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.
It'll Be Easier In The Morning
Hothouse Flowers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah you're weighed down by gloom
No you don't like what it feels in
Your dark and dirty room
It'll be easier in the morning
It'll be easier in the day
Sun will shine on though your window
Looks like the bottle has run empty
Yeah your heart is torn and dry
Lord you don't like what it feels like
Your sad and lonely eyes
Looks like the highways never ending
Yeah your legs they feel like lead
Lord you're twisting yeah and turning
In your wide and lonely bed
It'll be easier in the morning etc.
Looks like you got no one you can talk to
No one left to talk to
And your heart is torn'n'blue
Yeah you look in no direction
No direction...
I guess these words might pull you through
Hothouse Flowers's song "It'll Be Easier In The Morning" is a powerful ballad that captures the essence of loneliness and despair that an individual can feel in the middle of a dark and difficult night. The opening lines of the song encapsulate the mood immediately by painting a dark image of an individual who is weighed down by gloom and surrounded by a lonely night. The lyrics speak of the discomfort that comes with being alone and hating the space around you.
The song emphasizes that although the night may be long and difficult, the morning will bring hope and light. The chorus is a ray of hope in these dark times, promising that the sun will shine on your window, and light will lead the way. The lyrics suggest that although you may feel weighed down, and your heart may hurt, you can find solace in knowing that the morning will bring a better day.
The song's lyrics detail further the loneliness and misery that the individual is experiencing. The bottle is empty, symbolizing feelings of being numb and empty. The individual seems to have nobody to turn to, and their heart is torn and blue. They are struggling to find direction and looking for solace in the words of the song.
Overall, the song is an anthem of hope in the darkness, reminding us that even in the toughest moments, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow. It is a song about finding light in the midst of darkness, and that no matter how tough things can get, there is always a way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
If the lonely night surrounds you
The feeling of loneliness and despair is engulfing you
Yeah you're weighed down by gloom
You feel heavy and burdened emotionally
No you don't like what it feels in
You are uncomfortable in your current state of mind
Your dark and dirty room
Your surroundings reflect the dark mood you are currently in
It'll be easier in the morning
Things will get better with time
It'll be easier in the day
With daylight comes clarity and renewed hope
Sun will shine on though your window
A new day brings sunshine and positivity
We got light to lead the way
There is always hope and guidance available to you
Looks like the bottle has run empty
You have exhausted all your options for escape or relief
Yeah your heart is torn and dry
You feel emotionally wounded and empty
Lord you don't like what it feels like
You are uncomfortable with your current state of being
Your sad and lonely eyes
Your eyes reflect the feeling of sadness and loneliness
Looks like the highways never ending
You feel trapped and lost, like there is no end in sight
Yeah your legs they feel like lead
You are physically and emotionally exhausted
Lord you're twisting yeah and turning
You are unable to find peace or rest
In your wide and lonely bed
Even your bed cannot provide comfort and solace
Looks like you got no one you can talk to
You feel isolated and without support
No one left to talk to
Your usual confidants are not available or cannot help
And your heart is torn'n'blue
You feel emotionally damaged and sad
Yeah you look in no direction
You feel directionless and without guidance
No direction...
You feel lost and unsure of what to do
I guess these words might pull you through
The song is a message of hope and encouragement, to help you through tough times
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
Kathleen Collins
I don't understand why more people aren't listening to this. Hothouse Flowers was one of my very favorite bands in the 80s and this was my favorite song. I still love it! It feels like they know exactly how I feel when life is too much.
Gunner Johnson
Ppl listening to this just get a smile. They don't talk to much.
Jim Banda
This is it ' Your Soul , is another top class number, the Flowers were brilliant. I actually think a Flowers V2 could still break America Americana , gigging incessantly .
I'm Free anybody need a road manager 😂
mostgrossdanger04
Bought it the week of release... In my very humble opinion one of the greatest debut albums ever... possibly THE most important album of my life... It's perfect.
Nashee Peters
One of my all time favourite songs. I feel it in the pit of my stomach. I will always be thankful my Step Dad introduced them to me.
Blue Hughes
@Nashee Peters Radio never played them here In Aust>>> Bad
Malvina Selby
So long ago I first heard this, still love this band💗💗
Blue Page
I could not agree with you more Kathleen, they are probably one of the greatest folk bands ever.
thomas reale
Met these guys back in the 80’s when they played at Toads in New Haven, CT.
Wonderful guys and the lead singer was such a genuinely nice guy.
They put out some amazing music and were fantastic live!
Jari Liitola
This is still my fave soul songs!