The group first formed in 1985 when Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna ó Braonáin (who had known each other as children in an Irish-speaking school) began performing as street musicians, or buskers, on the streets of Dublin, Ireland as "The Incomparable Benzini Brothers." They were soon joined by Peter O'Toole, and had won a street-entertainer award within a year. They renamed the group "Hothouse Flowers" and began writing songs and performing throughout Ireland. Rolling Stone magazine called them "the best unsigned band in Europe."
In 1986 Bono from the band U2, saw the Flowers performing on television and offered his support. They released their first single, "Love Don't Work This Way", on U2's Mother Records label, which quickly led to a deal with the PolyGram subsidiary London Records.
Their first album, People was released in early 1988 and was the most successful debut album in Irish history. It reached the number one slot in Ireland within a week and eventually reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart. The international success of the album received a great boost when a music video for the first single, "Don't Go", was played in the interval between contestants and the scoring in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest.
The second album, Home was released in June of 1990. It was recorded sporadically whilst in the midst of extensive touring; with sessions in Dublin, London, a rented house with a mobile recording set-up in Carlow, Ireland, and one day of work with Daniel Lanois in New Orleans, whilst Bob Dylan was taking a break from his sessions with Lanois. The album did not have the overwhelming success of the first record, but it reached number 2 in Australia. The two singles from the album, "Give It Up" and "I Can See Clearly Now" (a cover of the Johnny Nash song performed by both Jimmy Cliff and Bill Withers) reached numbers 30 and 23 respectively in the UK Singles Chart.
Songs From the Rain was released in March 1993. Whilst it received excellent reviews and achieved some chart success in Australia and Ireland, worldwide sales were disappointing. In an attempt to boost record sales (and especially to break in to the American charts), the record label and the band's management kept the group on the road almost continuously for the entire year. By early 1994, Ó Maonlaí had decided that the group was suffering from physical, mental and creative exhaustion, and he called for a year-long sabbatical.
The year-long break turned into several years, as the band members recouped their energy and experienced changes in their personal lives, including divorces, marriages, the birth of children and the death of Ó Maonlaí's father. The group also split from their long-time manager, and Leo Barnes (saxophone) and Jerry Fehily (drums) left the group. O'Toole and ó Braonáin spent some of their time off from the Hothouse Flowers, recording and touring with Michelle Shocked and Ó Maonlaí worked with Tim Finn and Andy White, whilst also studying traditional Irish music.
In 1998 they released Born. Joined by Wayne Sheehy on drums and Rob Malone on bass, this album contained extensive songwriting contributions from O'Toole, who (freed from his bass responsibilities) played mostly guitar, bouzouki and keyboards on the recording. The music also incorporated more elements of electronic loops, synthesizers and studio effects.
By 1999 they had reached the end of their contract with London Records, and both the label and the band decided not to renew. The label head allowed the group the rights to record songs from their past London releases and produce a live record. Live' was self-released by the group later that year, taken mostly from an October 1998 show in Dublin Stadium (with one track from a November show in Tokyo). Sheehy and Malone left the group shortly after the release of the record. Dave Clarke, formerly of Blue in Heaven, joined on drums and O'Toole returned to the bass.
In 2000 London Records released a compilation of songs from their four previous albums titled Best of.
During the band's official hiatus between Songs From the Rain and Born, band memebers had both written songs individually, and sporadically got together to write collaboratively. Some of these songs were never released, while others altered significantly to become some of the tracks on Born. In 2003 the Flowers collected these unreleased recordings and issued them as Vaults:Volume 1.
In February 2004 the band released their latest album, Into Your Heart, produced by the band and John Reynolds. The first single, "Tell Me", reached the top 20 on the Irish charts. The record was released on the RubyMusic label in Europe and distributed by Redeye in the United States. They have toured extensively in support of the record, including a performance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2004.
Ó Maonlaí has done several tours as a solo acoustic performer, and released an album in 2005 called Rian.
I'm Sorry
Hothouse Flowers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitting back on my deep pile reclining chair
Thinking about my life and all the good things that happened
Well, it just came to mind to me that
Yeah, came to mind to me that
I ain't been treatin' her too bad, too well, too well
There comes a time in every mans life when he's got to
Look over his misdemeanors, misgivings, misfortunes and
Miss whatever her name is
Yeah, I'll say you're sorry, sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
'Cos I been telling you lies, standing on your face
I been making you cry all over the places, Lord
I should have known, yeah, I should've known better
Well, I could not phone, Lord I, I could, I could, I could, but I'm
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
You know I'm crazy, sorry
Sorry, sorry, baby, baby, baby
I think this time I realized
Get down on my knees and apologies
Oh Lord, I didn't know when I hurt you
I didn't know when you cried
I didn't know when you screamed, "Lord"
I didn't know when you stopped to cry
I didn't know when you called
I didn't know when you hurt
I didn't know sweet Mama
I didn't know, I should, I am
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
The Hothouse Flowers’ song “I’m Sorry” is a reflective piece that illustrates the moment of realization and remorse of the singer for mistreating his lover. This is evident in the opening verses where the singer states that he had been sitting on his deep pile reclining chair, reflecting on his life, and all the good things that had happened. It then dawned on him that he had been mistreating his lover, pushing her around, and not treating her as well as he should have. This is demonstrated in the lines “No I been pushing her ‘round and you know, There comes a time in every mans life when he’s got to, Look over his misdemeanors, misgivings, misfortunes and Miss, whatever her name is”.
