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
How??
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Legalize it, every drug right now
Are you with us or are you burnin' out?
Kill your rock 'n roll, motherfuckin' hip-hop sound
I tried to tell you but I don't know how
I tried to tell you but I don't know how
How??
How??
How??
A thousand suns are in the sky right now
Let them shine now, shine for just one hour
I tried to tell you but I don't know how
I tried to tell you but I don't know how
How??
How??
How??
How??
How??
Back when we were young, we killed everyone
If they fucked with us with our baby guns
We were young with our baby guns
We were young with our baby guns
A bird is singing, singing really loud
A jet is flying, flying through a cloud
I tried to tell you but I don't know how
I tried to tell you but I don't know how
How??
How??
How??
How??
How??
How??
The lyrics to The Flaming Lips's song "How??" are open to interpretation as they tackle various themes and emotions. At a surface level, the opening lines criticize societal issues and question the choices people make. The reference to "white trash rednecks" and "earthworms eat the ground" may symbolize those who are marginalized or overlooked by society. The line "Legalize it, every drug right now" could be seen as a call for liberation from strict societal norms and regulations.
The next set of lines, "Are you with us or are you burnin' out? Kill your rock 'n roll, motherfuckin' hip-hop sound," suggests a rebellion against authority and mainstream music conventions. It may imply a desire to break free from constraints and create something new and unique. The repetition of "How??" throughout the song emphasizes a sense of confusion or frustration, as if the singer is struggling to articulate their thoughts and feelings.
As the song progresses, the lyrics take a more introspective turn. The reference to "a thousand suns in the sky" and the plea for them to "shine for just one hour" could reflect a desire for hope and positivity amidst darkness or uncertainty. The following lines, "Back when we were young, we killed everyone, If they fucked with us with our baby guns," can be interpreted metaphorically, representing the recklessness and aggression of youth and the consequences that follow.
In the final verse, the mention of a "bird singing really loud" and a "jet flying through a cloud" juxtaposes the natural and artificial worlds, perhaps highlighting the contrasting elements present in life. The repetition of "How??" persists, suggesting that despite attempts to communicate, the singer still struggles to express themselves fully.
Overall, the lyrics of "How??" evoke a sense of frustration, rebellion, introspection, and a longing for something more. The song poses existential questions and challenges conventional thinking, urging listeners to question societal norms and embrace individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
White trash rednecks, earthworms eat the ground
Society's outcasts, even the lowest creatures contribute to the ecosystem
Legalize it, every drug right now
Advocating for the decriminalization of all drugs immediately
Are you with us or are you burnin' out?
Are you still passionate and committed to our cause or losing interest?
Kill your rock 'n roll, motherfuckin' hip-hop sound
Critiquing the music industry's commercialization and corruption of rock and hip-hop
I tried to tell you but I don't know how
I attempted to communicate my thoughts or feelings, but I struggle to find the right words
How??
Expressing frustration and confusion
A thousand suns are in the sky right now
Many possibilities or opportunities exist at this moment
Let them shine now, shine for just one hour
Encouraging others to embrace and showcase their talents for a brief period
Back when we were young, we killed everyone
In our youth, we faced challenges and obstacles head-on without hesitation
If they fucked with us with our baby guns
If someone provoked or threatened us, we retaliated even with limited power
We were young with our baby guns
When we were young and inexperienced, we used whatever means we had to protect ourselves
A bird is singing, singing really loud
Nature's beauty and resilience can be heard and seen through the song of a bird
A jet is flying, flying through a cloud
The marvels of human technology continue to amaze and soar to new heights
How??
Continued frustration and confusion
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hammer.smashed.face
My best friend died almost three years ago
July 4th 2017.
We went to a Flaming Lips concert in April when I flew out to Chicago.
I didn’t know that would have been the last time I saw him or hugged him. This song radiated through the Riviera theater, and it was just a priceless moment I didn’t realize at that time.
He was suppose to come out to California on
July 20th 2017.
He unfortunately died two weeks before he was suppose to come out.
He was with me the first time I heard Flaming Lips, he was there for my first and many Flaming Lips concerts....and I am glad he was there for our last.
I won’t be able to see them live for a long time...it’s too painful to relive that moment. Of us standing there and just slipping deeply into the show, his presence next to me would be the last time...
A Banana Wearing Pajamas
I heard this for the first time live. I can still feel the low end vibrate my entire soul.
Al Bundy
Same. Yesterday.
Dylan B
@Al BundyIndiana or Milwaukee?
Sumac Native
@Dylan B
❤
iamkeebler
Stunning! Love the vibe and the visual
Maria Birnie
How many of you googled up “how” & this was the first option ?
Jason Maestrado
Me, just 30 seconds ago.
Karrie Wallace
Yep lol
Mousumi Das
Me
pizza
i just did that lmaoo