The band's long career has seen them successfully adopt many different musical genres; including glam pop, power pop, electronic dance music and mainstream pop. Despite these many styles, a recognizable "Sparks sound" remains throughout, and they have enjoyed a large cult following since their first releases. Sparks have been highly influential on the development of popular music, in particular on the late 1970s scene, when in collaboration with Giorgio Moroder (and Telex subsequently), they reinvented themselves as an electronic pop duo, and abandoned the traditional rock band line up. In contrast to the esteem in which they are held by such peers as Depeche Mode, New Order, Morrissey and They Might Be Giants, who all cite Sparks as a major influence, their almost constantly changing styles and unique visual presentations have sometimes seen them dismissed as a novelty act.
The 2002 release of Lil' Beethoven, their self-described "genre-defining opus", and 2006's Hello Young Lovers (their 20th studio album) have brought Sparks renewed critical and commercial success, and seen them continue to "steer clear of pop conventions."
The 2021 documentary film 'The Sparks Brothers', directed by Edgar Wright, has renewed interest in the band for a new audience.
Beaver O'Lindy
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll gain valuable experience in front of you tonight
They say my voice is going to change
I'm one minute older, I'm doing all right
I'll gain valuable experience with you tonight
They say my voice is going to change
It cracks like Artic ice-flows then it croaks like old-folks homes
Well, I'm the London that is dead, I'm the boy in your bed
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Well, sure you've seen me before, no doubt you'll see much more
Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed
The trashman's valet, the words that you say
You've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
I'm the words that you say, the words that you say
The trashman's valet and the words that you say
Well, you've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
I'm your wallet-sized friend, your wallet-sized friend
The London that's dead, the London that's dead
Well, you've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Well, sure you've seen me before, no doubt you'll see much more
The lyrics to Sparks's song Beaver O'Lindy are intriguing and open to interpretation. At its core, the song seems to be about identity and perspective. The singer, who is one minute older, is gaining valuable experience and expressing themselves through their changing voice. However, the song also seems to be about the fluidity of identity, as the singer is both the girl in your head and the boy in your bed. They are the trashman's valet and the London that is dead. The repetition of "you've seen me before, you'll see me much more" suggests that this identity is constantly evolving and changing.
The chorus of "B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y" is a playful and catchy addition to the song, but its meaning is less clear. It could be a nonsense phrase, or it could be a reference to something specific that is lost on the listener. The singer's assertion that they are as big as TV and their repeated references to being seen suggest that their identity is performative, something to be witnessed and consumed.
Overall, the lyrics to Beaver O'Lindy are enigmatic and thought-provoking. They explore themes of identity, performance, and perspective, leaving the listener with plenty to unpack and consider.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm one minute older and I'm doing all right
Although I'm slightly older, I'm still doing well.
I'll gain valuable experience in front of you tonight
I'll learn a lot from being seen by you tonight.
They say my voice is going to change
I've been told that my voice will soon sound different.
It cracks like Artic ice-flows then it croaks like old-folks homes
My voice fluctuates between sounding like ice cracking in the Arctic and sounding like a human's voice in a retirement home.
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
I spell out my name, which is Beaver O'Lindy.
Well, I'm the London that is dead, I'm the boy in your bed
I'm like a dead part of London, and I exist in your mind as the boy you sleep with.
Sure you've seen me before, no doubt you'll see much more
You've seen me already and you'll see me a lot more in the future.
Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed
I'm a girl in your thoughts, but I take the form of a boy when you sleep with me.
The trashman's valet, the words that you say
I'm like the garbage man's assistant, and I'm also the words that you use.
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
I'm as big as a television set.
I'm your wallet-sized friend, your wallet-sized friend
I'm your friend who is the size of a wallet, figuratively speaking.
The London that's dead, the London that's dead
I'm like a part of London that is no longer alive or thriving.
Contributed by Hannah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Macaco Artico
Soy un minuto mayor y estoy bien
I'm one minute older and I'm doing all right
Obtendré una valiosa experiencia frente a ti esta noche.
I'll gain valuable experience in front of you tonight
Dicen que mi voz va a cambiar
They say my voice is going to change
Soy un minuto mayor, estoy bien
I'm one minute older, I'm doing all right
Esta noche ganaré una valiosa experiencia contigo
I'll gain valuable experience with you tonight
Dicen que mi voz va a cambiar
They say my voice is going to change
Se agrieta como los flujos de hielo del Ártico y luego croa como las casas de los ancianos.
It cracks like Artic ice-flows then it croaks like old-folks homes
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Bueno, soy el Londres que está muerto, soy el chico en tu cama
Well, I'm the London that is dead, I'm the boy in your bed
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Bueno, seguro que me has visto antes, sin duda verás mucho más
Well, sure you've seen me before, no doubt you'll see much more
Bueno, soy la chica en tu cabeza pero el chico en tu cama
Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed
El valet del basurero, las palabras que dices
The trashman's valet, the words that you say
Me has visto antes, me verás mucho más
You've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Bueno, soy tan grande como puede ser, tan grande como la televisión
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
Soy las palabras que dices, las palabras que dices
I'm the words that you say, the words that you say
El valet del basurero y las palabras que dices
The trashman's valet and the words that you say
Bueno, me has visto antes, me verás mucho más
Well, you've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Bueno, soy tan grande como puede ser, tan grande como la televisión
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
Soy tu amigo del tamaño de una billetera, tu amigo del tamaño de una billetera
I'm your wallet-sized friend, your wallet-sized friend
El Londres que está muerto, el Londres que está muerto
The London that's dead, the London that's dead
Bueno, me has visto antes, me verás mucho más
Well, you've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Bueno, soy tan grande como puede ser, tan grande como la televisión
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Bueno, soy la chica en tu cabeza pero el chico en tu cama
Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Bueno, seguro que me has visto antes, sin duda verás mucho más
Well, sure you've seen me before, no doubt you'll see much more
Steve Greg
The Adolescent Play Book
Just caught - Youth vs. Old - so catchy :
... They say my voice is going to change
It cracks like Artic ice-flows then it croaks like old-folks homes ...
What a gal that Beaver O'Lindy
Gusdocs1
still a great song from a great album all these years later
Alie Baron
That's some really thumping bass. Awesome.
The Scenics
probably my favourite sparks track. completely original.
Sprout Magoo
Absolutely brilliant ! Great drumming from Harvey !!
Sprout Magoo
Harley even.
Macaco Artico
Soy un minuto mayor y estoy bien
I'm one minute older and I'm doing all right
Obtendré una valiosa experiencia frente a ti esta noche.
I'll gain valuable experience in front of you tonight
Dicen que mi voz va a cambiar
They say my voice is going to change
Soy un minuto mayor, estoy bien
I'm one minute older, I'm doing all right
Esta noche ganaré una valiosa experiencia contigo
I'll gain valuable experience with you tonight
Dicen que mi voz va a cambiar
They say my voice is going to change
Se agrieta como los flujos de hielo del Ártico y luego croa como las casas de los ancianos.
It cracks like Artic ice-flows then it croaks like old-folks homes
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Bueno, soy el Londres que está muerto, soy el chico en tu cama
Well, I'm the London that is dead, I'm the boy in your bed
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Bueno, seguro que me has visto antes, sin duda verás mucho más
Well, sure you've seen me before, no doubt you'll see much more
Bueno, soy la chica en tu cabeza pero el chico en tu cama
Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed
El valet del basurero, las palabras que dices
The trashman's valet, the words that you say
Me has visto antes, me verás mucho más
You've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Bueno, soy tan grande como puede ser, tan grande como la televisión
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
Soy las palabras que dices, las palabras que dices
I'm the words that you say, the words that you say
El valet del basurero y las palabras que dices
The trashman's valet and the words that you say
Bueno, me has visto antes, me verás mucho más
Well, you've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Bueno, soy tan grande como puede ser, tan grande como la televisión
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
Soy tu amigo del tamaño de una billetera, tu amigo del tamaño de una billetera
I'm your wallet-sized friend, your wallet-sized friend
El Londres que está muerto, el Londres que está muerto
The London that's dead, the London that's dead
Bueno, me has visto antes, me verás mucho más
Well, you've seen me before, you'll see me much more
Bueno, soy tan grande como puede ser, tan grande como la televisión
Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Bueno, soy la chica en tu cabeza pero el chico en tu cama
Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y
Bueno, seguro que me has visto antes, sin duda verás mucho más
Well, sure you've seen me before, no doubt you'll see much more
Aidan Downey
Need a lot more of this, please. JOY, JOY!
Jarett Bies
They might not have had a "Stuck in the Middle with You" song but alas: they are likely more talented than a 1,000 other bands put together.
Isa F.
Seit den 70ern immer wieder gern gehört und vor allem in den original Versionen! Keep on SPARKS, still love you!
Bobby Shaftoe
Very un-usual to say the least,I didnae think this song would be here.Quite fantastic!!!!