Chalk FarM's 4 original mem… Read Full Bio ↴This critically acclaimed band is back!
Chalk FarM's 4 original members are back together, playing regularly in the Los Angeles area, and are recording a new collection of songs for release in 2011.
Chalk FarM was an alternative rock group from LA, formed in the early 90's by Michael Duff and Orlando Sims. In 1995, they added Toby Scarbrough and Trace Ritter and were signed by Columbia Records. In 1996 their first album, Notwithstanding, was released. Despite radio and MTV exposure for the song "Lie on Lie" and a positive critical reception, the band and label didn't see eye to eye and Chalk FarM left Columbia Records. Duff created the independent label TIC (The Inner Circle) Records and the group recorded their second album, Three 2's, promoting it mainly via the Internet. Chalk FarM broke up in early 2000.
Sunflower
Chalk Farm Lyrics
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The lights go out
You go to sleep
And dream about
What you want to be
When you're grown
Every day
You keep your secret
Hidden from them far away
And you never share
What you know
Dream what you are
You sunflower
Be what you are
You sunflower
Your father said
It's in your head
He knew someone
Who knew someone
Who wound up dead
We all wind up dead
We all wind up dead
And you know
The shadows start
To steal your heart
They get inside
And piece by piece
They tear apart
Your very soul
And your very art
And you know
So turn and face the sun again
Dream what you are
You sunflower
Rise up and face the sun again
Be what you are
You sun flower
We always run
Towards the sun
You lead us on
And cut us down you cannot run
From the damage done
And there's damage done
And you know
We'll turn and face the sun again
Dream what you are
You sunflower
Rise up and face the sun again
Be what you are
You sunflower
So turn and face the sun again
Dream what you are
You sunflower
Rise up and face the sun again
Be what you are
You sunflower
The sun goes down
The lights go out
"Sunflower" by Chalk Farm is a song about holding on to your dreams and facing your fears. The lyrics describe a fear of failure and being held back by others' opinions, but also an urge to break free from those constraints and follow your own path. The song starts off with a sense of resignation - the sun goes down, the lights go out, and you go to sleep and dream about what you want to be when you're grown. This implies a state of waiting or daydreaming, rather than taking action towards your goals.
The second verse comments on the forces that can hold us back - the societal pressure to conform and the fear of expressing our true selves. The line "Every day they steal your prayers" suggests that there are external forces that are trying to take away your dreams, and that you have to protect them in order to make them come true. The song acknowledges the risk of failure, as well as the threat of being hurt by others - "The shadows start to steal your heart...they tear apart your very soul and your very art." Despite these fears, the chorus urges us to "turn and face the sun again" and to embrace our true selves.
Throughout the song, the sunflower serves as a symbol of resilience and growth. The plant faces the sun in order to grow and thrive, and the song encourages the listener to do the same. The imagery of light and darkness also plays a role in the song - the sun represents hope and opportunity, while the shadows represent the obstacles that stand in our way. The song ends on a note of persistence, with the repeated refrain of "turn and face the sun again" serving as a call to action.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun goes down
The day comes to an end
The lights go out
The visible signs of the day's activity disappear
You go to sleep
You rest after the day's work and activity
And dream about
You visualize your future desires and aspirations
What you want to be
Your deepest longings for your future self
When you're grown
When you've reached adulthood
Every day
On a regular basis
They steal your prayers
External forces take away your hopes and dreams
You keep your secret
You hold your innermost desires close to your heart
Hidden from them far away
Concealed from those who might not understand or support you
And you never share
You don't reveal your true goals to anyone else
What you know
Your knowledge of what you want to be and become
Dream what you are
Visualize and aspire to what you innately are
You sunflower
A symbol of growth, vibrancy, and beauty
Be what you are
Actualize your deepest qualities and aspirations
Your father said
A figure of authority in your life conveyed a message
It's in your head
Your hopes and dreams are merely a product of your imagination
He knew someone
Your father had an acquaintance
Who knew someone
That acquaintance had a connection to another person
Who wound up dead
That person met an unfortunate end
We all wind up dead
All people eventually die
And you know
You are aware of the inevitability of death
The shadows start
Anxiety and fear creep into your life
To steal your heart
These negative emotions begin to erode your sense of purpose
They get inside
These fears take root in your psyche
And piece by piece
Gradually and methodically
They tear apart
These negative emotions chip away at your self-confidence
Your very soul
The essence of who you are as a person
And your very art
Even your creative expression is negatively impacted
So turn and face the sun again
Reorient yourself towards the positivity in life
We always run
As humans, we have a tendency to seek pleasure and happiness
Towards the sun
Towards sources of light and warmth
You lead us on
Optimism and hope guide us towards better futures
And cut us down
Sometimes, our hopes are dashed
You cannot run
You cannot escape the pain and suffering of life
From the damage done
The negative impact that certain experiences have on us
So turn and face the sun again
Reorient yourself towards the positivity in life
Dream what you are
Visualize and aspire to what you innately are
You sunflower
A symbol of growth, vibrancy, and beauty
Rise up and face the sun again
Recommit yourself to pursuing your goals
Be what you are
Actualize your deepest qualities and aspirations
You sunflower
A symbol of growth, vibrancy, and beauty
The sun goes down
The day comes to an end
The lights go out
The visible signs of the day's activity disappear
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL DUFF, ORLANDO SIMS, TOBY SCARBROUGH, TRACE RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind