There are multiple artists using this name.

1. Dead Flowers are an A… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists using this name.

1. Dead Flowers are an Alternative-rock-pop band from Auckland, New Zealand that released material through Wildside records in the 90's.

Dead Flowers were signed by Wildside records in 1992, they released their first single 'Lisa' which reached 27 on the New Zealand charts. Later in the year they released their debut album 'Skin of A Stone' which was recorded at Phil Rudd's (AC/DC) recording studio in Tauranga, NZ. In December '93 they released their second album 'Sweetfish'. Their third and final album was a self titled album that was released early 1998.

2. Now defunct, Dead Flowers were for many years Newcastle's kings of acid rock. Their career began inauspiciously enough with the privately pressed TV single which, to be honest, was not especially good, consisting of two grungey hard rock tracks with little hint of the psychedelic mayhem to come.

After four years of local obscurity, they were picked up by Brian Sutton's Mystic Stones label for one of its earlier releases. The resultant album Smell The Fragrance does not capture the band at their best by any means. It contained plenty of good songs - Absolution, Crackdown and the drug anthem Piece Of Sky - but one had to ask "Where's the psychedelia?". The band sounded at this time like an updated, druggy Black Sabbath or an English Monster Magnet. If the idea sounds tempting, then go for it, but there was better to come. The track Crackdown also appeared on the Underground Newcastle compilation in an exclusive "grunge" mix.

1992's Moontan is something of an acid rock classic. It opens with the storming Chocolate Staircase which uses the riff from Pink Floyd's Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun A powerfully contrasting track follows in the spacey, almost ambient, Spiral Eye before the band turn the amps up to eleven again for Filling In Time. The heavy riffing of Thought World brings side one to a close. Side two begins with another near ambient track Gaia's Love Hole which despite the awful title is an awesomely beautiful piece of music; the word "ambient" should hold no negative connotations here: this is layers of liquid guitar and brushed cymbals with pulsating bass, and delicate flute (provided by Teapot from Cheops). There follows three tracks more in the heavy, doom-laden style of their first LP. Moontan is strongly recommended. A different version of Chocolate Staircase also appeared on the Delerium compilation Fun With Mushrooms which brought the band to the attention of a wider audience.

Moontan had turned Dead Flowers into one of the hottest properties on the psychedelic scene, and Delerium scooped them for their third LP Altered State Circus which was recorded at Dave Anderson's Foel studios. This contains all the elements which made Moontan so indispensable, but there was a noticeable improvement in the production and musicianship (not that it was bad before by any means). The music was even druggier than previously and the sleeve artwork amongst the most spectacularly psychedelic ever. The music showed the band developing the ambient textures of the previous album in six slow burning, extended tracks. Highlights are The Elephant's Eye Was Eerie (eh?), the title track Altered State Circus and Slouch Factor 9. The only half way weak track was Free the Weed a rather unfocused protest song. The CD contained an extra track, the excellent thirteen minute Vodafone In Oz. Although not an improvement on Moontan the band had instead tried a slightly different musical direction and the album is recommended. The deeply laid back Warmth Within (Chemical Binoculars) was featured on the Pick 'n' Mix Delerium sampler album.

The band split following the release of Altered State Circus. Steev Swayambhunath branched out into ambient dance music, forming a band called Cubic Space Collective. (Chris Williams)

Passing
Dead Flowers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

Take a deep breath underwater
Just to make it harder
You know I like it
Take the air from which I'm breathing
It's a funny feeling
cnd I like it

But there's one thing you should know

It takes time to let it grow
cnd you'll hear my voice on the radio
I'm just passing time
While you read between the lines

My friends tell me that your bad news
It makes it easy to choose
Cause I like it
cnd I can't promise you I'm staying
But thanks for waiting
You know I like it

But there's one thing you should know
It takes time to let it grow
cnd you'll hear my voice on the radio
I'm just passing time
While you read between the

You're just another pretty face
Tryna take up all my space
But I like it
We'll watch the world spin round and round

Watch the sun go up and down
cnd I like it

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics from Dead Flowers's song "Passing," the singer seems to be expressing a sense of detachment or nonchalance towards a romantic relationship. The singer mentions the act of taking a deep breath underwater, which can be symbolic of diving into something difficult or challenging just to make it more complicated. This could represent the singer's penchant for enjoying things that are not necessarily easy or straightforward. The phrase "You know I like it" is repeated throughout the song, suggesting a pattern of seeking out experiences that are not necessarily comfortable or conventional.

The line "But there's one thing you should know, It takes time to let it grow" could imply that the singer recognizes the need for patience in allowing relationships to develop naturally. The mention of hearing the singer's voice on the radio may symbolize a sense of distance or separation, as if the singer is not fully present or committed to the relationship. The refrain "I'm just passing time, While you read between the lines" suggests a lack of investment in the relationship, with the singer perhaps viewing it as temporary or fleeting.

The singer's friends warning that the romantic interest is "bad news" could indicate that there are red flags or concerns about the relationship that make it easy for the singer to keep their distance. The statement "But thanks for waiting, You know I like it" could be interpreted as a mix of appreciation for the other person's patience and a lack of commitment on the singer's part. The repeated refrain about liking certain aspects of the situation despite not fully committing to it reinforces the theme of detachment and casualness in the relationship.

The closing lines of the song mention the other person being "just another pretty face" and the singer enjoying watching the world spin around without feeling particularly tied down. The mention of watching the sun go up and down could symbolize the passage of time and the transient nature of relationships. Overall, these lyrics paint a picture of a narrator who is content to pass the time without deeply investing in a romantic connection, finding enjoyment in the fleeting moments without feeling the need for long-term commitment.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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