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.
one by one
Flipper Lyrics
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Each road
Every wall
All prisons
Every bank
Shall cease to exist
One by one
Onto the rock
And the rock will fall
The rock will fall
The opening lines of "One by One" by Flipper resonate with themes of impermanence and the fleeting nature of all phenomena. The phrase "each moment" draws attention to the present and encourages the listener to live in the moment. The following lines make use of vivid imagery to convey the idea that everything is temporary and will eventually disappear. "Each road" and "every wall" symbolize the barriers and obstacles that people encounter in life, while "all prisons" and "every bank" represent institutions that limit individual freedom.
The repeated refrain of "shall cease to exist" serves as a powerful reminder that nothing lasts forever. The lyrics suggest that the transience of existence can be liberating, as it allows for the possibility of change and transformation. However, the song also acknowledges the inevitability of loss and the pain that can come with it. The final lines of the chorus use natural imagery to emphasize this sense of loss: "One by one, the waves crash / onto the rock / and the rock will fall / the rock will fall."
In many ways, "One by One" is a song about acceptance, about coming to terms with the impermanence of life and finding meaning in the face of loss. By acknowledging the fleeting nature of all things, the song encourages listeners to live in the present and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Each moment
Every passing moment
Each road
Every path or journey
Every wall
Any obstacle or hindrance
All prisons
Any form of captivity or confinement
Every bank
Any system of power or wealth
Shall cease to exist
Will one day no longer exist
One by one
Individually or gradually
The waves crash
The powerful forces of nature or change
Onto the rock
Against the stable or unyielding
And the rock will fall
Even the strongest or most secure will eventually crumble
The rock will fall
Nothing is forever and all things are subject to change
Contributed by Audrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.