The singer expresses deep remorse for his actions and admits that he has been telling lies, making his lover cry all over the places, and not being there for her. He realizes that he should have known better and that he did not appreciate her enough. This is summed up in the lines “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, 'Cos I been telling you lies, standing on your face, I been making you cry all over the places, Lord, I should have known, yeah, I should've known better”. In the final part of the song, the singer acknowledges that he was ignorant of his lover’s pain, and he asks for her forgiveness. He acknowledges that he did not know when he hurt her, cried, or called out for him.
In essence, the song “I’m Sorry” is an expression of deep remorse for the mistreatment of a loved one. The Hothouse Flowers’ use of vivid imagery, emotive words, and a passionate delivery creates a powerful song that captures the complexities of human relationships, and the significance of acknowledging one’s faults.
Line by Line Meaning
This song tells exactly how, when I was, while I was
The song recounts a specific moment when the singer is reflecting on his life.
Sitting back on my deep pile reclining chair
The singer is physically comfortable and in a relaxed state of mind when he has this realization.
Thinking about my life and all the good things that happened
The singer is reflecting on the positive moments of his life.
Well, it just came to mind to me that
The artist has a sudden realization or epiphany.
Yeah, came to mind to me that
The artist emphasizes the suddenness of his realization.
I ain't been treatin' her too bad, too well, too well
The singer acknowledges that he has been treating his partner poorly and recognizes that there is a middle ground between treating someone poorly and treating them well.
No I been pushin' her 'round and you know
The singer has been mistreating his partner and acknowledges this fact.
There comes a time in every mans life when he's got to
The artist believes that there is a point in every man's life when he must reflect on his actions.
Look over his misdemeanors, misgivings, misfortunes and
The artist believes that reflecting on his mistakes and wrongdoings is an important part of personal growth.
Miss whatever her name is
The artist is unsure of his partner's name, which could indicate a lack of investment in the relationship.
Yeah, I'll say you're sorry, sorry
The singer is willing to apologize for his behavior.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
The artist is apologizing for mistreating his partner.
'Cos I been telling you lies, standing on your face
The singer has been lying to his partner and has possibly been overbearing or dominating in their relationship.
I been making you cry all over the places, Lord
The singer's behavior has caused his partner emotional pain.
I should have known, yeah, I should've known better
The singer recognizes that he should have been more aware of his partner's feelings and needs.
Well, I could not phone, Lord I, I could, I could, I could, but I'm
The artist acknowledges that he could have tried to reach out to his partner, but he did not make the effort to do so.
You know I'm crazy, sorry
The artist is apologizing and acknowledging that he has acted irrationally or has had unreasonable expectations.
Sorry, sorry, baby, baby, baby
The singer is expressing his remorse and apologizing to his partner.
I think this time I realized
The singer has come to a realization and is taking accountability for his actions.
Get down on my knees and apologies
The artist is willing to go to great lengths to apologize and make amends for his behavior.
Oh Lord, I didn't know when I hurt you
The artist did not realize the extent of the harm that he was causing his partner.
I didn't know when you cried
The artist was unaware of when his partner was crying or upset.
I didn't know when you screamed, "Lord"
The singer was unaware of his partner's distress or cries for help.
I didn't know when you stopped to cry
The artist was unaware of when his partner stopped crying or stopped expressing their emotions.
I didn't know when you called
The singer was unaware of when his partner attempted to communicate with him.
I didn't know when you hurt
The singer was unaware when his partner was experiencing pain.
I didn't know sweet Mama
The singer acknowledges his partner's importance and caring nature, despite his past behavior.
I didn't know, I should, I am
The artist is taking accountability for his lack of awareness and committing to trying to be better in the future.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
The artist is apologizing and expressing his remorse.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FIACHNA SEOSAMH O'BRAONAIN, LIAM TADG O'MAONLAI, PETER MARY O'TOOLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dazzazulu777
Saw them on tour in the States when this came out. It was awesome!
@roberthowe3377
Misfortunes, misgivings, misdemeanors, miss whatever her name was !!! Brilliant line..
@DoctorDave5
My first ever concert was Hothouse Flowers at the Edinburgh Playhouse in ‘89. If I remember correctly they started with this song with each member of the band coming onto the stage one at a time as their part of the song started. Great night.
@sandrasmith7501
Thanks for uploading! Watching episodes of The Good Wife...and this song was playing at the first of one. Had to search by lyrics for band...and here I am!! Thanks again.
@ciaran5588
Man, I was only 19 when this came out. NINETEEN!
@1groovygreg
I’m right there with you. Where did the time go?
@ciaran86
5588. 🙏🏼
@1groovygreg
Love the gospel vibe.
@user-nl1gz3gt6k
every one deserves it ❤
@williammain4769
One of the best ever x