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
Staring At Sound With You
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Oh, it's a beautiful day."
Let's just not talk about the gloom.
Let's all go die in my living-room.
I want to be a movie-star,
And play the part of a man from outer-space.
When we meet, I'll fall in love with you.
And we have sex, but I don't know what to do (what to do).
A song that sounds just like you look.
And when they play, I'll follow them around,
Cause all I'd do is stare at the sound.
I'd just stare at the sound.
I'd just stare at the sound.
I'd just go.
Come on.
Hey.
What?
All that I know
is my mind is blown.
When I'm with you.
When I'm with you.
When I'm with you.
When I'm with you.
When I'm with you.
When I'm with you.
When I'm
with you.
In the song "Staring At Sound With You," The Flaming Lips convey a sense of ennui and a longing for something more exciting than just a beautiful day. The lyrics express a desire for an escape from the mundane and the ordinary, and a yearning for something that is out of this world. The idea of dying in the living room is an ironic and somewhat nihilistic twist on the old adage of "living room" and also a nod to the Flaming Lips album "Death Trippin' at Sunrise," a collection of songs about death that was never officially released. The line "I want to be a movie star" is a nod to frontman Wayne Coyne's own aspirations, and the idea of falling in love and having sex but not knowing what to do is a reflection of a sense of inexperience and uncertainty.
The song's chorus emphasizes the idea of "staring at the sound," suggesting that music can be an immersive and transformative experience. The repetition of the phrase "when I'm with you" underscores the intensity of the emotional connection between the singer and their love interest, and the sense that being with that person is the only thing that really matters.
Some possible interpretations of the song include a commentary on the commodification of culture and a critique of consumerism, or an exploration of the power of music to transcend the ordinary and the mundane. Ultimately, however, the meaning of the song is left up to the listener's interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
I just don't want them to say,
I don't want anyone to mention the weather or the misery we may feel, let's forget about it.
"Oh, it's a beautiful day."
I want to avoid meaningless conversations and small talk that serve as distractions from our true emotions.
Let's just not talk about the gloom.
Instead of ignoring the issues at hand, let's face them together.
Let's all go die in my living-room.
This line is a metaphor for embracing life, enjoying the present with the people we love, and making the most of it.
I want to be a movie-star,
I want to be known and recognized for my creative abilities and the unique perspective I bring to the world.
And play the part of a man from outer-space.
I want to explore new ideas and ways of understanding the world, something unknown and different that intrigues the people around me.
When we meet, I'll fall in love with you.
Meeting you will cause a profound emotional response, a feeling of love and connection that will change my life.
And we have sex, but I don't know what to do (what to do).
Even in the most intimate moments, there may be moments of uncertainty and confusion that we must navigate together.
I want to hear some band play,
Music is an important part of my life, and I want to hear something that speaks to me in a unique way, something that matches your personality.
A song that sounds just like you look.
You are unique, and I want to experience the things that you love and appreciate, including the music you listen to.
And when they play, I'll follow them around,
I want to fully immerse myself in the music, following the band wherever they go, letting myself be carried away by the sounds and emotions of the music.
Cause all I'd do is stare at the sound.
Even in the midst of chaos and noise, all I can focus on is the incredible power and beauty of the music.
I'd just stare at the sound.
This line emphasizes the intensity of my focus on the music and how it consumes me entirely.
I'd just go.
My passion for music drives me to continuously seek out new experiences and opportunities to explore its possibilities.
Come on.
This line is an encouragement, a call to action to embrace the moment, to experience it fully.
Hey.
This is a playful interjection, a moment of lightheartedness and fun.
All that I know is my mind is blown.
My passion for music and my love for you is so intense that it often feels overwhelming, like my mind can't contain it all.
When I'm with you.
Being with you is a transformative experience that fills me with joy and energy, leaving me feeling inspired and alive.
When I'm with you.
This line is repeated to emphasize the powerful effect you have on me, and how your presence shapes my experiences and emotions.
When I'm with you.
This line repeats again to drive home the idea that everything is different and better when I'm with you.
When I'm with you.
I can't get enough of you, and being with you is what makes my life feel the most meaningful and rewarding.
When I'm with you.
This final repetition serves as a powerful conclusion, reiterating the central message of the song and the importance of the relationship between the artist and the person they love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FLAMING LIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind