They made their first recordings available in late 1979 via the SF Underground 7" compilation series released via Steve Tupper's newly-formed Subterranean Records. In 1981 a 7" followed Love Canal and Ha Ha Ha and the original lineup made 2 full-length studio albums on Subterranean, 1982's Generic and the 1984 followup Gone Fishin'.
Flipper's music was very shambolic and noisy, and oft considered "slow" for a punk band of the time. In many early shows, the band had half the audience on stage with them singing backup vocals, and encouraged horn players to join them for their anthem, Sex Bomb -- and the crowding on stage usually knocked the stringed instruments out of tune. Guitarist Ted Falconi installed spikes in the head of his guitar to help prevent this, but blaring, out-of-tune dissonance became part of the band's signature sound.
Bassist/vocalist Will Shatter died in 1987 of a heroin overdose. The remaining members reformed for the 1993 album American Grafishy on Def American Recordings which re-issued Generic, and a compilation called Sex Bomb Baby on Rick Rubin and Henry Rollins' Infinite Zero label. This relationship soured and the surviving Flipper members allegedly were duped out of their rights to their back catalog. Bassist/vocalist Bruce Loose got in a car accident which severely injured his spine resulting in a crippling injury which requires him to use a cane. Apparently drummer Steve Depace was in the works of writing an autobiography of his Flipper experiences to the irk of his band mates. Bruce most recently performed as Not Flipper at 924 Gilman and reunited as Flipper for a show in SF with surviving members Falconi and Depace. In December 2006, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic joined the band. On 22 September 2008, due to responsibilities at home, Novoselic announced his departure from the band.
first the heart
Flipper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it feels so good
did you hear me?
are you listening?
ain't you listening?
did you hear me?
From The barrel
to the trigger
Passing
flesh and blood
I can see you
somewhere smiling
First the heart
next the brain
did you hear me?
are you listening?
ain't you listening?
did you hear me?
Hit's outnumber
ten to nine
Missing
A ravaged target
Death
a ruby droplet
Trickles
one still moment
Sick and silent
I can see you
somewhere smiling
First the heart
next the brain
did you hear me?
are you listening?
ain't you listening?
did you hear me?
A ravaged target
A trigger
Aim
The song "First the Heart" by Flipper is a dark and visceral exploration of violence and its impact on the human condition. The opening line "Every time it feels so good" sets the tone for a disturbing narrative where the pleasure of violence is contrasted with its devastating consequences. The lyrics describe an act of violence, possibly a shooting, where the singer's thoughts are consumed by the image of the victim, whom they can see "somewhere smiling". The violence is depicted as a moment of stillness, followed by a sickening realization of what has happened.
The title of the song, "First the Heart", suggests that the emotional impact of violence is as significant as its physical effects. The heart is seen as the origin of our most profound feelings, including love, joy, and grief. By placing the heart before the brain, the song implies that our emotional responses are more fundamental than our rational processes. This idea is reinforced by the repetition of the lines "did you hear me? are you listening? ain't you listening? did you hear me?" which suggest a desperate need to be heard and understood, even in a moment of extreme violence.
The song captures the intense emotions and sense of power that often accompany violent acts, while also acknowledging the devastating impact they can have on both the victim and the perpetrator. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the physical and emotional aftermath of violence, exploring the complex tangle of feelings that can arise in its wake.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time
Each and every occurrence
it feels so good
It brings a positive feeling
did you hear me?
Did you perceive the message conveyed?
are you listening?
Are you attentively taking heed?
ain't you listening?
Are you ignoring and not listening?
From The barrel
Starting from the weapon's barrel
to the trigger
Continuing to the trigger of the weapon
Passing
Going through
flesh and blood
A living organism's physical body
I can see you
I am able to perceive you visually
somewhere smiling
You are seen in a place with an expression of happiness across your face
First the heart
Initially, the vital organ of the body that pumps blood is targeted
next the brain
Then, the organ responsible for nerve function in humans is identified
Hit's outnumber
The successful shots are greater than the misses
ten to nine
The successful shots are ten in number, while the misses are only nine
Missing
Unsuccessful attempt to reach the target
A ravaged target
An object that has been attacked or destroyed
Death
Cessation of life
a ruby droplet
A bright red drop of blood
Trickles
Flowing slowly in a small stream
one still moment
A brief moment of silence
Sick and silent
Feeling ill and not talking or making noise
A trigger
Device causing a firearm to fire
Aim
To point or direct the firearm at a target
Contributed by Lila P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tanya Racine
Love Flipper's attitude! Perfect balance of heaviness tempered with such heart, but presented in such a real and honest way! Genius!!!
bckraut
They are the real deal.
Michelle McMurtry
Flipper first the heart will always remind me of San Francisco . Infused with the mood and the essence of the tenderloin. A fucking masterpiece!!!!!!!! Class entirely by itself!
bckraut
Flipper was the soundtrack of my youth. Love this band!!!
Michelle McMurtry
Mood changing abstract and ....if you could taste music .....? What can I say other than this ranks in the top ten of my most beloved songs!!!!!
Diane O'Donnell
I sill love the music. I miss Will
Duncan L
Thanks for uploading this!
plasmapunk
FLIPPER SUFFER FOR THEIR MUSIC NOW ITS YOUR TURN
Sujo
Anyone know any other songs that have this kind of "vibe"? This is amazing
Juliette’s Ridiculous Cinema
@Sujo It’s been four years and I don’t know if you listen to jazz but I feel like “Someone To Watch Over Me” by Amy Winehouse would be appropriate. I get the same sort of vibe, with a jazzy style from this song and the more modern take of Amy’s on that jazz standard. ❤️