Fat Tulips were a twee band from Nottingham, England who released one album… Read Full Bio ↴Fat Tulips were a twee band from Nottingham, England who released one album, on the Vinyl Japan label, and over 10 singles on the band's own Heaven Records and others.

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

Ribs
Fat Tulips Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He sees her completely
She weeps indiscretely
They lie to each other
They hate one another
Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth
Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth
The sugar on the lips of his mouth

Then her brother broke his ribs
It was an accident
He fell downstairs
Should've taken more care
Of each other
Of each other
Of each other
In each other's arms...

He didn't want to tell her it was over
And she didn't want to know
He didn't want to tell her it was over
And she didn't want to know
He didn't want to tell her it was over

And she didn't want to know
She didn't want to know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fat Tulips's song "Ribs" seem to be about a dysfunctional relationship between two people who are lying to each other and don't really care about each other. Despite this, they still seem to have some sort of shallow physical attraction to each other. However, the song takes a turn when the brother of the female protagonist breaks his ribs in an accident. The lyrics suggest that the accident might have been caused by neglect or a lack of care between family members. This event seems to bring the couple closer together, as they end up comforting each other in each other's arms. However, the feeling doesn't seem to last for long, as the male protagonist seems to have decided to end the relationship, but is too afraid to break the news to the female protagonist.

The chorus of the song, where the male protagonist repeats "He didn't want to tell her it was over, and she didn't want to know," suggests that there is a lot of unspoken tension and lack of communication in the relationship. The song seems to be making a commentary on how people avoid confronting problems in relationships and instead go through the motions of being together.

Line by Line Meaning

He sees her completely
He understands her completely

She weeps indiscretely
She cries openly and without restraint

They lie to each other
They don't tell each other the truth

They hate one another
They feel intense dislike for each other

Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth
She appears innocent and sweet

The sugar on the lips of his mouth
He speaks sweetly to her and she's charmed by it

Then her brother broke his ribs
Her brother physically harmed him

It was an accident
The rib-breaking was not intentional

He fell downstairs
He fell down a flight of stairs

Should've taken more care
He should have been more careful

Of each other
They should have looked out for each other