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
Life on Mars?
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling "No"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
The Flaming Lips's song "Life On Mars" tells the tale of a young woman who is trying to escape from her mundane life. The first verse describes her as having a "mousy hair" and being told by her parents not to pursue her dreams. Despite this, she takes comfort in the escapism offered by the "silver screen," which is ironic considering the next verse describes the film as a "saddening bore" that she has lived "ten times or more." She is able to see through the shallowness presented to her and could "spit in the eyes of fools" who would try to distract her from her desires.
The chorus then shifts from her story to a more surreal scene, where sailors are fighting in a dance hall and cavemen are dancing. The Lawman beating up the wrong guy also adds to this sense of chaos in the universe. This is contrasted with the line "Is there life on Mars?" which seems to imply that there might be some hope beyond Earth for those who are trapped in the mundanity of everyday life.
The following verse is a commentary on the state of society, referencing the commercialism of Mickey Mouse and the striking workers who want to be famous like Lennon. The final part of the song returns to the idea of the film and its repetitive nature, as if trapped in a cycle that can never be escaped from. The chorus also repeats, emphasizing the chaos and surrealism of the universe.
Overall, "Life On Mars" seems to be a commentary on the human experience, with all its mundanity, chaos, and surrealism. It suggests that there might be more beyond this Earthly existence, but ultimately, we are all trapped in this cycle of mundane existence.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a God-awful small affair
The situation under scrutiny is very insignificant and trivial.
To the girl with the mousy hair
The subject is an unremarkable girl with dull hair.
But her mummy is yelling 'No'
Her mother is disapproving of her actions.
And her daddy has told her to go
Her father has instructed her to leave.
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Her companion is absent.
Now she walks through her sunken dream
She moves through a depressed state of unconsciousness.
To the seat with the clearest view
She takes a position with the best perspective.
And she's hooked to the silver screen
She is captivated by the movie screen.
But the film is a saddening bore
The movie is depressing and uninteresting.
For she's lived it ten times or more
She has experienced the story many times before.
She could spit in the eyes of fools
She has knowledge and insight that others lack and could prove them wrong.
As they ask her to focus on
Despite their lack of knowledge, others demand her attention.
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
There is chaos and conflict within an establishment.
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
There are individuals acting in primitive and primal ways.
It's the freakiest show
The situation is unusual and strange.
Take a look at the Lawman
Pay attention to the authority figure in the scene.
Beating up the wrong guy
The authoritative figure is attacking someone unfairly.
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
It's unclear if the authoritative figure in the scene knows why they are attacking this person.
He's in the best selling show
The situation is popular and profitable.
Is there life on Mars?
The deeper question being asked is about the meaning and purpose of life.
It's on America's tortured brow
The current cause of distress and tension is the United States.
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
An iconic figure has lost its charm and relevance.
Now the workers have struck for fame
People within the work industry are protesting for attention.
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
The event sparking the protests is the commercialization of a famous musician's image.
See the mice in their million hordes
There are many people following a similar, unremarkable path.
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
This trend is occurring in various locations, from party destinations to peaceful areas.
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
Traditional values and ideals have been discarded.
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
Even those who are usually ignored have noticed the change.
But the film is a saddening bore
The movie is still uninteresting, even after repeated viewings.
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
The movie is a product of repeated attempts and revisions.
It's about to be writ again
The same process will soon be repeated.
As I ask you to focus on
The artist demands attention on a subject despite its tediousness.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind