singles such as 'In One Ear,' 'Back Against the Wall' and the ever-so-popular 'Ain't No Rest For the Wicked,' which was used in promos for 'Leverage,' 'The Blind Side' and more.

Listen to 'Shake Me Down' and more Cage the Elephant songs on AOL Radio's Top Alternative station.