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.
Spectrum
Florence + the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were cold and we were clear
With no colors on our skin
We were light and paper-thin
And when we first came here
We were cold and we were clear
With no colors on our skin
'Til you let the spectrum in
Say my name
And every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
And when we come for you
We dressed up all in blue
With the ocean in our arms
Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms
And when it's time to pray (better pray to God)
We'll be dressed up all in gray
With metal on our tongues
And silver in our lungs
Say my name
And every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
And when we come back we'll be dressed in black
And you'll scream our names aloud
And we won't eat and we won't sleep
We'll drag bodies from the ground
So say my name
And every color illuminates
And we are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
We are shining
Say my name
Say my name
And we'll never be afraid again
The song Spectrum by Florence + the Machine seems to be about self-discovery and empowerment. The opening lines of the song suggest that initially, the singer and the others were uncolored or colorless with no identity of their own. However, this changes when they come across someone who "lets the spectrum in." The 'spectrum' here could be a reference to a new understanding of themselves that they gained, or it is possible that this outside source is finally seeing them for who they are and allowing them to be themselves. They then declare that they are shining and will never be afraid again.
The verse that follows seems to be a continuation of the same idea, but the imagery is different. This time, they talk about dressing up in blue with the ocean in their arms, as they come for someone. The next line then says that when it's time to pray, they dress up in gray with metal on their tongues and silver in their lungs. These images are slightly disturbing but give the impression that the singers have a new sense of power and confidence.
The chorus repeats the idea that the singer is shining, and every color illuminates when their name is spoken. This seems to be a metaphor for the idea that they have come into their own and are now shining their unique light into the world. The final verse is quite ominous, talking about being dressed in black as they come back, screaming their names aloud, and dragging bodies from the ground. However, despite these darker images, they end the song with the same message of empowerment and pride.
Line by Line Meaning
When we first came here
When we arrived at this place
We were cold and we were clear
We were aloof and hard-hearted
With no colors on our skin
Our skin was devoid of colors
We were light and paper-thin
We were weightless and fragile
Till you let the spectrum in
Until you showed us the spectrum of colors
Say my name
Call out my name
And every color illuminates
All colors become vibrant and visible
We are shining
We shine radiantly
And we will never be afraid again
And we will not experience fear again
And when we come for you
And when we arrive to take you
We dressed up all in blue
We wear blue attire
With the ocean in our arms
Holding the sea in our arms
Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms
We kiss your eyes and your palms
And when it's time to pray (better pray to god)
When it's time to pray (it's better to pray to God)
We dressed up all in gray
We wear gray clothing
With metal on our tongues
With metal on our tongues
And silver in our lungs
And silver in our lungs
And when we come back we'll be dressed in black
And when we return we will be donning black
And you'll scream our names aloud
And you will scream our names loudly
And we won't eat and we won't sleep
We won't eat or sleep
We'll drag bodies from the ground
We will remove bodies from the ground
We are shining
We shine radiantly
Say my name, as every color illuminates
Call out my name, as all colors become vibrant and visible
Say my name
Call out my name
And we will never be afraid again
And we will not experience fear again
We are shining
We shine radiantly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Florence Leontine Mary Welch, Paul Richard Epworth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@azizous
Spectrum"
When we first came here
We were cold and we were clear
With no colors in our skin
We were light and paper thin
And when we first came here
we were cold and we were clear
With no colors in our skin
'Til we let the spectrum in
Say my name
And every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
And when we come for you
We'll be dressed up all in blue
With the ocean in our arms
Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms
And when it's time to pray
We'll be dressed up all in grey
With metal on our tongues
And silver in our lungs
Say my name
And every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
And when we come back we'll be dressed in black
And you'll scream my name aloud
And we won't eat and we won't sleep
We'll drag bodies from a ground
So say my name
And every color illuminates
And we are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
We are shining
Say my name
Say my name
And we will never be afraid again
@jef6080
SPECTRUM
When we first came here
We were cold and we were clear
With no colours in our skin
We were light and paper's thin
And when we first came here
We were cold and we were clear
With no colours in our skin
Until we let the spectrum in
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
And when we come for you
We'll be dressed up all in blue
With the ocean in our arms
Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms
And when it's time to pray
We'll be dressed up all in grey
With metal on our tongues
And silver in our lungs
Say my name
And every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
And when we come back we'll be dressed in black
And you'll scream my name aloud
And we won't eat and we won't sleep
We'll drag bodies from the ground
So say my name
And every colour illuminates
And we are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every colour illuminates
Say my name
As every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every colour illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
We are shining
Say my name
Say my name
And we will never be afraid again
@patriciabaiza1456
When we first came here
We were cold and we were clear
With no colors on our skin
We were light and paper thin
And when we first came here
We were cold and we were clear
With no colors on our skin
'Til we let the spectrum in
Say my name
And every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
And when we come for you
We'll be dressed up all in blue
With the ocean in our arms
Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms
And when it's time to pray
We'll be dressed up all in grey
With metal on our tongues
And silver in our lungs
Say my name
And every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
And when we come back we'll be dressed in black
And you'll scream our names aloud
And we won't eat and we won't sleep
We'll drag bodies from the ground
So say my name
And every color illuminates
And we are shining
And we'll never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
As every color illuminates
We are shining
And we will never be afraid again
Say my name
We are shining
Say my name
Say my name
And we will never be afraid again
@yeastyboyx
I've never felt more like a strong independent woman despite being a 23 year old Male.
@merkurii3877
N1
@hishamsmo4770
same lol
@DiggaUndaHipHop
omfg lol
@User-fy6js
HAHAHAHAHAHA TOP
@karen614
This is my favourite comment
@michelmacena3292
Florence is not just a singer: she's a force of the nature.
@hoopthornseaweed
Lmao
@smartchip
Elaborate,
@krishna-dp1hd
smartchip her voice is simply so powerful and her lyrics extremely profound hence she’s a force of the nature