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
By The Rule
Mick Flannery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His heart he ruled to know but one
His name was none he took no ground
He came and went without a sound
One day the man did sing a song
Then stood and wait for her to come
For years they sang but he would not know,
From some he took and then let go
To move the air most true and fine
He drew but found his voice had gone
"Dear god" he thought "I've stood too long"
The crimes, the crimes of the fool against the fool
the cries, the cries of the man who lived by The Rule
To die by the rule,
You offered everything to me
I took, you know I took for free
The morning broke and flood in blue,
I knew before the day was through
I'd tear into the heart of you
I tore into the heart of you
A pair, a pair of young lives becomes a love
And there, there they've won
Oh how is it done?
How is it done?
I wait to look into your eyes
I wait for you to look at mine
My love, oh love I long to see
I'll offer all I have to thee
And you'll tear into the heart of me
You'll tear into the heart of me.
The lyrics of Mick Flannery's song "By The Rule" seem to depict the life of a man who had decided to live alone and follow his own rules. He had no name or any roots to any place, and he lived his life quietly without anyone noticing. However, one day, he met a lady who shared his passion for singing, and they began to sing together.
Although they sang together, the man refused to know the lady, and he would not let her into his heart. Despite singing together for years, he never returned the woman's affection, and he took from her without reciprocating the emotion. One fateful day, the man realized he had caught feelings for the lady, but it was too late as his voice was already gone, and he couldn't express himself.
The song's chorus talks about the crimes of the fool against the fool, and this may refer to the man's actions of toying with the lady's emotions without any intention of reciprocating her love. The song ends with the man waiting for the lady, offering all he has to her, and being willing to let her tear into his heart.
Overall, "By The Rule" is a story about love, regret, and the consequences of living life according to self-centered and rigid rules.
Line by Line Meaning
The man who lived to live alone
The man preferred a solitary lifestyle and did not feel the need for companionship.
His heart he ruled to know but one
He kept his emotions limited and only wanted to love one person.
His name was none he took no ground
He did not associate himself with a particular name or place.
He came and went without a sound
He lived his life quietly and unobtrusively, without attracting attention.
One day the man did sing a song
One day, the man expressed his emotions through music.
Then stood and wait for her to come
He eagerly awaited the arrival of the person he loved.
For years they sang but he would not know,
They have been singing together for years, but he did not realize his feelings towards her.
From some he took and then let go
He accepted the love and affection of others but did not reciprocate it.
One day our lady did divine
One day, the person he loved appeared before him in a special way.
To move the air most true and fine
She sang beautifully and passionately, touching his heart in the process.
He drew but found his voice had gone
He tried to sing back but realized that he had lost his ability to express his feelings.
"Dear god" he thought "I've stood too long"
He realized that he had waited too long to confess his love and express his feelings.
The crimes, the crimes of the fool against the fool
Regretting not having expressed his true emotions earlier; a foolish act.
the cries, the cries of the man who lived by The Rule
The man who strictly followed his own rule of loving only one person and now is suffering the consequences.
To die by the rule,
To live and die by one's principle.
You offered everything to me
You showed your love towards me and offered everything.
I took, you know I took for free
I selfishly took the love and affection without giving anything in return.
The morning broke and flood in blue,
The next day started with a realization of the love he had repressed and the overwhelming emotions that come with it.
I knew before the day was through
He was aware that he had to express his feelings before the end of the day.
I'd tear into the heart of you
He was ready to confess his love and express his feelings.
I tore into the heart of you
He expressed his love, leaving himself vulnerable and exposing his heart.
A pair, a pair of young lives becomes a love
Two young people fell in love.
And there, there they've won
They have succeeded in finding each other and being together.
Oh how is it done?
They are questioning how they managed to fall in love with each other.
I wait to look into your eyes
He longs to see the person he loves, and look into her eyes.
I wait for you to look at mine
He desires the person he loves to see the depth of his emotions and his love for her.
My love, oh love I long to see
He deeply yearns to be in the company of the person he loves.
I'll offer all I have to thee
He will give everything he has to the person he loves.
And you'll tear into the heart of me
She has his heart and he wants her to take hold of it and never let go.
You'll tear into the heart of me.
She has the power to make him vulnerable, and he is willing to give all of himself to her.
Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.