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.
St Jude
Florence %2B the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another battle never won
And each side is a loser
So who cares who fired the gun?
And I'm learning, so I'm leaving
And even though I'm grieving
I'm trying to find the meaning
Let loss reveal it
St. Jude, the patron saint of the lost causes
St. Jude, we were lost before she started
St. Jude, we lay in bed as she whipped around us
St. Jude, maybe I've always been more comfortable in chaos
And I was on the island and you were there too
But somehow through the storm I couldn't get to you
St. Jude, somehow she knew
And she came to give her blessing while causing devastation
And I couldn't keep my mouth shut, I just had to mention
Grabbing your attention
St. Jude, the patron saint of the lost causes
St. Jude, we were lost before she started
St. Jude, we lay in bed as she whipped around us
St. Jude, maybe I've always been more comfortable in chaos
St. Jude, St. Jude
St. Jude, St. Jude
And I'm learning, so I'm leaving
And even though I'm grieving
I'm trying to find the meaning
Let loss reveal it
Let loss reveal it
And I'm learning, so I'm leaving
And even though I'm grieving
I'm trying to find the meaning
Let loss reveal it
Let loss reveal it
The lyrics to Florence + The Machine's "St Jude" touch on the theme of loss, chaos and finding meaning in it all. The opening verse sets the tone for the song, with Florence Welch singing about how another conversation has led to nowhere and how both sides in conflicts end up being losers. The chorus introduces the titular character, St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes. The chorus repeats three times throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that even in chaos, there is a sense of comfort in knowing that one is not alone.
The second verse seems to reference a personal experience of Florence's, with her on an island and someone she cares about being there too, but unable to reach them through the storm. St. Jude is once again mentioned, and this time it's with a more active role, as though the chaos is being directed by her. The final chorus repeats twice, with the same sense of comfort and familiarity present in the earlier repetitions. The final verse is a repeat of the opening verse, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the fact that people are always learning, grieving, and trying to find meaning.
Overall, "St Jude" is a song about embracing chaos as a part of life, and finding comfort in knowing that no one is truly alone in their experiences of loss and grief.
Line by Line Meaning
Another conversation with no destination
A pointless discussion that's heading nowhere
Another battle never won
A futile conflict with no victorious outcome
And each side is a loser
Both parties suffer losses and no one wins
So who cares who fired the gun?
What's the point of assigning blame for something that didn't end well for anyone?
And I'm learning, so I'm leaving
I'm departing because I want to gain knowledge and grow
And even though I'm grieving
Despite the fact that I'm mourning or feeling sorrowful
I'm trying to find the meaning
I'm searching for the significance
Let loss reveal it
Letting go of something can uncover its true meaning
St. Jude, the patron saint of the lost causes
St. Jude is the saint associated with hopeless cases
St. Jude, we were lost before she started
We were helpless from the very beginning
St. Jude, we lay in bed as she whipped around us
Despite being in bed, chaos surrounds us and we're powerless to stop it
St. Jude, maybe I've always been more comfortable in chaos
Perhaps I'm at ease when things are frenzied or disordered
And I was on the island and you were there too
You and I were both present on the island
But somehow through the storm I couldn't get to you
Amidst the turbulence, I couldn't reach you
St. Jude, somehow she knew
Somehow, St. Jude had knowledge of what was happening
And she came to give her blessing while causing devastation
While wrecking havoc, St. Jude still bestowed her blessing
And I couldn't keep my mouth shut, I just had to mention
I couldn't remain silent and had to speak up
Grabbing your attention
I wanted to make you take notice or pay attention to something
St. Jude, St. Jude
Repeating the name of the saint
And I'm learning, so I'm leaving
I'm departing because I desire knowledge and growth
And even though I'm grieving
Despite the fact that I'm mourning or feeling sorrowful
I'm trying to find the meaning
I'm searching for the significance
Let loss reveal it
Allowing loss to uncover the real meaning of something
Let loss reveal it
Letting go of something can uncover its true meaning
Contributed by Arianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.