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.
in life my friends
Flipper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You need not grieve when things go wrong
Sit down in peace and sing a song
Till all comes right
You've heard it said go do your best
Though life's suns inks to the west
Tis better far to take a rest
If you're troubled with some belief
Or feel the pangs of coming grief
The wind and waves bring relief
Till all comes right
Instead of climbing a craggy cliff
Or sailing in some dangerous skiff
Just lie and breathe with an easy whiff
Till all comes right
If things go rough and you're in a squeeze
Just hold your breath and take your ease
Do the very things you please
Till all comes right
Be not deceived by the toiler's thrift
Get what you can as nature's gift
Let all things take an easy drift
Till all comes right
Rewards all come in the present slice
So don't look fro future paradise
Take heaven now is my advice
And you wil be right
Throw to the wind belief in hell
Or be called a fool or infidel
Bury your creed in an oyster shell
Then you are right
The lyrics of Flipper's "In Life My Friends" encourage listeners to take a relaxed approach to life's troubles and challenges. The song emphasizes that when things go wrong, it's important to take a step back and find peace through music and relaxation, rather than stressing out and working harder. The lyrics suggest that rewards come in the present moment and advise listeners to enjoy life now, rather than waiting for some future paradise or avoiding potential judgment in the afterlife.
The song's message is one of acceptance and letting go of fear, whether it's fear of failure, fear of judgment, or fear of the unknown. The refrain, "Till all comes right," reminds listeners that life has its ups and downs and encourages them to trust that things will work out eventually.
The lyrics also touch on themes of simplicity and nature, suggesting that finding peace can be as simple as breathing or sitting quietly in nature. The final verse advocates for letting go of rigid belief systems and finding personal truths through personal experience and inner guidance.
Overall, "In Life My Friends" promotes a mindful, relaxed approach to life that encourages listeners to find peace and happiness in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
In life my friends you pass along
As you journey through life, my friends, keep moving forward.
You need not grieve when things go wrong
Don't worry too much when things don't go as planned.
Sit down in peace and sing a song
Take a moment to relax and enjoy the present moment.
Till all comes right
Things will eventually work out in the end.
You've heard it said go do your best
It's commonly heard advice to always give your best effort.
Though life's suns inks to the west
Even when life seems to be coming to an end or winding down.
Tis better far to take a rest
Sometimes, it's better to take a break and recharge.
If you're troubled with some belief
If you are dealing with a personal struggle or belief.
Or feel the pangs of coming grief
Or if you anticipate future hardship.
The wind and waves bring relief
Nature can provide solace and healing in difficult times.
Instead of climbing a craggy cliff
Rather than forcing yourself to tackle a challenging task.
Or sailing in some dangerous skiff
Or taking on a risky venture.
Just lie and breathe with an easy whiff
Simply rest and take a deep, calming breath.
If things go rough and you're in a squeeze
If you are struggling and feeling trapped.
Just hold your breath and take your ease
Take a moment to compose yourself and find calm.
Do the very things you please
Do what feels right and brings you enjoyment.
Be not deceived by the toiler's thrift
Don't be misled by the false notion that overworking oneself is the key to success.
Get what you can as nature's gift
Enjoy what life has to offer and don't take it for granted.
Let all things take an easy drift
Allow things to unfold naturally and without force.
Rewards all come in the present slice
Life's rewards come in the present, not just the future.
So don't look fro future paradise
Don't focus solely on seeking future happiness or success.
Take heaven now is my advice
My advice is to find happiness and peace in the present moment.
And you wil be right
By following this advice, you will be on the right path.
Throw to the wind belief in hell
Don't worry about the possibility of going to hell after death.
Or be called a fool or infidel
Don't worry about being criticized for your beliefs.
Bury your creed in an oyster shell
Set your beliefs aside for now and focus on enjoying life.
Then you are right
By letting go of your worries and enjoying life, you are doing the right thing.
Contributed by Kaylee I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.