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
The Spontaneous Combustion of John
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And his eyes are full of fire
Like the first time Captain Marvel zapped him
Right between the eyes
The lyrics to The Flaming Lips's song The Spontaneous Combustion of John seem to describe the self-destructive nature of a person named John, who smokes and seems to be consumed by something that burns within him. The first line expresses regret over John's smoking habit, suggesting that it is a major contributor to his eventual spontaneous combustion. The second line likens John's burning passion to fire, which is often used as a metaphor for intense emotion. The reference to Captain Marvel, a fictional superhero known for his lightning powers, suggests that John's passion is both electrifying and dangerous, much like the superhero's powers.
The third line is particularly interesting, as it describes the moment when Captain Marvel first "zapped" John. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a moment of enlightenment or realization, when something suddenly becomes clear to John. However, it also suggests that John's passion is so powerful that it can be traced back to a single, defining moment in his life. The use of the word "zapped" implies that this moment may have been sudden and unexpected, which could have contributed to John's inability to control his emotions and impulses.
Overall, The Spontaneous Combustion of John seems to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked passion and addiction. It highlights the importance of self-control and the dangers of allowing oneself to become consumed by destructive habits.
Line by Line Meaning
It's such a shame, Johnny smokes
It's unfortunate that Johnny smokes cigarettes, which have harmful effects on his health
And his eyes are full of fire
His eyes are bright and lively, possibly due to the effects of smoking
Like the first time Captain Marvel zapped him
This simile compares the intense feeling Johnny gets from smoking with being hit by electricity, potentially hinting at the addictive nature of smoking
Right between the eyes
This phrase means to hit something with accuracy, but in the context of the song, it may also suggest that smoking is harming Johnny's brain and cognitive abilities
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind