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
Safety Rope
Mick Flannery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can only write the words that would not show me,
I will never quite explain what I've been doing
I am you and you are me but we are nothing,
My heart broke and rose to go but I'm not going,
'Cause I loved you long before the day I told you
And it's time on our side
Tonight I want you to be my safety rope,
But tonight you've got a heavy load
We both shine for morning time we'd spend together,
We don't pine or cross the line or go one better,
And we would sing to those who'd bring us stormy weather
And it's you and it's me,
And it's time on our side
Tonight I want you to be my safety rope,
But tonight you've got a heavy load
And she said that I want my innocence man,
I want my confidence back,
I don't wanna feel like this no more
Pull up they push and play you,
Now you're this fool they made you,
I don't wanna feel like this no more
The song Safety Rope by Mick Flannery is about two people who rely on each other in a complicated, deep-rooted relationship. The singer of the song acknowledges that he can only speak for those who don't know him and write the words that wouldn't show him. He hasn't quite figured out what he's been doing, but he knows that he and his partner are intertwined and yet separate entities, they are nothing alone or together. The singer admits that he loved his partner long before he told them but he is not willing to go, despite his heart breaking.
The chorus of the song repeats "And it's you and it's me, And it's time on our side / Tonight I want you to be my safety rope, But tonight you've got a heavy load." The singer wants his partner to be his safety rope but he understands that they have their own struggles and burdens to bear. They both shine in the morning time that they spend together and don't pine or cross the line or go one better. They sing together to conquer the stormy weather.
The song takes a turn when the partner speaks up and says, "I want my innocence man, I want my confidence back, I don't wanna feel like this no more." It alludes to a previous experience where the partner was taken advantage of and forced into a position that made them feel helpless. The partner is tired of being used and played like a fool. The song ends with the singer promising to be there for his partner and the partner speaks up, saying "I know this time you can make me feel like someone once again."
Line by Line Meaning
I can only speak for those that do not know me,
I can only speak for people who don't know me but not for myself
I can only write the words that would not show me,
I can only express my feelings through words that don't reveal me
I will never quite explain what I've been doing
I won't be able to clearly explain all my actions
I am you and you are me but we are nothing,
We have a connection but it doesn't amount to anything special
My heart broke and rose to go but I'm not going,
I felt heartbreak but I'm still here despite it
'Cause I loved you long before the day I told you
I had feelings for you way before I expressed them
And it's you and it's me,
It's just the two of us
And it's time on our side
We have time on our side
Tonight I want you to be my safety rope,
Tonight, I want you to be my source of safety and comfort
But tonight you've got a heavy load
You have your own problems tonight that's weighing you down
We both shine for morning time we'd spend together,
We both look forward to the time we spend together
We don't pine or cross the line or go one better,
We don't long for anything more or do anything to harm our relationship
And we would sing to those who'd bring us stormy weather
We sing to drown out the noise of people who cause us trouble
And she said that I want my innocence man,
She longs to regain her lost purity
I want my confidence back,
She wants to regain her lost self-assurance
I don't wanna feel like this no more
She wants to be free from her current emotional state
Pull up they push and play you,
People manipulate and control others
Now you're this fool they made you,
Now you became a fool because of their actions
I don't wanna feel like this no more
She wants to be free from her current emotional state
Contributed by Callie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The Cats Pyjamas
Seen him live in a church in Wexford town....Amazing acoustics, amazing gig too. He is very talented.
Cláudia vendit vendit
Musica linda amei 💗
Una '
One of my all time favorite songs the words are just omg hit me in the heart keep up the most amazing vocals.....just beautiful no words 😘❤️❤️🇮🇪🇮🇪
jane oughton
this guy as a really lovely voice , its so peaceful , the words are magic xx
Summer’s Art Page
Absolutely beautiful.
Halil Yilmaz
amazing singer, he is incredible shy and modest, it is hard not to fall in love with his voice...and who knows, maybe with him as well one sunny day :)
Dwayne Wegley
Halil Yilmaz it’s hard to find music and artist that are genuine like this.
Mary O'Dwyer
Beautiful song. Timeless.
Malin L
his voice♥
feenfeder elfe
so wonderful !!!