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
Brother Eye
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brother, can you live forever?
Brother, I don't want to cry
Oh
Can you live forever?
Can you live forever?
Oh
You were born and the dark was changed
Like the stars into the night
Like the sun breaking through the sky
Brother, I, I
Brother, I can see into your eyes
And the way you look for something better
And you can try to act like it's forgotten
Oh, I see it way too often
I see it way too often
Oh
You were born and the dark was changed
Like the stars into the night
Like the sun breaking through the sky
Brother, I
Can you live forever?
Can you live forever?
Can you live forever?
Can you live forever? Oh
In the song "Brother Eye" by The Flaming Lips, the lyrics convey a poignant plea from the singer to their brother, expressing a deep desire for their brother to not succumb to death. The repeated refrain of "Brother, I don't want you to die" highlights the fear and sorrow that the singer feels at the thought of losing their sibling. This emotional plea is further emphasized by the line "Brother, I don't want to cry," reflecting the pain that would come with such a loss.
The lyrics also delve into the concept of immortality and the longing for everlasting life. The questioning of "Can you live forever?" suggests a yearning for permanence and eternity, perhaps as a way to escape the inevitability of death and the pain of loss. The repetition of this question underscores the singer's desperation and hope for a way to defy mortality.
The imagery of transformation and rebirth is woven throughout the song, symbolized by the lines "You were born and the dark was changed / Like the stars into the night / Like the sun breaking through the sky." This imagery can be interpreted as a metaphor for the brother's impact on the singer's life, bringing light and brightness into darkness. It also hints at the idea of renewal and the possibility of a new beginning.
The song delves into themes of introspection and longing for a better future, as evidenced by the lines "Brother, I can see into your eyes / And the way you look for something better." The singer recognizes their brother's search for something more fulfilling and meaningful, yet also acknowledges the struggles and pain that come with striving for improvement. Ultimately, the repeated questioning of whether one can truly "live forever" encapsulates the singer's yearning for permanence and an escape from the harsh realities of mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
Brother, I don't want you to die
Expressing concern and love for the brother, wishing for his well-being and longevity
Brother, can you live forever?
Questioning if the brother can remain alive indefinitely
Brother, I don't want to cry
Not wanting to feel sadness or grief over the brother
Oh
Exclamation, expressing emotion or emphasis
You were born and the dark was changed
Highlighting the impact of the brother's existence on the surroundings
Like the stars into the night
Drawing a comparison to the beauty and brightness of stars
Like the sun breaking through the sky
Metaphor for the brother bringing light and positivity into life
Brother, I, I
Reiterating the emotional connection and bond with the brother
Brother, I can see into your eyes
A deep understanding and insight into the brother's emotions and thoughts
And the way you look for something better
Recognizing the brother's desire for improvement and fulfillment
And you can try to act like it's forgotten
Acknowledging the brother's attempts to conceal his feelings or past
Oh, I see it way too often
Observing a recurring pattern of behavior or emotion in the brother
Can you live forever?
Repeating the question about the possibility of eternal life for the brother
Can you live forever?
Questioning the brother's mortality and existence beyond death
Can you live forever?
Pondering the idea of immortality and eternal life once again
Can you live forever? Oh
Ending with a hopeful or uncertain tone about the brother's future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Gregory Drozd, Wayne Michael Coyne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JR Navickas
Can’t wait for this 2021 concert
Brother, I don't want you to die
Brother, can you live forever?
Brother, I don't want to cry
Oh
Can you live forever?
Can you live forever?
Oh
You were born and the dark was changed
Like the stars into the night
Like the sun breaking through the sky
Brother, I, I
Brother, I can see into your eyes
And the way you look for something better
And you can try to act like it's forgotten
Oh, I see it way too often
I see it way too often
Oh
You were born…
Sergej Lovrekovic
that outro with the question repeating itself is probably one of the best "blissful" moments flaming lips did in a while!
Walter Bianco
For me, the best song of 2020: so intense and moving...
Alán Sánchez
This may sound like a crazy story, or maybe I'm overlooking and overanalyzing. But on Aug 23 this year, I was on a Flaming Lips mood/kick, and I played Yoshimi Battles and At War With the Mystics in 5.1. Later that day, my brother had seizures that developed into something worst. That day my bro passed away. It's been a crazy 3 weeks. So today I decided to check out the new Flaming Lips and I encounter with Brother Eye and Mother please don't be sad...The Universe or whatver God you believe in is sending me all these messages. I love and miss you bro!
Brian Evans
EVERYTHING happens for a reason. Sorry for your loss. Hope you are coping ok. Hang in there man.
Zool
Much love Alán, the sadness/darkness you feel will be useful to you one day. I hope the rest of your life is wonderful...
DukeOfDeath27
My heart goes out to you and your family. And really appreciate you sharing your brother's and your story.
Alán Sánchez
@Michael Fegley thanks so much for your words, very thoughtful. I appreciate them
Michael Fegley
I lost my bother 14 years ago. Honestly, the pain, unfortunately, does not go away, but you do get used to it. May it comfort you to know that your brother will live forever through the reverberations of his will that has affected you and every other person that he has known. That you, and they, have been changed minutely by his will so that you, and they, can grow closer to the perfection of what it is to be human. In turn, you will pass on your affected experience through the reverberations of your own will, and will expand that knowledge to all those that you shall create or meet. I wish you comfort in your time of sorrow. His humanity was, and continues to be, reflected in who you are; he shines further still, refracted within those that you affect. Your smile... will be his smile. Your laughter... will be his laughter. And the smiles and laughter and love that you engender in other others - these will be his too, so on and so on, forever and ever.
Visisyd and the Void
I just lost my youngest brother on the 22nd of August 😭💔 he was only 34. This song is really hitting home for me.
Michael Fegley
I lost my bother 14 years ago. Honestly, the pain, unfortunately, does not go away, but you do get used to it. May it comfort you to know that your brother will live forever through the reverberations of his will that has affected you and every other person that he has known. That you, and they, have been changed minutely by his will so that you, and they, can grow closer to the perfection of what it is to be human. In turn, you will pass on your affected experience through the reverberations of your own will, and will expand that knowledge to all those that you shall create or meet. I wish you comfort in your time of sorrow. His humanity was, and continues to be, reflected in who you are; he shines further still, refracted within those that you affect. Your smile... will be his smile. Your laughter... will be his laughter. And the smiles and laughter and love that you engender in other others - these will be his too, so on and so on, forever and ever.