The Fiery Furnaces signed with the Rough Trade Records music label in 2002, and recorded their debut album in the same year.
Gallowsbird's Bark, released in the autumn of 2003, garnered critical praise for its clever wordplay and original songwriting.
Anybody who thought they had the band pinned at that point was quickly proven wrong with the 2004 release Blueberry Boat, a rock-operatic album whose track lengths were often six minutes long or longer.
While some critics adored the album for its vast complexity, others found it all a little too overwhelming.
After releasing EP in 2005 (considered a full-length album because of its 41 minute play time, but is "officially" an EP) the band then released two further albums - Rehearsing My Choir (2005), a radio-dramaesque concept album about the Friedbergers' Greek grandmother; and Bitter Tea (2006), which is a comparably more conventional album built on still-bent song structures, but with more pop-oriented stylings.
In October 2007 the band released their fifth full-length album, Widow City.
Trivia
- Their name is both a reference to the film "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)" and to the book of Daniel in the Bible.
- Matthew Friedberger has also released two solo albums simultaneously.
- Eleanor Friedberger is rumoured to be in a relationship with Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, because the song "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" from their second album is about her.
- Due to the garage blues elements of the band’s sound and the fact that the band members are siblings, The Fiery Furnaces was often compared by the press to The White Stripes (The White Stripes sometimes promote themselves as siblings, though they are not).
Official Website: www.thefieryfurnaces.com
South Is Only a Home
The Fiery Furnaces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could I hide a chain of gold from your eyes?
Sandy thinks he knows the trade, the game, the plays, and the ways I made.
Do you believe in the first way to lend a hand?
It's a second chance you never planned
Just a close encounter that comes to mind
A rummage sale you barely find
And it's sold, you better believe it's freezing cold.
Oh Whitehall, Whitehall women rejoice
Tell us we're the ones with the most
And hear the sounds of our voices.
We've been waiting for our host
Brixton bunnies come in
We can see the state you're in
Nothing like a smiling face
Oh what a waste you've been.
Clapham clowns stop your frowning
Let it go you're not alone
The river may keep you drowning
But south is only a home
South is only a home
The lyrics to The Fiery Furnaces' song South Is Only a Home are enigmatic and thought-provoking. The song touches on themes of isolation, disillusionment, and the search for meaning and purpose in life. The opening lines "Can I feel useless and low?" and "Could I hide a chain of gold from your eyes?" suggest a feeling of worthlessness and a desire to conceal one's true self from others. Later in the song, the lyrics "It's a second chance you never planned" and "Just a close encounter that comes to mind" hint at the unexpected twists and turns that life can take, and the need to be open to new opportunities and experiences.
The chorus of the song, with its references to different parts of London such as Whitehall, Brixton, and Clapham, gives the impression of someone moving through different neighborhoods and encountering different kinds of people. The lines "Tell us we're the ones with the most/And hear the sounds of our voices" suggest a desire for recognition and validation, while the closing line "South is only a home" seems to emphasize the transitory nature of life and the importance of finding a sense of belonging wherever one happens to be.
In all, the lyrics to South Is Only a Home are rich and complex, touching on a range of emotions and themes. Through its vivid imagery and use of different settings, the song explores the idea of an individual striving to find their place in a larger world, even as they confront feelings of longing, sadness, and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Can I feel useless and low?
My confidence is at an all time low and I'm feeling worthless.
Could I hide a chain of gold from your eyes?
Is it possible for me to conceal my true value and worth from you?
Sandy thinks he knows the trade, the game, the plays, and the ways I made.
Sandy assumes he understands everything I've done in life and how I've gotten to where I am.
Do you believe in the first way to lend a hand?
Do you believe that the initial approach is always helpful when trying to fix a problem?
It's a second chance you never planned
Things sometimes happen unexpectedly; sometimes resulting in a chance for redemption.
Just a close encounter that comes to mind
I'm reminiscing about a recent interaction that had an impact on me.
A rummage sale you barely find
Finding something valuable in a random, unexpected place.
And it's sold, you better believe it's freezing cold.
The opportunity may have passed and it's now too late to capitalize on it.
When it's sold, you'd better believe it's freezing cold
Don't ignore opportunities when they present themselves, or you may miss them.
Oh Whitehall, Whitehall women rejoice
The women of Whitehall are celebrating in joy.
Tell us we're the ones with the most
The women want to be reassured that they have achieved the most.
And hear the sounds of our voices.
The women's voices demand to be heard and acknowledged.
We've been waiting for our host
The women have been patiently awaiting for the host to arrive and entertain them.
Brixton bunnies come in
The playful women of Brixton are entering the party.
We can see the state you're in
We can tell that you're not in a good place.
Nothing like a smiling face
There's nothing better than a genuine, happy expression on someone's face.
Oh what a waste you've been.
It's a shame to see how you've squandered your potential.
Clapham clowns stop your frowning
The people of Clapham shouldn't be so negative and downcast.
Let it go you're not alone
Don't hold onto your worries and anxieties, you have support.
The river may keep you drowning
Although life may be difficult sometimes, remember that you have the strength to stay afloat.
But south is only a home
The south, or wherever you call home, is only a physical location and shouldn't hold you back from moving forward.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER, MATTHEW FRIEDBERGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind