Coming from a family with a keen musical interest, Flannery was introduced to folk and blues music at a young age. He says that he wrote his first song at the age of fifteen. When he was in school he got together with a few local guys and formed a rock band called Black Orange but their gigging history was sporadic and they went their separate ways a few years after. Later, while undergoing a music and management course at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa in Cork, Flannery commenced writing the album that would become "Evening Train", an eleven-track concept album about the exploits of two brothers. Released in 2007, the album was received positively by critics in Ireland and the United States.
Flannery's second studio album "White Lies" was released on 12 September 2008, achieving a top ten position on the Irish Albums Chart. It later went platinum and was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.
Flannery released his third studio album, Red to Blue, on 30 March 2012.
Official site: www.mickflannery.com
Boston
Mick Flannery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the leaves are golden brown
we take the kids to town
to see the fair
big wheel is turning round
hear that homely sound
we're walking through the crowd
in the evening air
until they're in the clear
you whisper in my ear
that one's going to heaven
You've no idea do you
what i'll do for you
to have so much to lose
is the only feeling
I ran around my time
I stood in every line
i couldnt stop my mind
from dreaming of you
and when i laid eyes on you
I knew that race was through
and when i spoke to you
I told it so
you said 'I think you're a fool
and I said 'i know you do'
but I'd run away with you
if you ask me nicely
You've no idea do you
what i'll do for you
to have so much to lose
is the only feeling
2050 boston town
the son is sitting down
its the only feeling now
The song “Boston” by Mick Flannery captures the essence of a moment in time, specifically 2010 in Boston town. The leaves are golden brown, and the town is alive with the excitement of the fair. The chorus begins with the big wheel turning round, and a homely sound permeates the air. The singer takes in the surrounding sights and sounds as he walks through the bustling crowd with his family. The singer’s son holds his sister near, and the singer’s partner whispers, “that one’s going to heaven” in his ear. The singer is nostalgic about that moment in time, as he remembers that it was a beautiful and joyful moment that he will always cherish.
The second verse goes into the singer’s love story. He reminisces about how he ran around in every line, unable to stop his mind from dreaming of his partner and the moment when he would meet her. When he finally laid eyes on her, he knew it was a done deal. The singer tells his partner that he’s willing to run away with her if she asks him nicely, although she thinks he’s a fool. The last line in the song says, “2050 Boston town, the son is sitting down, it's the only feeling now.” This line highlights the importance of the feeling of love and happiness, as the son is sitting down, suggesting that he’s taking a moment to enjoy the present.
Line by Line Meaning
2010 in boston town
This song is set in Boston in the year 2010.
the leaves are golden brown
It is autumn and the leaves on the trees have changed colour to yellow and brown.
we take the kids to town
The singer and their partner take their children to the city of Boston.
to see the fair
They are going to a fair or carnival that is taking place in the city.
big wheel is turning round
There is a large Ferris wheel that is rotating at the fair.
hear that homely sound
The singer can hear the pleasant noise of the fair, which makes them feel at home.
we're walking through the crowd
The family is moving through the crowds at the fair.
in the evening air
It is the evening and there is a cool breeze in the air.
see our boy hold his sister near
The couple's son is protecting his sister from the crowds by holding her close.
until they're in the clear
They walk until they are out of the crowd and can breathe easily again.
you whisper in my ear
The singer's partner says something quietly to them.
that one's going to heaven
The partner is referring to their daughter and her angelic nature.
You've no idea do you
The singer says that their partner has no idea how much they mean to them.
what i'll do for you
The singer is willing to do anything for their partner.
to have so much to lose
The singer is scared to lose their partner and the life they have built together.
is the only feeling
This is the strongest emotion the artist has ever felt.
I ran around my time
The artist was busy doing other things before they met their partner.
I stood in every line
The singer has waited patiently for their partner to come into their life.
i couldnt stop my mind
The singer constantly thinks about their partner and can't get them out of their mind.
from dreaming of you
They have had many dreams about their partner.
and when i laid eyes on you
When the artist met their partner, they were immediately drawn to them.
I knew that race was through
The artist felt like all the other obstacles in their life were behind them now that they had met their partner.
and when i spoke to you
The singer had a conversation with their partner after meeting them.
I told it so
The artist expressed their feelings and intentions to their partner.
you said 'I think you're a fool
The partner replied with skepticism, thinking the singer's confession was foolish.
and I said 'i know you do'
The singer acknowledges their partner's doubt.
but I'd run away with you
Even though their partner thinks they are foolish, the singer is still willing to run away with them and start a new life together.
if you ask me nicely
The artist is open to the idea of running away with their partner, but wishes to be asked politely.
2050 boston town
The song jumps to the year 2050 in Boston.
the son is sitting down
The singer's son is now an adult and has settled down.
its the only feeling now
The singer still loves their partner deeply, and that is the only emotion that matters.
Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gerollopy
2010 in boston town
the leaves are golden brown
we take the kids to town
to see the fair
big wheel is turning round
hear that homely sound
we're walking through the crowd
in the evening air
see our boy hold his sister near
until they're in the clear
you whisper in my ear
that one's going to heaven
You've no idea do you
what i'll do for you
to have so much to lose
is the only feeling
I ran around my time
I stood in every line
i couldnt stop my mind
from dreaming of you
and when i laid eyes on you
I knew that race was through
and when i spoke to you
I told it so
you said 'I think you're a fool
and I said 'i know you do'
but I'd run away with you
if you ask me nicely
You've no idea do you
what i'll do for you
to have so much to lose
is the only feeling
2050 boston town
the son is sitting down
its the only feeling now
@kevinl1717
See our boy hold his sister near, until there in the clear …. whisper to your ear…. That one is going to heaven! ❤
Amazing lyrics
@linli5292
I can't understand that line. That one means our boy? or 2050, The son is sitting down. is the same boy? please explain to me, tks.
@slipintothebreaks
@@linli5292 Yes, same boy, but he's gone from "our boy" to "the son", so the narrator has changed, suggesting the father's passed (the son is "sitting down", taking over as it were, like the leaves), which reinforces the "only feeling" of "hav[ing] so much to lose".
"That one is going to heaven" is said by the mother in pride of how good the boy is for protecting his little sister.
It's a beautiful but heartbreaking mix of the appreciation of the beauty of life (finding your true love, having kids, being a proud parent) and the reality of impermanence ("the leaves are golden brown", "going to heaven").
@adocholiday
The Tom Waits influence is so evident in this song. And in my opinion, Mick is one of the few artists that could hold a candle to Tom. Well done Mick. Can't wait to get to some more of the live shows. Keep up the amazing work.
@bridjinks4858
This song never fails to stop me in tracks. Just beautiful.
@seanwarde4675
Completely agree. A modern classic by a great artist. Beautiful lyrics, melody and voice.
@eoinoriabhaigh8186
''To have so much to lose is the only feeling''. What a love song.❤
@gerollopy
I was listening to a song and this came on after it completely out of the blue.oh my god what a song.its heart wrenchingly beautiful.
@williebrennan2992
Just class,no more words needed
@TheLilmissFox
God lord, isn't he magnificent.