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.
Try A Little Tenderness
Florence + the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little things that mean so much
A word, a smile, and a kiss
When a woman loves a man, hes a hero in her eyes
And a hero he can always be if hell just realize
She may be weary, women do get weary
Wearing the same shabby dress
She may be waiting, just anticipating
Things she may never possess
While shes without them, try a little tenderness
It's not just sentimental, she has her grief and her care
But a word thats soft and gentle makes it easier to bear
You wont regret it, women dont forget it
Love is their whole happiness
And it's all so easy, try a little tenderness
The song "Try a Little Tenderness" by Florence + the Machine is a cover of the classic soul song originally released by Otis Redding in 1966. The song encourages men to show love and compassion to the women they love, especially during times when they may be feeling worn down or overlooked.
The lyrics highlight the importance of paying attention to the small things that can make a big difference in a relationship, such as a kind word, a smile, or a gentle touch. The song acknowledges that women often carry emotional burdens and may feel discouraged or disillusioned, but reminds men that showing tenderness and empathy can help to ease those burdens and make love stronger.
At its core, "Try a Little Tenderness" is a message of love and hope, encouraging people to be kind to one another and to remember the simple gestures that can make a relationship thrive.
Line by Line Meaning
In the hustle of the day, were all inclined to miss
We're often too busy to appreciate the small things in life
Little things that mean so much
The tiny gestures of love can have a huge impact
A word, a smile, and a kiss
Simple acts of kindness and love can go a long way
When a woman loves a man, hes a hero in her eyes
Women see the best in men they love and admire them greatly
And a hero he can always be if hell just realize
A man can live up to his potential and be the hero his partner sees him as if he tries
She may be weary, women do get weary
Women can become tired and worn down by life's challenges
Wearing the same shabby dress
She may feel like she's stuck in a rut and lacking in confidence
And when shes weary, try a little tenderness
Displaying affection and understanding can go a long way towards making her feel better
She may be waiting, just anticipating
She may have hopes and dreams that she is eager to fulfill
Things she may never possess
But there may be obstacles in her way to achieving these goals
While shes without them, try a little tenderness
It's important to show love and support even when things aren't going as planned
It's not just sentimental, she has her grief and her care
It's not just about being overly emotional, she also has her own personal struggles and worries
But a word thats soft and gentle makes it easier to bear
Kind words and gestures can alleviate some of her pain and difficulty
You wont regret it, women dont forget it
Showing love and care will be appreciated and remembered by women
Love is their whole happiness
Love is central to women's happiness in life
And it's all so easy, try a little tenderness
Showing love and affection doesn't have to be difficult and can go a long way in making a woman feel valued and loved
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Bluewater Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Harry M. Woods
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind