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.
Only If For The Night
Florence + the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About my old school
And she was there all pink and gold and glittering
I threw my arms around her legs
Came to weeping (came to weeping)
Came to weeping (came to weeping)
And I heard your voice
And you told me I should concentrate
It was all so strange
And so surreal
That a ghost should be so practical
Only if for a night
And the only solution was to stand and fight
And my body was bruised and I was set alight
But you came over me like some holy rite
And although I was burning, you're the only light
Only if for a night
And the grass was so green against my new clothes
And I did cartwheels in your honour
Dancing on tiptoes
My own secret ceremonials
Before the service began
In the graveyard doing handstands
And I heard your voice
As clear as day
And you told me I should concentrate
It was all so strange
And so surreal
That a ghost should be so practical
Only if for a night
And the only solution was to stand and fight
And my body was bruised and I was set alight
But you came over me like some holy rite
And although I was burning, you're the only light
Only if for a night
Madam, my dear, my darling
Tell me what all the sighing's about
Tell me what all the sighing's about
And I heard your voice
As clear as day
And you told me I should concentrate
It was all so strange
And so surreal
That a ghost should be so practical
Only if for a night
Only if for a night
The song "Only If For A Night" by Florence and the Machine is a hauntingly beautiful tale about a dream. The song starts with the singer, Florence, explaining that she had a dream about her old school and in the dream, someone important to her was present. They were all "pink and gold and glittering," and she threw her arms around their legs, weeping. The dream is surreal and strange, but the highlight of the dream is that she hears their voice, clear as day, and they tell her she should concentrate. The whole dream feels ghostly, and the fact that the voice is just offering practical advice adds to this feeling.
The second verse begins with the same voice as before, asking Florence what all the sighing is about. The lyrics then take a darker turn as Florence is faced with a challenge. She must stand and fight despite her body being bruised and set alight. Suddenly, the person she had been searching for comes to her like a holy rite, and although she is burning, they are the only light she can see. The final verse returns to the dream, where Florence is in a graveyard, doing handstands before the service began. The dream is once again interrupted by the voice offering practical advice.
Overall, the song explores themes of loss and grief while also delving into the surreal nature of dreams. The dream reflects the singer's subconscious and the questions of what could have been if things were different.
Line by Line Meaning
And I had a dream
I had a dream
About my old school
I saw my old school in the dream
And she was there all pink and gold and glittering
The school was decorated in pink, gold, and glitter
I threw my arms around her legs
I embraced the school
Came to weeping (came to weeping)
I cried and became emotional
And I heard your voice
I heard your voice in the dream
As clear as day
Your voice was clear and distinct
And you told me I should concentrate
You advised me to focus
It was all so strange
The dream was weird and confusing
And so surreal
It was unreal and bizarre
That a ghost should be so practical
It was surprising that a ghost could give practical advice
Only if for a night
If only for one night
And the only solution was to stand and fight
I had to face the situation and fight
And my body was bruised and I was set alight
I suffered physical injuries and burns
But you came over me like some holy rite
You came to me and it felt like a divine intervention
And although I was burning, you're the only light
Even though I was in pain, you brought light and hope
Madam, my dear, my darling
Addressing someone affectionately
Tell me what all the sighing's about
Asking someone about the reason for their sighs
And the grass was so green against my new clothes
The grass looked vivid green against my new clothes
And I did cartwheels in your honour
I performed cartwheels to honor you
Dancing on tiptoes
Dancing on toes
My own secret ceremonials
My personal rituals or traditions
Before the service began
Before the funeral or ceremony started
In the graveyard doing handstands
Doing handstands in the cemetery
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL EPWORTH, FLORENCE WELCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind