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
Jesus Shooting Heroin
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Except it seems a good reason to kill.
Everybody's got their own conceptions,
And you know, they always will.
These days are needles under my skin.
Jesus shootin' heroin.
If there are priests at your party,
And you got no reason to think it,
Until your chances are uncovered.
Tell me that I got to believe in,
Jesus shootin' heroin.
The police in New York city,
Chased a boy, right through the park.
In a case of mistaken identities,
They put a bullet through his heart.
I met Mary, on the corner with the streetlights.
She asked me if I'd come up to her room.
I told her that I didn't have no money.
She said she had to leave pretty soon.
I decided that I would go in.
Jesus shootin' heroin.
The Flaming Lips' song "Jesus Shooting Heroin" is a controversial and provocative commentary on religion, addiction, and societal issues. The lyrics begin by acknowledging the artist's lack of understanding of different religions and how they provide justification for violence. The lines "Except it seems a good reason to kill / Everybody's got their own conceptions / And you know, they always will" suggest that people use religion as an excuse to act upon their own beliefs and agendas, often without regard for others.
The lyrics then pivot to the subject of addiction, as the artist compares the sensation of addiction to needles under his skin. The chorus, "Jesus shootin' heroin," is a metaphorical representation of the idea that even Jesus, who is often regarded as a holy figure, can succumb to addiction. The lyrics suggest that addiction does not discriminate and can affect anyone, regardless of their beliefs or social status.
The third verse touches on police brutality and mistaken identities, highlighting the systemic issues with law enforcement and the impact of these injustices on marginalized communities. The final verse tells the story of the artist meeting Mary, a sex worker who offers him her services. The lyrics suggest that the artist, despite not having any money, decides to go with her to her room to partake in drugs. The final line, "Jesus shootin' heroin," reiterates the theme of addiction and the belief that even religious figures are not immune to its effects.
Overall, "Jesus Shooting Heroin" is a thought-provoking commentary on religion, addiction, and societal issues. The lyrics challenge conventional beliefs and highlight the complexities of these issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I never really understood religions,
I don't comprehend why people need faith to justify their actions, except as an excuse for violence.
Except it seems a good reason to kill.
Religion is used as a justification for violent acts.
Everybody's got their own conceptions,
Every person has their own opinion about religion.
And you know, they always will.
It's inevitable that people will always have their own beliefs.
These days are needles under my skin.
Recent times have been uncomfortable and painful.
Jesus shootin' heroin.
Religion is addictive, like a drug.
If there are priests at your party,
If religious people are present where you are,
And you're playing cards that are numbered,
And you're engaging in an activity that is considered sinful by some,
And you got no reason to think it,
And you don't think it's a big deal,
Until your chances are uncovered.
Until you are caught and punished for your behavior.
Tell me that I got to believe in,
Insinuating that religion will prevent someone from engaging in sinful activities.
Jesus shootin' heroin.
Religion acts as an addiction that prevents someone from engaging in sinful activities.
The police in New York city,
Police officers in a specific location,
Chased a boy, right through the park.
Pursued a young man through a public area.
In a case of mistaken identities,
Due to an error in identification,
They put a bullet through his heart.
The police shot and killed the young man.
I met Mary, on the corner with the streetlights.
I encountered a prostitute named Mary on a street corner at night.
She asked me if I'd come up to her room.
Mary invited me to her place of work, where she engages in sexual activity for money.
I told her that I didn't have no money.
I informed her that I couldn't pay for her services.
She said she had to leave pretty soon.
Mary told me she had to stop working soon.
I decided that I would go in.
I made the decision to engage in sexual activity with Mary, despite not having any money to pay her.
Jesus shootin' heroin.
An addiction to religion is like using drugs to escape reality.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FLAMING LIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheTinychainsaw
I can't believe this album was made in the 80s! They were way ahead of their time. I love the flaming lips. ♥
TheEDZEPPELINBAND
they go from a frail acoustic sound to a tidal wave of epic proportions-beautifully dynamic-and i like how they stuck the Stones lyric in there-that seems important-
logansworth
Wow, I'll buy this album the next time I see it. This band has had a great career!
AlyssaQ420
The Flaming Lips never fail to amaze me. This song sort of has a 90's alternative/grunge sound (which is a genre I love), but they successfully pulled it off. :)
AlyssaQ420
@Gustav or maybe you are, given you took the time to insult a decade old comment for no reason whatsoever.
Robert Sekula
One of my all time favorites
zax the reds
Lovely song. Singin it for decades now
paul wright
Oh Shit.51 years old,recently discovered so many great bands,mmj fleet foxes, explosions in the sky,geographer,broken social scene,arcade fire and these guys and many more.All those wasted years listening to radio.
Darth Anddedeu
At least you found things
Hella Shott
Alt J check them