Formed in the late '80s in Peterborough by one Mark D., the band's first release was a flexi disc called You Opened Up My Eyes and featured Sarah C. on vocals. Sarah quickly left the band, supposedly to pursue a career designing crop circles in Peru.
Mark then recruited new members consisting of Katie Keen on vocals, cat lover Paul Huckerby on bass, scottish siren Sheggi Clarkson-Gaffin on guitar and floppy-haired, pig van driver Matthew Johnson on drums.
Soon after the release of their John Peel played single Where's Clare Grogan Now, Katie left the band and Sheggi became the new singer.
Subsequent releases, including the EP Four Songs for Simon, Ferensway EP and The Tulip Explodes, led to a multi-pound recording contract with the fab, London based Vinyl Japan label, home and future home of BMX Bandits, the McCluskey Bros, and Thee Headcoats.
The first of their Vinyl Japan output was an EP entitled Nostalgia and was recorded by Ken McPherson at his studio in Burton-on-Trent. A tour of Germany supporting Throw That Beat in the Garbagecan soon followed.
The band's debut album, Starfish, also recorded by Ken McPherson, came out in 1994 and was followed by two more singles, New Spring Rites for Sarah and Driving Me Wild before the band called it a day.
Offical band web site is at:
http://www.spikey.com/fattulips
Confessions of an English Girl
Fat Tulips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He tried, by sending her cards and flowers
She laughs. Says her only passions
Are her clothes and the food she eats
And German airmen
...she always had a thing about them
She said, "I could tell you stories
Of all my former glories.
Confessions of an English girl!"
He told her of his love
She said "You're not tall or blonde enough"
Now all his dreams are shattered
All that ever mattered
She just laughs as he quietly slips away...
He wants her but she wants fun and danger
He wants love but she wants a handsome stranger
She's hurt once too often
Pushed him over the edge
This won't be forgotten
Points the gun at his head
The Fat Tulips' song "Confessions of an English Girl" is a song that presents a one-sided love story in which the singer (presumably a man) is hopelessly in love with a woman who does not share his affections. He has tried to win her over through various gestures, such as sending her cards and flowers, but she only finds amusement in his attempts. She has other passions in life, such as her clothes, the food she eats, and German airmen, whom she seems to have strange fascinations with. She has had her own share of glories and secrets, which she is willing to tell. However, it becomes apparent that she is not interested in him as he is not tall or blonde enough for her liking. Consequently, he is devastated as all his dreams are shattered, and he quietly slips away from her life.
On the other hand, the woman's desires are in stark contrast to those of the man. While he wants her love, she wants fun and danger and is willing to seek it outside their relationship. She is hurt once too often and pushes him over the edge. The song reaches the climax when she points a gun to his head, a metaphorical device representing an ultimate rejection of his affections.
Line by Line Meaning
He sighs, he thinks about her for hours
He is thinking about her for hours and sighing incessantly
He tried, by sending her cards and flowers
He tried to win her over by sending her cards and flowers
She laughs. Says her only passions
She finds it hilarious and declares that her only passions are her clothes, the food she eats and German airmen
...she always had a thing about them
She is fascinated by German airmen and always had a thing about them
She said, "I could tell you stories
She confidently boasts that she could tell you stories of all her former glories, all her secrets in the world, confessions of an English girl"
He told her of his love
He expressed his love for her
She said "You're not tall or blonde enough"
She rejected him by pointing out that he is not tall or blonde enough for her liking
Now all his dreams are shattered
All his dreams are destroyed now
All that ever mattered
All that ever mattered to him was her but that's gone now
She just laughs as he quietly slips away...
She just laughs as he leaves quietly and walks away from her
He wants her but she wants fun and danger
He wants to be with her, but she wants to have fun and indulge in risky adventures
He wants love but she wants a handsome stranger
He wants her to love him, but she just wants to be with someone attractive who is a stranger to her
She's hurt once too often
She's been hurt one too many times
Pushed him over the edge
His behaviour pushed her over the edge
This won't be forgotten
She will never forget this incident
Points the gun at his head
She points a gun at his head in retaliation for what he did
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.