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.
Breaking Down
Florence %2B the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was always there you see
And even on my own
It was always standing next to me
I can see it coming from the edge of the room
Creeping in the streetlight
Holding my hand in the pale gloom
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
All alone
Even when I was a child
I've always known
There was something to be frightened of
And I can see it coming from the edge of the room
Creeping in the streetlight
Holding my hand in the pale gloom
Can you see it coming now?
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
All alone
On the edge of sleep
My old familiar friend
Comes and lies down next to me
And I can see it coming from the edge of the room
Smiling in the streetlight
Even with my eyes shut tight
I still see you coming now
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
The lyrics of Florence + The Machine's "Breaking Down" seem to allude to an inner struggle with anxiety and fear that has accompanied the singer throughout her life. From childhood, she has sensed the presence of something to be frightened of, an old familiar friend that keeps coming back and lying down next to her on the edge of sleep. This entity represents the continuous struggle that the singer faces, even when alone. The stark, melancholic melody enhances the sense of pain and struggle conveyed by the lyrics.
In the first verse, the singer acknowledges the inescapability of this presence, which has always been there, right next to her, lurking in the shadows. She describes how she feels it coming closer now, creeping in the streetlight and holding her hand in the pale gloom. The repetition of the line "Can you see it coming now?" reinforces the idea that the singer knows that her anxiety and fear are always present, no matter how much she tries to ignore them or push them away.
The second verse is a reiteration of the first, with the added mention of the singer's childhood. The presence of anxiety and fear is shown to be a long-standing issue that has accompanied her from an early age. The refrain that follows underscores the sense of impending doom that this presence brings: "Oh, I think I'm breaking down again".
Overall, "Breaking Down" is a poignant and honest portrayal of the struggles that come with anxiety and fear. It resonates with anyone who has had to face these issues, and it provides a sense of comfort that they are not alone in their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
All alone
Being on my own, without anyone else around
It was always there you see
This feeling or emotion has always been present in my life
And even on my own
And despite being alone
It was always standing next to me
This feeling or emotion was always close by
I can see it coming from the edge of the room
I can sense this emotion approaching, like it's at the periphery of my awareness
Creeping in the streetlight
Slowly and subtly seeping into my consciousness
Holding my hand in the pale gloom
It's with me even in darkness and loneliness
Can you see it coming now?
Do you sense this too?
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
I feel overwhelmed and emotionally unstable, like I'm losing control again
Even when I was a child
This feeling has been with me since childhood
I've always known
It's always been a part of my awareness
There was something to be frightened of
There is something scary or intimidating about this emotion
On the edge of sleep
In that hazy state between awake and asleep
My old familiar friend
This emotion feels like an old companion
Comes and lies down next to me
It's present as I drift off to sleep
Smiling in the streetlight
Now it feels almost friendly, smiling like a friend in the night
Even with my eyes shut tight
Even when I try to ignore it completely
I still see you coming now
I can't avoid this emotion, it's still coming for me
Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.