After recording a 4 track demo the band quickly signed to Shelflife and released their debut album Songs About You in 2004. The album was well received by international fanzines with reviews noting the band's classic indie pop influences from the aforementioned bands Field Mice and Heavenly as well as The Smiths, Comet Gain, The Go-Betweens and Lush.
The band spent 2005-2006 playing across the UK with other indie pop bands Camera Obscura, Trembling Blue Stars, Malcolm Middleton and Pipas as well as touring around Northern Europe.
They went on hiatus in 2007.
Goalhanger
Language of Flowers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no need to worry,
I know what I did; made you feel like you'd been used,
Oh baby, I'm sorry.
Well I'd understand if you wanted me to leave,
Await your decision.
I tried hard to tell you how lonely I had been,
I waited so long that I nearly fell asleep,
Alone in the bathtub.
He told me some girl from your work invited you,
To go to a nightclub.
I never ever wanted to break your heart,
No, I never meant to hurt you at all.
All I ever really needed was something real,
But I never ever got it, never ever got it.
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only let him stay the night. (let him stay the night)
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only held him very tight.
It's a hard thing to prove,
But I swear it's the truth.
He wasn't like you,
No, he's not as good as you.
No, I never ever wanted to break your heart,
No I never meant to hurt you at all.
All I ever really needed was something real,
And I never ever got it, never ever got it.
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only let him stay the night. (let him stay the night)
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only held him very tight.
No, I never ever wanted to break your heart,
No, I never meant to hurt you at all.
All I ever really needed was something real,
And I never ever got it, never ever got it.
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only let him stay the night. (let him stay the night)
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only held him very tight.
(x3)
The Language of Flowers' "Goalhanger" is a song about regret and seeking forgiveness for past mistakes. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and desperation as the singer expresses their desire to be with the person they love, despite having hurt them in the past. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer admitting that they are at fault for causing pain to their partner. They express remorse and regret for their actions, and ask for forgiveness.
The second verse reveals that the singer's partner is considering whether or not to end the relationship. The singer implores them to give them another chance and promises to do better in the future. The bridge uses vivid imagery of the singer waiting alone in the bathtub, while their partner goes out to a nightclub with someone from work. This paints a picture of the singer's loneliness and longing for their partner's affection.
The chorus is a refrain of the singer's desire for something real, and their admission that they never got it. The repeated assertion that they did not sleep with their partner's brother seems to suggest that there has been some kind of misunderstanding or false accusation. Ultimately, the song is a plea for understanding and forgiveness, and a desire to rebuild a broken relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I know what I want and I wanna be with you,
There's no need to worry,
I know what I did; made you feel like you'd been used,
Oh baby, I'm sorry.
I am aware of my desires, and I want to be with you. You don't need to stress because I realize that my actions have made you feel exploited. I apologize for that.
Well I'd understand if you wanted me to leave,
Await your decision.
I tried hard to tell you how lonely I had been,
But you never listened.
I would comprehend if you requested me to depart, but I will wait for your decision. I genuinely made an effort to express how desolate I was, but regrettably, you didn't pay attention.
I waited so long that I nearly fell asleep,
Alone in the bathtub.
He told me some girl from your work invited you,
To go to a nightclub.
I stood by for so long that I almost dozed off, soaking in a tub by myself. He informed me that some lady from your job invited you to go to a club.
I never ever wanted to break your heart,
No, I never meant to hurt you at all.
All I ever really needed was something real,
But I never ever got it, never ever got it.
I never intended to cause you heartbreak or hurt in any way. All I ever desired was a genuine relationship, but I never attained it, not even once.
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only let him stay the night. (let him stay the night)
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only held him very tight.
I didn't have sex with your brother; I only permitted him to spend the night. I did not sleep with your brother; I only embraced him firmly.
It's a hard thing to prove,
But I swear it's the truth.
He wasn't like you,
No, he's not as good as you.
It's a challenging thing to verify, but I guarantee that it's authentic. He was not similar to you. In fact, he's not as great as you.
No, I never ever wanted to break your heart,
No I never meant to hurt you at all.
All I ever really needed was something real,
And I never ever got it, never ever got it.
Once again, I emphatically emphasize that I never had the intention to shatter your heart or cause you any distress. My true necessity was a bona fide relationship, but I never experienced it, not even once.
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only let him stay the night. (let him stay the night)
I didn't sleep with your brother,
I only held him very tight.
(x3)
To reiterate, I did not indulge in intercourse with your brother. He only lodged at my place overnight, and I held him snugly, that's all. (repeated thrice)
Contributed by Evan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.