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
Cameo
Mick Flannery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you ever feel that
nothing we're doing worth a damn
all of these dreamers
all of these believers
none of it count for anything
the big prank man plays on man
kids staring in the tv screens
nobody wants to admit they're lonely
maybe (they) don't know what lonely means
That's what it is though all of us alone
all of us watching our little shows
I'm star of my movie everything I see
into the script and on it goes
is your little cameo
I'll go out walking late at evening
I'll try to focus on my breath
most of the time though I end up running
like I'm being chased inside my head
And every day the very same
then nothing wages at the gates
I see the sun fill up the sky
and later wide wrapped down to waste
and then the bond to lead the hand
and then the scold behind the face
this is not who I am this is what I became
I count my blessings
a house in all our things
the girl of my dreams
that's now my wife
but if I'm so lucky if I'm so happy
why do I lie awake at night
why am I angry all the time
I look in the eyes of people strolling
in the supermarket aisles
today I passed two young girls laughing
I imagined their blood running on the tiles...
In Mick Flannery's song "Cameo," he addresses the overwhelming feeling of loneliness and the insignificance of human existence in the grand scheme of things. The lyrics "nothing we're doing worth a damn, all of these dreamers, all of these believers, none of it counts for anything" illustrate the sense of pointlessness that can sometimes come with existing in the world. Flannery speaks to the irony of how we consume media to escape our loneliness, but in doing so, we're ultimately more isolated.
The song's title "Cameo" refers to the idea that each of us is just a cameo, or a brief appearance, in the grander scheme of life. Flannery touches on this idea with the lyrics, "I'm star of my movie, everything I see, into the script and on it goes, is your little cameo." The song suggests that despite our fleeting existence, we still have the power to make an impact.
Flannery ends the song questioning why he is still unhappy and angry despite having a home, wife, and good job. The line "why am I angry all the time?" suggests that even with comfort and success, we are still susceptible to feeling lost or unfulfilled. The line "today I passed two young girls laughing, I imagined their blood running on the tiles" shows that his thoughts have taken a darker turn and he even has violent thoughts because of his existential crisis.
Overall, "Cameo" captures the complexities of the human experience and comments on the irony of how we seek escape from our loneliness through various forms of media, but this often leaves us feeling more isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
You ever just lose it
Have you ever felt like you are losing control?
you ever feel that
Have you ever felt that something is not right in the world?
nothing we're doing worth a damn
The things that we do seem meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
all of these dreamers
All the people who aspire for great things.
all of these believers
All the people who have faith in something.
none of it count for anything
None of these efforts seem to produce any significant outcome.
the big prank man plays on man
It seems like the universe is playing a cruel joke on human beings.
Lately the world makes me unhappy
Recently, I have been feeling sad and unsatisfied with how the world is functioning.
kids staring in the tv screens
Children spend an excessive amount of time watching television.
nobody wants to admit they're lonely
People are not open about their deep feelings of loneliness.
maybe (they) don't know what lonely means
Perhaps, people do not understand the true meaning of loneliness.
That's what it is though all of us alone
Even though we are surrounded by people, we are all alone in our struggles.
all of us watching our little shows
We are all consumed by our own lives, neglecting the bigger picture.
I'm star of my movie everything I see
I view the world from the perspective of the singer in a film, where everything revolves around me.
into the script and on it goes
Everything seems to follow a predetermined storyline.
is your little cameo
Your appearance in my life is like a small, insignificant role in a film.
I'll go out walking late at evening
I try to spend time alone to clear my head.
I'll try to focus on my breath
I attempt to practice mindfulness to calm my mind.
most of the time though I end up running
I am unable to still my thoughts and end up feeling anxious and restless.
like I'm being chased inside my head
My own thoughts and worries seem to be constantly chasing me in my mind.
And every day the very same
Every day is mundane and monotonous.
then nothing wages at the gates
Nothing exciting or new ever seems to happen.
I see the sun fill up the sky
I observe the beauty of nature around me.
and later wide wrapped down to waste
But soon after, it all fades away and loses its value.
and then the bond to lead the hand
Then, the daily responsibilities and obligations weigh heavily upon me.
and then the scold behind the face
And I am faced with criticism and disapproval from others.
this is not who I am this is what I became
I feel like I have lost sight of who I truly am and have become someone that I do not recognize anymore.
I count my blessings
I acknowledge the good things in my life.
a house in all our things
I have a home filled with material possessions.
the girl of my dreams
I have found the woman I love and married her.
that's now my wife
She is my partner for life.
but if I'm so lucky if I'm so happy
However, even with these blessings, I still feel unfulfilled.
why do I lie awake at night
I question this unfulfillment and why it haunts me at night.
why am I angry all the time
I also struggle with anger and frustration.
I look in the eyes of people strolling
As I observe people around me, I see their pain and struggles as well.
in the supermarket aisles
Even in mundane places like the grocery store.
today I passed two young girls laughing
I saw two young girls having fun and enjoying life.
I imagined their blood running on the tiles...
But my thoughts turn dark and it's as if I anticipate tragedy to strike.
Writer(s): Martin Glover, Christian Best, Michael Flannery
Contributed by Hudson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kayosjv9611
here you go if you havent found it already: :)
You ever just lose it
you ever feel that
nothing we're doing worth a damn
all of these dreamers
all of these believers
none of it count for anything
the big prank man plays on man
Lately the world makes me unhappy
kids staring in the tv screens
nobody wants to admit they're lonely
maybe (they) don't know what lonely means
That's what it is though all of us alone
all of us watching our little shows
I'm star of my movie everything I see
into the script and on it goes
is your little cameo
I'll go out walking late at evening
I'll try to focus on my breath
most of the time though I end up running
like I'm being chased inside my head
And every day the very same
then nothing wages at the gates
I see the sun fill up the sky
and later wide wrapped down to waste
and then the bond to lead the hand
and then the scold behind the face
this is not who I am this is what I became
I count my blessings
a house in all our things
the girl of my dreams
that's now my wife
but if I'm so lucky if I'm so happy
why do I lie awake at night
why am I angry all the time
I look in the eyes of people strolling
in the supermarket aisles
today I passed two young girls laughing
I imagined their blood running on the tiles...
@etherina4939
bursts through door Did someone say Aidan Gillen?!
@lenakingsleigh
Me 😂
@randihart211
MOOD. The fact that he was in the video was the only reason I ever listened to the song. Come to find out it's a fricken bop. 😂😂
@aronquemarr7434
I checked who Aidan Gellan and I was like - oh, Carcetti and now I'm watching the video instead of just listening to it.
@jenniferestrada7481
He's a gift to this world
@DarkZaira3
screams for 27 hours OMG AIDAN GILLEN
@pmwftw
Dramatic video...all leading up to buying a bday cake for his daughters... I love it.
@StaceyRiddle
Littlefinger is always with some red haired woman
@sukasuketta1157
His ex-wife is a redhead too!Guess that it's because he lives in Ireland,redheads are more common there
@debrajenkins5390
@@sukasuketta1157 Redheads rule LOL!