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
Flowers of Neptune 6
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doin' acid and watchin' the light box glow
Like tiny spaceships in a row
The coolest thing I'll ever know
John's still a greaser, and
Tommy's gone off to war
James got busted, and
Oh my God
Why is it them
Oh my God
Now, it's me
Orange flowers bursting into bloom
Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter, the Moon
John's still a greaser, and
Tommy's gone off to war
James got busted, and
Doesn't give a fuck anymore
Oh my God
Why is it them
Oh my God
Now, it's me
Oh my God
Why is it them
Oh my God
Now, it's me
The lyrics of "Flowers of Neptune 6" by The Flaming Lips are a rich and complex representation of life's transitions, both on a personal and cosmic level. The song begins with an almost nostalgic and melancholic tone, as the sun sets slowly, and the singer describes himself as "doing acid and watching the light box glow." The light box acts as a symbol of our capacity for imagination and creativity, as well as the way in which we can conjure alternative realities and perspectives on the world around us. The idea of the sun setting slowly, as if time is slowing down, highlights the importance of being present in every moment and savoring the richness of life.
As the song progresses, we are introduced to several different characters who are going through transitions in their own lives. John, the greaser, represents an archetype of the classic American rebel, someone who is fighting against the oppression of authority and conformity. Tommy is going off to war, which represents a transition in his life from innocence to experience, as he is forced to confront the harsh realities of violence and death. James, who has been busted and doesn't care anymore, represents the idea of becoming disillusioned with life and losing the passion and drive that once propelled us forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, the sun is goin' down so slow
The sun is setting slowly in a mesmerizing way.
Doin' acid and watchin' the light box glow
Taking acid and observing a mesmerizing glowing box
Like tiny spaceships in a row
The lights on the box look like small spaceships lined up.
The coolest thing I'll ever know
This experience is the greatest thing I will ever witness.
John's still a greaser, and
John still has his style and image as a greaser.
Tommy's gone off to war
Tommy has left to go fight in a war.
James got busted, and
James got caught and is in trouble/legal trouble.
Doesn't give a fuck anymore
James no longer cares about the consequences or what people think.
Oh my God
Expressing surprise or awe
Why is it them
Why are these unfortunate things happening to them?
Now, it's me
Now, these unfortunate things are happening to me.
Orange flowers bursting into bloom
The orange flowers are blossoming gloriously.
Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter, the Moon
Outer space celestial bodies.
Oh my God
Expressing surprise or awe.
Why is it them
Why are these unfortunate things happening to them?
Now, it's me
Now, these unfortunate things are happening to me.
Oh my God
Expressing surprise or awe.
Why is it them
Why are these unfortunate things happening to them?
Now, it's me
Now, these unfortunate things are happening to me.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Gregory Drozd, Wayne Michael Coyne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Smarf
Lyrics:
Yeah, the sun is goin' down so slow
Doin' acid and watchin' the light bugs glow
Like tiny spaceships in a row
The coolest thing I'll ever know
John's still a greaser, and
Tommy's gone off to war
James got busted, and
Doesn't give a fuck anymore
Oh my God
Why is it them
Oh my God
Now, it's me
Orange flowers bursting into bloom
Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter, the Moon
John's still a greaser, and
Tommy's gone off to war
James got busted, and
Doesn't give a fuck anymore
Oh my God
Why is it them
Oh my God
Now, it's me
Oh my God
Why is it them
Oh my God
Now, it's me
Steve Goodson
Wayne Coyne will never die, he'll travel the universe in his inflatable bubble. When the universe ends - to the sound of 'do you realise' - there will be billions of glitter cannons and dancing supernovae, then Wayne will put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights, and lock the door on his way out โบ
8ittermand
...and then Keith Richards says, "You won't get my chair, Wayne...I''m staying."
El Horrendo
Brilliantly written ode to Wayne. I love it.
amir afshar
One of the best comments i have read ever.
Space Alien Jesus
This album speaks the truth..no one cares anymore..we forgot how to love ourselves...hope if you are reading this that all your dreams come true and you live a long and happy life.
Pancho Verde
Thanks dawg
El Horrendo
I like your avatar. Eraserhead?
Berlyn Grey
My dream did come true! I kicked my 22 year long opiate addiction and have been clean for over 17 months! Life is good when youโre not stuck in the rat race that is addiction!!!
danielscissorhands
I never thought I'd say this, but...thanks Space Alien Jesus!
Ineversleep
This is keeping me going