Flake Music released two 7-inch singles and a 1997 full-length album, "When You Land Here It's Time to Return."
Spanway Hits
Flake Music Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you've got left to protect
On the old dusty shelves
In your childhood room
Posters of Simon LeBon
All might help you decide
In case you ever try
They just want you to come by
The florist in foam
A rigid folk's home in time that I might cry
Cut all these ties you'll see
How far apart we are
No two of us sees or acts alike
Wasting time and pretend
You've got the words to defend
Well every bias you've learned while being human
Remember that we all knew
Riding big wheels was cool
We'd give it all to be that dumb again
These are all bonds and ties
In spite of what they are
No two of us tells or thinks the same
Cut all these ties you'll see
How far apart we are
Those are our bonds and ties
In spite of what they are
The lyrics of Flake Music's "Spanway Hits" tell a story about growing up and leaving one's childhood behind. The first verse paints a picture of going back to one's childhood room and looking at old items on the shelves, trying to figure out what one has left to protect. The mention of posters of Simon LeBon implies a specific time period of nostalgia, possibly the 80s or early 90s. The second verse talks about cutting ties and realizing how different people can be, even when they share similar experiences. The line "Remember that we all knew riding big wheels was cool / We'd give it all to be that dumb again" perfectly captures the bittersweet feeling of looking back on one's childhood with both fondness and longing.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of distance and separation, both physically and emotionally. The lines "No two of us sees or acts alike / Wasting time and pretend / You've got the words to defend / Well every bias you've learned while being human" speak to the difficulty of truly understanding and connecting with others. The repetition of the line "Cut all these ties you'll see / How far apart we are" emphasizes the theme of separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Use a pen to reflect
Take a moment and think carefully
What you've got left to protect
Consider what is important to you
On the old dusty shelves
In the room you grew up in, belongings are neglected
In your childhood room
The place where memories were made
You've got a lot to go on:
There are many things you can remember
Posters of Simon LeBon
Images from teenage years
All might help you decide
These thoughts could shape your future
In case you ever try
If you ever attempt to change your life
They just want you to come by
Businesses want customers to visit
The florist in foam
Handcrafted arrangements in foam
A rigid folk's home in time that I might cry
An old-age home for seniors that can evoke sadness
Cut all these ties you'll see
Break free from your attachments
How far apart we are
We are all different and unique
No two of us sees or acts alike
We all have different perspectives and behaviours
Wasting time and pretend
Pretending and not being true to oneself is a waste of time
You've got the words to defend
Speak up for yourself
Well every bias you've learned while being human
Biases and assumptions are human nature
Remember that we all knew
Recall our collective experiences
Riding big wheels was cool
Childhood experiences were fun and joyful
We'd give it all to be that dumb again
We wish we could relive the careless and happy times
These are all bonds and ties
All these memories and experiences are connected
In spite of what they are
Even if they have different meanings
Those are our bonds and ties
Our relationships and memories make us who we are
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CynnamonStix
Lyrics: Use a pen to reflect
what you've got left to protect
on the old dusty shelves
in your childhood room
you've got a lot to go on:
posters of Simon LeBon
all might help you decide
In case you ever try
They just want you to come by
The florist in foam
A rigid folk's home in time that I might cry
Cut all these ties you'll see
How far apart we are
No two of us sees or acts alike
Wasting time and pretend
You've got the words to defend
well every bias you've learned while being human
Remember that we all knew
Riding big wheels was cool
We'd give it all to be that dumb again
These are all bonds and ties
In spite of what they are
No two of us tells or thinks the same
Cut all these ties you'll see
How far apart we are
Those are our bonds and ties
In spite of what they are
Zoe Beale
Use a pen to reflect What you've got left to protect On the old dusty shelves In your childhood room You've got a lot to go on: Posters of Simon LeBon All might help you decide In case you ever try They just want you to come by The florist in foam A rigid folk's home in time that I might cry Cut all these ties you'll see How far apart we are
No two of us sees or acts alike Wasting time and pretend You've got the words to defend Well every bias you've learned while being human Remember that we all knew Riding big wheels was cool We'd give it all to be that dumb again These are all bonds and ties In spite of what they are No two of us tells or thinks the same Cut all these ties you'll see
How far apart we are Those are our bonds and ties In spite of what they are
ZyxthePest
Love that last little riff, sounds like something you'd here during the final moments of a 90s TV show.
splelunked
Whoa, this is crazy to listen to. I always assumed this album was recorded through a tin can, but I guess it wasn't... sounds great.
Beth Durant
So excited. It's so clear now it's been remastered - bizarre to listen to it when it sounds like this.
Poor Boys Adventures
It sounds so good than I remember! Today is a good day. :)
nsr4interpol
Bizarre good :)
Zach Lost Trail
I always loved this album, more than any Shins album actually. The songs always deserved better than the ass production on the album. Nice to see they apparently did such a great job remastering.
A113
@bethany mai my exact sentiments, two of my favorite albums of all time! I hope this means Flake tracks will resurface in live performances.
Beth Durant
I always thought this album and Oh, Inverted World were the best Shins/Flake Music material - but this always edged out.
Thomas Krain
The fact that there is finally a name to what I consider one of my favorite songs of all time (the third untitled song; now Faded Polaroids) is kind of going over my head right now.