8. Suddenly Everything Has Changed
The Flaming Lips Lyrics


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Putting all the vegetables away
That you bought at the grocery store today
And it goes fast
You think of the past

Suddenly everything has changed

Driving home the sky accelerates
And the clouds all form a geometric shape
And it goes fast
You think of the past

Suddenly everything has changed

Putting all the clothes you washed away
As you're folding up the shirts you hesitate
Then it goes fast
Think of the past





Suddenly everything has changed

Overall Meaning

The song "Suddenly Everything Has Changed" by The Flaming Lips is a contemplative piece about the fleeting nature of life and how easily things can change. It opens with the image of someone putting away vegetables they just bought at the grocery store before reflecting on the passage of time and the memories of the past. The next verse sees the singer driving home and observing the sky, which seems to be moving faster than usual, and seeing the clouds form a geometric shape. This triggers a rush of memories from the past, highlighting the idea of how quickly things can change.


The final verse sees the singer folding clothes and hesitating as they do so, once again reflecting on how fleeting and transitory life can feel. The repetition of the phrase "Suddenly everything has changed" throughout the song reinforces the idea that at any moment, everything can shift and change in unexpected ways. The overall message of the song seems to be one of mindfulness and an awareness of the present moment, as well as a sense of appreciation for the moments we have while we have them.


Line by Line Meaning

Putting all the vegetables away
Finishing a task that you just completed


That you bought at the grocery store today
Items you recently purchased


And it goes fast
Time seems to fly by


You think of the past
Reflecting on memories and experiences


Suddenly everything has changed
A sudden shift or realization


Driving home the sky accelerates
Feeling like time is speeding up


And the clouds all form a geometric shape
Seeing patterns in the world around you


Putting all the clothes you washed away
Completing household chores


As you're folding up the shirts you hesitate
Pausing to reflect on something mundane


Think of the past
Nostalgia for earlier times




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL IVINS, STEVEN DROZD, WAYNE COYNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Anarre

This song really speaks to me. Most people live their life day to day and don't really think about the little changes that happen on a day to day basis. Even large changes will eventually just become another thing that you don't really think about.

At some point though you'll be doing some mundane task and your mind will start to wander. Sometimes that means thinking about the past and realizing holy shit, everything is so different from what it used to be, I'm different from who I used to be. Even that realization becomes just another memory until you reflect even later after more changes accumulate.

It's a really powerful feeling and this song triggers it in me each time I hear it.

Vectif

Incredible comment, and very true aswell. I coincidentially came here from sampling & working on a song using The Postal Service's version when I coincidentially came across this one, and it's honestly incredible on it's own itself. I can very much relate to the comment you've made almost everytime I look back at something, whether it's places I've been, people I hung out with, or my art and music, looking back at the progress or changes I've made, or the ideas and mentalities I had, my personality and way of being, my life overall, a very true feeling indeed, daydreaming, wandering off, drifting...

Toa Matau

Same feeling as "Once in a Lifetime".

AbusiveAntitheist

The lyrics "suddenly everything has changed" didn't necessarily have any meaning to me other than the basic concept, until ive experienced many moments in my life where out of nowhere everything changes, and when I say suddenly I mean pretty much instantaneously. Then the lyrics became pretty powerful in how I can relate it to my life.

Justin Law

yea doot

lyonslaforet

Soft Bulletin = one of the greatest albums released in 1999.

Simon James

lyonslaforet ever*

Kayla Palmieri

I love The Flamming Lips. Their style is simple, true, and always chill. It's like kids music for adults😊.

jesusluvincognito

Kayla Palmieri thats a little insulting their music is actually extremely complex it just sounds simpl4

Rebecca Steuwer

She literally said right there...simple, true, and chill

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