The Flaming Lips are known for their lush, multi-layered arrangements, spacey lyrics and bizarre song titles. They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which typically feature animal suits, puppets, streamers, video projections and complex stage light configurations.
In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the "50 Bands to See Before You Die". In 2006, Oklahoma City named a street Flaming Lips Alley in their honor.
The group recorded several albums and EPs for Restless Records in the 1980s and early 1990s. After signing to Warner Brothers, they scored a #9 hit on the Billboard Alternative charts (and #55 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart) in 1994 with "She Don't Use Jelly". Although it would be their only hit single, the band has maintained critical respect and, to a lesser extent, commercial viability with sonically majestic albums such as 1995's Clouds Taste Metallic, 1999's The Soft Bulletin, 2002's Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and 2006's At War with the Mystics. The Flaming Lips' 12th studio album, Embryonic, was released in October of 2009. A complete cover of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon was released in May 2010. The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends, their collaborative album which features artists like Ke$ha, Bon Iver, Nick Cave and Erykah Badu, was released on Record Store Day, April 2012.
Their next studio album, tentatively titled The Terror, will be released in January 2013.
Their song "Do You Realize??" is the official State Rock Song of Oklahoma.
www.flaminglips.com
2012
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shit, one more time?
(You must be upgraded, you must be upgraded)
(You must be upgraded)
Well it's 2012, think we're going to hell (you must be upgraded)
Put me under your acid spell (you must be upgraded)
When the tides destroy the whole West Coast (you must be upgraded)
Because I want my ass to be jumping, too (you must be upgraded)
Oh, my, my and a boo, hoo, hoo
(You must be upgraded, you must be upgraded)
(You must be upgraded, you must be upgraded)
So with the world ablaze, I'm in an acid haze (you must be upgraded)
And though the end is near, I have no fear (you must be upgraded)
So the deal for me is not the same (you must be upgraded)
I'm having fun, while you're having pain
2012, the morning to the New Year's light
Just save yourself, oh I'll meet you on the other side
Is this the ending, they could have called the fall of man?
Is this the ending, or are we gonna start again?
Are we gonna start again? Are we gonna start again?
Are we gonna start again? Are we gonna start again?
Are we gonna start again? Are we gonna start again?
Are we gonna start again? Are we gonna start
(You must be upgraded) Oh, my, my and a boo, hoo, hoo
(You must be upgraded) Oh, my, my and a boo, hoo, hoo
(You must be upgraded) Oh, my, my and a boo, hoo, hoo
(You must be upgraded)
The lyrics to The Flaming Lips's song "2012" are filled with a sense of impending doom and an embrace of chaos. The song captures the anxiety and fascination surrounding the idea that the world might come to an end in the year 2012, as speculated by some interpretations of the Mayan calendar. The lyrics reflect a desire to escape reality and indulge in mind-altering experiences, represented by the repeated phrase "you must be upgraded."
The opening lines, "Well it's 2012, think we're going to hell / Put me under your acid spell," convey a sense of resignation and surrender to the chaos of the times. The singer wants their mind to be completely "toast" and their "ass to be jumping" in order to escape the impending destruction of the West Coast. There is a juxtaposition of fear and excitement, with the singer acknowledging the potential destruction but finding solace in the idea of embracing the chaos.
The second verse highlights the singer's carefree attitude amidst the chaos. The world may be ablaze, but the singer is in an acid haze and has no fear. They find joy in their own experience while acknowledging the pain that others may be going through. The final section of the song poses a question about whether this is truly the end or if there is potential for starting anew.
Overall, "2012" captures the duality of the human response to existential threats – the simultaneous desire to escape and indulge while also seeking connection and meaning in the face of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
'Cause I want my ass...
Because I desire personal enjoyment and pleasure...
Shit, one more time?
Expressing a casual and humorous affirmation for another repetition
(You must be upgraded, you must be upgraded)
There is a need for improvement and advancement in oneself
(You must be upgraded)
Emphasizing the necessity for personal growth and enhancement
Well it's 2012, think we're going to hell (you must be upgraded)
In this year of change, there is a fear of impending doom and a call for personal transformation
Put me under your acid spell (you must be upgraded)
Metaphorically succumbing to the allure of psychedelic experiences that bring about personal evolution
Because I want my mind to be completely toast (you must be upgraded)
Yearning for a state of altered consciousness where thoughts and perceptions are deeply affected
When the tides destroy the whole West Coast (you must be upgraded)
Referring to the destructive forces that may overwhelm a significant region, urging the need for inner growth
Because I want my ass to be jumping, too (you must be upgraded)
Desiring an energetic and vibrant state of being
Oh, my, my and a boo, hoo, hoo
Expressing a playful and whimsical reaction to the desired experience
So with the world ablaze, I'm in an acid haze (you must be upgraded)
Amidst chaotic times, finding solace and altered perception through psychedelic experiences
And though the end is near, I have no fear (you must be upgraded)
Despite the impending end, being unafraid due to personal growth and transformation
So the deal for me is not the same (you must be upgraded)
Personal circumstances and perspective differ from others, emphasizing the necessity for self-improvement
I'm having fun, while you're having pain
While others may experience suffering, finding enjoyment and pleasure in life
2012, the morning to the New Year's light
Referring to the beginning of a new era, symbolized by the dawn of the year 2012
Just save yourself, oh I'll meet you on the other side
Encouraging self-preservation and implying a reunion or meeting in a different realm or future
Is this the ending, they could have called the fall of man?
Questioning if this is indeed the apocalypse or downfall of humanity
Is this the ending, or are we gonna start again?
Contemplating whether this marks the ultimate end or a new beginning for humanity
Are we gonna start again? Are we gonna start again?
Repeating the question of the possibility of a fresh start
Are we gonna start again? Are we gonna start again?
Continuing to ponder the potential for a renewed beginning
Are we gonna start again? Are we gonna start again?
Further emphasizing the uncertainty of whether humanity will have another chance
(You must be upgraded) Oh, my, my and a boo, hoo, hoo
Reiterating the importance of personal development and growth, while playfully expressing emotion
(You must be upgraded) Oh, my, my and a boo, hoo, hoo
Emphasizing once again the necessity for individual improvement, accompanied by a playful reaction
(You must be upgraded) Oh, my, my and a boo, hoo, hoo
Continuing to stress the importance of personal advancement, while humorously expressing emotion
(You must be upgraded)
Repeatedly highlighting the need for personal growth and enhancement
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PEBE SEBERT, WAYNE COHEN, KESHA SEBERT, MARCEL THEO HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind