Lightning Seeds are an alternative pop and rock band from Liverpool formed … Read Full Bio ↴Lightning Seeds are an alternative pop and rock band from Liverpool formed by singer and guitarist Ian Broudie, who is also the main songwriter for the band. They are best known for their single Three Lions and the album Jollification. They have acheived two number-one singles in the U.K. singles chart, as well as Top 20 and Top 50 success in the U.K. album charts.

In 1989 Ian Broudie began recording alone under the name "Lightning Seeds" and achieved success with the psychedelic synthpop hit Pure, from the album Cloudcuckooland, which reached the U.K. Top 20. The same year Joy and All I Want were also released but failed to make an impression. "Pure" had some success in the US Billboard Top 40 reaching number thirty-two. Both "Pure" and "All I Want" also reached the Modern Rock Tracks top ten. In 1991 Broudie returned to song-writing and moved labels from Rough Trade to Virgin.

The album Sense featured the song "The Life of Riley", written by Broudie for his son, which reached twenty-eight in the U.K. singles chart and just registered at ninety-eight in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. An instrumental version of the song later became better known as the BBC TV theme for the "Goal of the Month" competition. "Sense" marked Broudie's first Lightning Seeds song-writing collaborations with former Specials singer Terry Hall. The album's title track "Sense", co-written with Hall, climbed to thirty-one in the U.K. Singles Chart; however, the album stagnated at fifty-three.

Broudie's contract expired with Virgin and Epic agreed to sign him. Broudie put other projects on hold and embarked on a touring schedule.

By the end of 1993 Broudie had finished the Jollification (1994) album, which included contributions from Terry Hall and Simon Rogers as well as Ian McNabb. A promotional tour began in August 1994 with their lineup consisting of, guitarist Paul Hemmings, drummer Chris Sharrock, bassist Martyn Campbell, and keyboardist Ali Kane. The tour benefitted from the success of the second single from the album Change, which reached thirteen in the U.K. singles charts, becoming Lightning Seeds' second U.K. top-twenty hit. The album Jollification became a critical success, and the singles taken from this album, "Lucky You", "Marvellous" and "Perfect" made noticeable impact. Mark Farrow's album cover featured the use of computer graphics to create an enormous strawberry and depicting seeds with superimposed human faces.

The band bought Eel Pie Studios, created using a barge moored on the River Thames, from Pete Townshend of The Who. During this period a number of songs were recorded for the fourth studio album Dizzy Heights. The single "Ready or Not" was released before the album, and reached twenty in the U.K. singles chart.

In 1996 the Football Association commissioned Broudie and Lightning Seeds to write theme music for the Euro '96 football tournament. Broudie agreed on the condition that comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel wrote the lyrics. The resulting song, "Three Lions", became the band's first number one on the U.K. singles chart, and was adopted as a football chant, not only in the U.K. but also in countries such as Germany, where the single and accompanying video reached sixteen.

During this period the band achieved three more U.K. Top 20 hits, including a cover version of The Turtles' "You Showed Me", which beacame one of their biggest hits. Between 1996 and 1997 the band's line-up changed. Chris Sharrock left to work with World Party and was replaced by Mat Priest from Dodgy. Angie Pollock, who had previously worked with Shakespears Sister and Terry Hall, replaced Ali Kane on keyboards.

1997 saw the release of Like You Do, and a U.K. promotional tour followed. "What You Say", one of two new songs included with the compilation, was released but failed to register in the top 40. Part way through the tour Zak Starkey, son of The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr, replaced Priest on drums.

In 1998 "Three Lions '98" was recorded for the World Cup in France, featuring a re-written lyric. The song reached number one in the U.K. singles chart, and became the first song to top the charts on two separate occasions with different sets of lyrics. In 1998 Lightning Seeds also performed on the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival and the V Festival in the U.K.

Their 1999 album Tilt was dance-orientated, and featured collaborations with Stephen Jones. The single "Life's Too Short" rose to twenty-seven in the U.K. Singles Chart. "Sweetest Soul Sensations" reached sixty-seven, and did not attract serious attention.

In 2000 Lightning Seeds performed along with Space and Stereophonics at Cream 2000. Later that year Broudie confirmed, in the Liverpool Echo, that Lightning Seeds were to take a long break after a final show at Liverpool's L2 venue.

The band's second greatest hits album The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds was released on the 12th June 2006, followed by the re-release of "Three Lions", which rose to nine in the U.K. Singles Chart.

In the summer of 2006 Ian Broudie formed a new Lightning Seeds line-up for indoor shows and festival appearances. The band released their sixth studio album, Four Winds, in May 2009, and appeared at festivals during July, August, and September the same year

* Official website

Imaginary Friends
Lightning Seeds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He's moving into an art deco pad
To swell the ranks of the clinically sad
Shaking off the past with a change of address
But keeps his telephone number and hopes for the best

He makes a list of all his favourite friends
Then leaves his footprints on the steps that shine
With tears that he has wept again... and again...

He bought his clothes from a skateboard boutizue

Hung around in places where nobody speaks
Got on line to an internet club
Played trivial pursuit with the goddess of love
And counted his imaginary friends, got up to ten,

Lost count and then went out to walk the streets
'Til god knows when
He met a girls who liked a bit of a laugh
He gained the youth that he'd forgotten to have

So now they mess about with things that are highly illegal
Often get mistaken for interesting people
And no-one ever seems to ring their bell
But do they care, well do they hell

They're gonna kiss and never tell again... and again...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lightning Seeds' song Imaginary Friends talks about a man's journey from his past to his present, from sadness to happiness, and from loneliness to love. The first verse talks about the man moving into a new house to leave his past behind but keeping his phone number to remain connected to his friends. He then makes a list of his favorite friends as he weeps for his losses, something that he has done over and over again. The second verse talks about him going to places where no one speaks, and he engages with the virtual world. He counts imaginary friends that he has built up to ten but loses count after that. He then decides to walk the streets for an unknown period until he meets a girl who brings joy back to his life. Now, they both indulge in some thrilling activities that make them feel young again.

Overall, the lyrics are quite reflective of loneliness, nostalgia, and the search for companionship in one's life. The song takes a positive turn, as the man finally finds someone who brings joy into his life, and together they indulge in seemingly fulfilling albeit questionable activities.

Line by Line Meaning

He's moving into an art deco pad
He is relocating to an Art Deco apartment

To swell the ranks of the clinically sad
To become part of the community of clinically depressed individuals

Shaking off the past with a change of address
Attempting to move on from the past by changing location

But keeps his telephone number and hopes for the best
Keeping his phone number in case any of his past acquaintances try to contact him

He makes a list of all his favourite friends
He compiles a list of his closest companions

Then leaves his footprints on the steps that shine
He walks on steps with a polished surface, leaving impressions behind

With tears that he has wept again... and again...
Crying repeatedly for reasons unknown

He bought his clothes from a skateboard boutique
He shops for his clothes at a specialty store that sells skateboarding apparel

Hung around in places where nobody speaks
Spending time in locations where people are silent

Got on line to an internet club
Joined an online club or community

Played trivial pursuit with the goddess of love
Engaged in a game of Trivial Pursuit with a romantic interest

And counted his imaginary friends
Kept track of his nonexistent friends

Got up to ten, lost count and then went out to walk the streets
At one point he counted ten imaginary friends, but then lost track and decided to go for a walk

'Til god knows when
Continued walking for an indeterminate amount of time

He met a girls who liked a bit of a laugh
He met a woman who enjoyed humor

He gained the youth that he'd forgotten to have
He felt youthful again, as if he had regained some of his lost youth

So now they mess about with things that are highly illegal
They engage in illegal activities for fun

Often get mistaken for interesting people
People mistake them as interesting individuals

And no-one ever seems to ring their bell
Nobody comes to visit them

But do they care, well do they hell
They don't care at all

They're gonna kiss and never tell again... and again...
They will engage in intimate acts and keep it a secret, repeatedly

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN ZACHARY BROUDIE, TERRY HALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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