Essex, England-born Anne-Marie Nicholson was no stranger to performing by t… Read Full Bio ↴Essex, England-born Anne-Marie Nicholson was no stranger to performing by the time her debut EP dropped in 2015, having shared the stage as a 12-year-old with none other than Jessie J in a West End production of Whistle Down the Wind. She also auditioned for Les Misérables without telling her parents, and was offered a part. It was a risk that paid off, as it served to open her parents' eyes to her singing ability. Aside from West End commitments, the intervening years between her days as a child star and the advent of her career as a pop singer were spent becoming a world karate champion no fewer than three times, an art form she credited with teaching her discipline and focus, two essential traits of becoming a successful musician.

After a chance meeting with an aspiring singer/songwriter, she managed to secure some studio time in Elton John's Rocket Studios, and, after hearing what she could do, she was subsequently picked up by Elton's management company Rocket Music. Anne-Marie released a demo in 2013 entitled Summer Girl, which drew some attention to the singer, most notably garnering a fan in Ed Sheeran. Despite the encouraging start to her solo career, things were put on hold to give her more time to develop as an artist.

Having guested on tracks by dubstep supergroup Magnetic Man, London-based garage duo Gorgon City, and progressive house trio Raized by Wolves, Anne-Marie caught the attention of Brit and MOBO award winners Rudimental. She was featured alongside Dizzee Rascal and Will Heard on two tracks from their second album, 2015's We the Generation, and spent two years touring with the band, playing some of the world's biggest stages and best-known festivals.

The summer of that year also saw the release of Anne-Marie's debut EP on Rudimental's then-new record label, Major Tom's. The aptly titled Karate EP featured three tracks and a Chloe Martini remix, and producers Josh Record and Two Inch Punch worked with her on the record. Both the lead single "Karate," a slick fusion of electro-grime and R&B, and the follow-up "Gemini," garnered some very positive reviews and led Anne-Marie to gigging as a solo artist. In early 2016, the single "Do It Right" reached the U.K. charts, and several months later "Alarm" hit the Top 40 in several charts around the world.

In 2017, Anne-Marie scored a hit single when she featured on Clean Bandit's multi-platinum "Rockabye" with Sean Paul. The song topped the charts across Europe and in Australia, breaking into the Top Ten in Canada and the U.S. She followed with the solo singles "Ciao Adios" and "Heavy," which both charted in the U.K. and Ireland. Both tracks appeared on her debut full-length, Speak Your Mind, which saw release in April 2018. The record also featured the track "Friends," written and recorded with American dance producer Marshmello.

Flowers
Anne-Marie Lyrics

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What day is it anyway
Did you have something to say
Is anybody listening
Is that just the price you pay
For the start of something beautiful
Or the ending of the rest
Number 13 Arcana
Always looks like something else

Flowers on the altar
That never had a chance to bloom
Are fallen petals underneath us now
Withered, washed away too soon
Not for lack of trying
Maybe for the best
Late blooms last the longest
And it's all starting to make sense
Cause jumping without knowing
Where you're going to land
Is finding comfort in the questions
You've always been afraid to ask
Flowers on the altar
That never had a chance to bloom
Are fallen petals underneath us now
Withered, washed away too soon
My mother sang in Sunday church
When I was a little girl
And sometimes I sing in a coffee shop
The only difference is the words
Flowers on the altar
That never had a chance to bloom
Are fallen petals underneath us now
Withered, washed away too soon
Everything I thought I'd do by now
And everything I haven't done
Is the grass underneath our feet
And the sky over all of us
And every new beginning
Soon will be replaced
It's just a little too sweet
Until you hit the aftertaste
Flowers on the altar
That never had a chance to bloom

Are fallen petals underneath us now
Withered, washed away too soon

Overall Meaning

The song "Flowers" by Anne-Marie expresses feelings of moving on from a past relationship and not allowing the person to continue hurting or controlling the singer. The repetition of the line "I don't see you that way" emphasizes the emotional distance the singer has created from the person, indicating a change in perspective and emotional state. The use of the metaphor of "old flowers" reinforces this distancing and the idea that the relationship has passed its expiration date, unable to be revived or rejuvenated.

The chorus of the song - "You can't water old flowers" - serves as a poignant reminder that trying to revive a relationship that has already ended is futile. The use of the word "old" emphasizes the idea that the relationship has already run its course and cannot be rekindled. The lines "Even if you have changed / You can't treat me like I'm yours" indicate that the person may have changed, but their past actions and treatment of the singer cannot be ignored or overlooked.

Overall, the lyrics of "Flowers" speak to the difficulty of moving on from a past relationship and the importance of creating emotional distance from toxic people. The singer shows strength in asserting their boundaries and refusing to be hurt or controlled any longer.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't see you that way
I no longer view you the same way as I did before

Not the way I did before
The way I once looked at you has completely changed

I'm not your object to break
I am not someone you can take advantage of and hurt

You can't hold me like I'm yours
You can't possess me like I belong to you

I don't see you that way
I've moved on from the way I used to perceive you

Anymore
Those feelings are no longer present

So please go home now
It's time for you to leave

I can sleep on my own
I don't need you to be there for me to fall asleep

I'm alone now
There's no one else here

But I don't feel alone
I'm content with being by myself

You can't water old flowers
You can't try to revive something that is already dead