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
Get What You Give
Mick Flannery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm trying to see if I've lost anything
I stumble upon the fact that nobody's watching
Now how they ever gonna catch me, boy?
How they ever gonna catch me?
It's a Saturday night, it's a February
Got nothing to do, I got no one to see
Not even a god to take pity on me
I'm sitting alone with that guilt of your feeling
Like I let someone down by the way that I live
I'm sitting alone, I ain't heard from nobody
But I'm only gonna get what I give, boy
Said I'm only gonna get what I give
On a Saturday night in a February
Got nothing to do, with nobody to see
Not even a god to pass judgment on me
Not even a god to pass judgment on me
I'm over in the lake and I swam to the bottom
And I found me a seat on a rock down there
And just when I thought I could hear the end
Says I had to come up for air, boy
Said I had to come up for air
On a Saturday night in a February
Got nothing to do, with nobody to see
Not even a god to have mercy on me
Not even a god to have mercy on me
In Mick Flannery's song "Get What You Give," the singer reflects on his own actions and past mistakes. He begins by admitting that he searches through his past to find the bad that is inside of him, and acknowledges that he may have lost something important along the way. Yet, he also realizes that nobody is watching him, wondering how they will ever catch him. The singer seems to be questioning the point of it all, as he sits alone with his guilt, feeling as though he's let someone down by the way he lives. He longs for someone, even a god, to take pity on him, to understand his struggles and mistakes.
The repetition of the lines "On a Saturday night in a February, got nothing to do, with nobody to see," highlights the singer's loneliness and lack of direction in his life. He seems to be stuck in a rut, unable to move forward or find purpose. The image of him swimming to the bottom of a lake and finding a seat on a rock speaks to his desire to escape, to find a respite from the pressures of life. Yet, even in this moment of solitude and reflection, he is reminded that he cannot stay there forever, that he must come up for air and face the world once again.
Overall, "Get What You Give" is a poignant and introspective song about the struggles of living an authentic life, filled with mistakes and regrets. It is a call to action for listeners to own their actions and take responsibility for the consequences, knowing that they will ultimately get what they give in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Search in the past for the bad that is in me
I'm reflecting on my past actions to determine any negative aspects of my character
I'm trying to see if I've lost anything
I'm evaluating if I've lost any important traits or values along the way
I stumble upon the fact that nobody's watching
I realize that I'm not being held accountable for my actions by anyone else
Now how they ever gonna catch me, boy?
I wonder how I'll be held responsible for any wrongdoing or mistakes without anyone watching me
It's a Saturday night, it's a February
I'm alone on a cold Saturday night in February
Got nothing to do, I got no one to see
I have no plans or people to spend time with
Not even a god to take pity on me
I feel completely alone and without support
I'm sitting alone with that guilt of your feeling
I'm overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and regret
Like I let someone down by the way that I live
I feel as though I've disappointed someone with the choices I've made in life
I'm sitting alone, I ain't heard from nobody
I haven't heard from anyone in a while and am feeling lonely
But I'm only gonna get what I give, boy
I know that the consequences of my actions will come back to me
Said I'm only gonna get what I give
I repeat that the outcomes of my behavior will be proportional to the effort I put in
I'm over in the lake and I swam to the bottom
I went to the lake and swam all the way to the bottom
And I found me a seat on a rock down there
I found a spot to sit on a rock at the bottom of the lake
And just when I thought I could hear the end
I felt like I was reaching the end of my struggles
Says I had to come up for air, boy
I realized that I had to come back to reality and face my problems once again
Got nothing to do, with nobody to see
I'm alone on a cold Saturday night in February with no plans or people to spend time with
Not even a god to pass judgment on me
I feel as though I'm not being held accountable for my actions by anyone, not even a higher power
Not even a god to have mercy on me
I feel as though I'm not deserving of any kind of forgiveness or mercy from a higher power
Contributed by Aria R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Henry Chang
Search in the past for the bad that is in me
I'm trying to see if I've lost anything
I stumble upon the fact that nobody's watching
Now how they ever gonna catch me, boy?
How they ever gonna catch me?
It's a Saturday night, it's a February
Got nothing to do, I got no one to see
Not even a god to take pity on me
Not even a god to take pity on me
I'm sitting alone with that guilt of your feeling
Like I let someone down by the way that I live
I'm sitting alone, I ain't heard from nobody
But I'm only gonna get what I give, boy
Said I'm only gonna get what I give
On a Saturday night in a February
Got nothing to do, with nobody to see
Tricia Crowley
Most underrated singer ever.he is pure class.
Aurora
Completely agreed!
Larisa Lynch
How is he not more popular? Incredible talent.
Themusicman
Fabulous.........should be getting millions of views ......No machine behind this guy..
Kieran Mc Garry
I look over at the songs being advertised next to this and see Ed Sheeran getting 2 million views, and look back at Micks 24 thousand views and realise the world is gone mad. Keep writing songs Mick for us 24 thousand that know good music
Blat Tál Cas Dál gCais
Add a zero to that number 6 years on bro, we're still here X Still loving it.
Bren M
You have to remember that mick, awesome that he is, only appeals to a certain demographic. Ed is a little more generic. It's isn't a bad thing, I love ed's music, it just is what it is.
septemberisknocking
don't be macking on Ed he's just he' just doing his thing.
Blat Tál Cas Dál gCais
Mick you've helped me through a lot over the past 4 years, a real lot. Thanks man. I'll see you Wednesday at Night&Day. Please play this, and Boston. Much love
J Shiner
Magnificent, gifted and underrated artist