1) Flat Earth Society … Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name.
1) Flat Earth Society was founded in 1998, when no-nonsense artist, former architect, clarinettist, saxophonist, keyboard player, composer and producer Peter Vermeersch, wanted to explore new horizons after having convinced music lovers all over the word with Maximalist! and the cult legend band X-legged Sally. Vermeersch, who worked with international artists like Josse De Pauw, Wim Vandekeybus, Vincent Bal, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Fred Frith, The Simpletones and Jazzwork from Berlin and wrote music for the Arditti Quartet, PrimaLa Musica and theSmithQuartet, assembled a pack of inspired and inimitable musicians, forming a big band which has nowadays become much more than just a big band. Peter Vermeersch included, the band now consists of a permanent group of 15 musicians: Stefaan Blancke (trombone), Benjamin Boutreur (saxes), Berlinde Deman (bass tuba), Bart Maris (trumpet), Michel Mast (saxes), Marc Meeuwissen (trombone), Kristof Roseeuw (double bass), Luc Van Lieshout (trumpet), Bruno Vansina (saxes), Peter Vandenberghe (keyboards & compositions), Teun Verbruggen (percussion), Pierre Vervloesem (guitar), Wim Willaert (accordion), Tom Wouters (clarinet, percussion).
The music of Flat Earth Society, varying from strictly written sheet music to liberating improvisation, is 95% homemade. Streaks of music of other composers are used as inspiration, frequently arranged, adapted and integrated into Flat Earth Society compositions, adding a wide range of atmospheres and styles to the eclectic Flat Earth Society universe. Flat Earth Society, who dare to flirt with other disciplines such as theatre and film and have the ability to seduce a number of different audiences, from more select jazz listeners to a wild young rock public, is at its best live on stage.
Mike Patton discovered the music of Flat Earth Society. He immediately proposed the band to release their next album and in attendance of that album he wanted to bring out a compilation album in the US. Isms was compiled by Mike Patton himself. Flat Earth Society joined Patton’s band Fantômas on their European tour in Italy, Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland and England.
2) Flat Earth Society is a 60s psych pop/rock band from Lynn, just North of Boston. Flat Earth Society were notable for their crispy, clear vocal sound. In early 1968 they were approached by the Boston advertising firm Quinn and Johnson to make an album and a jingle for the manufacturer of the 'Waleeco' candy bar - the F. B. Washburn Candy Company. That year every 'Waleeco' bar carried a coupon advertising the Flat Earth's Society's album Waleeco for $1.50 and six 'Waleeco' bar wrappers.
Recorded at Fleetwood Recording Studio in Revere, most of the material was written by Kerivan, the only non-original being a slow melodic version of Midnight Hour. The album covers quite a wide rock spectrum with goodtime (I'm So Happy), folk (When You're There and The Prelude For Town Monk), hard rock (Four & Twenty Miles and Shadows), as well as psychedelia, but each track has the band's own style about it. Aside from Feelin' Much Better, the best tracks are arguably on the second side of the album. Dark Street Downtown has some haunting vocals superimposed upon swirling piano. Portrait In Grey is a haunting piano-oriented instrumental and Satori, a very strange psychedelic instrumental.
The band made a few appearances after making the album but broke up soon after.
Lucky Ol' Sun
Flat Earth Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids
Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Up in the mornin' out on the job,
Work like the devil for my pay
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids
Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Good Lawd above, can't you know I'm pinin'
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
The song "Lucky Ol' Sun" by the Flat Earth Society speaks to the daily struggles of the working class. The opening lines describe the daily grind of waking up early and working hard for a living, while the sun seemingly has an easy job of rolling around in the sky. The singer of the song reflects on how he toils for his family and endures the stresses of life, all while the sun has nothing to do but shine down on them.
The chorus shows the singer yearning for something more, as he asks for help from a higher power to lift him out of his struggles. He expresses his desire to escape to paradise, where he can be free from his troubles and live carelessly like the sun. The final lines of the song repeat the idea that the sun is lucky to have nothing to do but roll around all day, while the singer longs for that same leisurely lifestyle.
Overall, the song paints a picture of the difficult, tiring nature of daily life, and the desire for a carefree existence. It uses the imagery of the lucky sun and paradise to convey this longing for escape from the mundane.
Line by Line Meaning
Up in the mornin' out on the job, work like the devil for my pay
I wake up early and work hard to earn my living.
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
The sun doesn't have to work like me and can lazily move through the sky all day.
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
I struggle with my partner and strive to provide for my children, which makes me tired and aged.
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
The sun, however, has no responsibilities and can enjoy its time in the sky.
Good Lawd above, can't you know I'm pinin' Tears all in my eyes
Oh God, can't you see that I'm sad and crying?
Send down that cloud with a silver linin' Lift me to paradise
Please send me a sign of hope and uplift me to a better place.
Show me that river Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Let me see a flowing river that can take me away from my problems and cleanse me.
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
I wish I could be like the sun and have no responsibilities, just taking it easy all day.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Beasley Smith, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind