Lead singer, Florence Welch, was an art-college drop-out, from Camberwell (London), who was discovered singing Motown covers in a nightclub toilet, drunk. ”The Machine” name originated with an in-joke between Welch and Summers. Musically, Florence + The Machine's sound is sometimes referred to as soul-inspired indie rock. Welch grew up listening to The White Stripes and Kate Bush and says she writes metaphorical songs that are "stories with consequences and weird morality issues."
2008
Florence + The Machine's music has received praise across the British music media, especially from the BBC, who played a large part in their rise to prominence, by bringing them into the spotlight as part of "BBC Introducing" (a program to support unsigned artists) - firstly at South By South West (SXSW) in Austin, Texas in March 2008 and later that year (Sept 2008) the band recorded a full session for the BBC at their Maida Vale studios.
2009 - 2010 - first awards and first studio album - "Lungs"
At the Brit Awards 2009, Florence + The Machine received the Critics' Choice Award at the Brits in the UK. The award was introduced in 2008 (when it was awarded to Adele) and focuses on new and emerging British talent, voted for by a panel of music industry experts.
The band's début album was "Lungs" (Jul 2009, Universal), preceded by third single Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (Jun 2009, Moshi Moshi). "Lungs" went on to become number one in the UK album charts in January 2010, and won the MasterCard British Album award at the 2010 Brits, where they performed a hugely popular collaboration, You've Got the Dirtee Love (live at The Brit Awards 2010) with Dizzee Rascal - a mix of You've Got the Love, the Candi Staton cover from "Dog Days Are Over" (Nov 2008, IAmSound), and Dizzee’s Dirtee Cash (Sept 2009, Dirtee Stank).
2011 - second studio album - "Ceremonials"
The second album "Ceremonials" (31 Oct 2011, Island) - with which Welch was inspired for the title and some themes from a '70s Super 8 film of an art installation, she recalls: "... this big procession of kind of coquette-style hippies and all these different coloured robes and masks, and it was all to do with colour, really saturated, brightly coloured pastas and balloons. I saw it a couple years ago, and it was called 'Ceremonials' and then, like, Roman numerals after it. And the word sort of stuck with me, and I think the whole idea of performance ...". The album is also influenced by hymns, poems and church bells.
2012 - MTV Unplugged album - "MTV Unplugged"
In 2012, the band released a live album - "MTV Unplugged" (Apr 2012, Universal) - as part of the MTV Unplugged series. It was filmed in December 2011 in New York’s oldest synagogue building, Angel Orensanz Center, with the band being backed by a ten-person choir.
2015 - third studio album - "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful"
The band's long awaited third studio album is called "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful". It was released on May 29, 2015 on Island Records.
2018 - fourth studio album - "High As Hope"
The band's fourth studio album is called "High As Hope". It was released on June 29, 2018 on Republic Records.
Mother
Florence %2B The Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave me on my knees.
‘Cause I belong to the ground, now,
And it belongs to thee.
And, oh, lord, won’t you leave me?
Leave me just like this,
‘Cause I belong to the ground, now,
And how I long for the autumn,
The sun keeps burning me,
Every stone in this city,
Keeps reminding me, oh.
Can you protect me,
From what I want
The love I let in, it left me so lost.
Mother, make me, make me a big, tall tree,
So I can shed my leaves, and let it blow through me.
Mother, make me, make me a big, grey cloud,
So I can rain on you things I can't say out loud.
All these couples are kissing,
And I can’t stand the heat.
I lost my shoes and left the party,
I wander in the street.
I put my feet into the fountain,
The statues all asleep,
No use wishing on the water,
It grants you no release.
Mother, make me, make me a bird of prey,
So I can rise above this, let it fall away.
Mother, make me, make me a song so sweet,
Heaven trembles, falling at our feet.
Oh, lord, won't you leave me?
Leave me on my knees.
‘Cause I belong to the ground, now,
And it belongs to thee.
And, oh, lord, won’t you leave me?
Leave me just like this,
‘Cause I belong to the ground, now,
I want no more than this.
Oh, lord, won't you leave me?
Leave me on my knees.
‘Cause I belong to the ground, now,
And it belongs to thee.
And, oh, lord, won’t you leave me?
Leave me just like this,
‘Cause I belong to the ground, now,
I want no more than this.
The lyrics of Florence + The Machine's song "Mother" captures the emotions of a person who is heartbroken and feels lost. The song starts with the singer begging the Lord to leave them on their knees because they belong to the ground, and it belongs to Him. It is a way of saying that the singer feels rooted in the pain and wants to stay there as the ground is where they belong.
The chorus is them asking their mother to shape them into things that can help them cope with this pain - to become a big, tall tree to let the emotions flow through them or a big, grey cloud to let it rain down on others things they can't say out loud.
The second verse details the singer's pain and how they feel lost in the world of couples kissing around them. They find solace in putting their feet in the fountain, but even that feels useless. The chorus repeats, ending the song on the same melancholic note.
Overall, the song is an emotional plea to be released from the pain, to feel like they belong somewhere but also to be able to cope with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, lord, won't you leave me?
Asking for solitude and to be left alone in a state of submission
Leave me on my knees.
To remain in a state of humility
‘Cause I belong to the ground, now,
Having reached a point of acceptance and grounding
And it belongs to thee.
Submission to a higher power
And how I long for the autumn,
Longing for a time of change and transition
The sun keeps burning me,
Feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of life and its challenges
Every stone in this city,
Every part of the environment serves as a reminder
Keeps reminding me, oh.
Of things that have been lost and can never be regained
Can you protect me,
Asking for protection from one's own desires
From what I want
Recognizing that what one wants may not be what is best
The love I let in, it left me so lost.
Previous experiences have left one feeling lost and alone
Mother, make me, make me a big, tall tree,
Asking for strength and resilience to weather the storms of life
So I can shed my leaves, and let it blow through me.
To let go of what no longer serves and allow change to flow through
Mother, make me, make me a big, grey cloud,
Asking for the ability to release emotions in a healthy way
So I can rain on you things I can't say out loud.
To express things that cannot be spoken aloud
All these couples are kissing,
Feeling disconnected and out of place in a world of love and connection
And I can’t stand the heat.
Feeling overwhelmed by emotions and the intensity of life
I lost my shoes and left the party,
Feeling disconnected from the social scene
I wander in the street.
Feeling lost and aimless
I put my feet into the fountain,
Seeking a moment of relief from the intensity of life
The statues all asleep,
Feeling alone and ignored by the world
No use wishing on the water,
Recognizing that wishing will not bring about change
It grants you no release.
Wishing will not bring about relief from one's struggles
Mother, make me, make me a bird of prey,
Asking for the ability to rise above and overcome challenges
So I can rise above this, let it fall away.
To let go of what weighs one down and rise to new heights
Mother, make me, make me a song so sweet,
Asking for the ability to create beauty and share it with the world
Heaven trembles, falling at our feet.
Recognizing the power of creativity and its ability to move others
Contributed by Jordan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.