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
Vein of Stars
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe there isn't a vein of stars calling out my name
No glow from above our heads
Nothing there to see you down on your knees, umm hmm
Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven (twenty years in the future)
Off in the future maybe there ain't no heaven
It's just you and me and maybe it's just as well
Who knows?
Maybe there isn't
A vein of stars calling out my name
Who knows? (calling out my name)
Who knows? (calling out my name)
Who knows? (calling out my name)
Who knows? (calling out my name)
Calling out my name (calling out my name)
Who knows? (calling out my name)
Who knows? (calling out my name)
Calling out my name
The lyrics of The Flaming Lips's song Vein of Stars are open to multiple interpretations. On the surface, it seems like the singer is questioning the existence of an afterlife, wondering if there really is a 'vein of stars calling out my name'. He reflects on the possibility that we might just exist together, with no concept of heaven or hell in the future. The lines 'Nothing there to see you down on your knees' could mean that there is nothing divine to worship, or it could be an ode to the beauty of earthly experiences. It's a complex, existential song that can be interpreted in many ways.
Digging deeper, one can also see the song as an ode to human relationships. Perhaps the 'vein of stars' is really a metaphor for the connections we make with others. The singer wonders if there is anyone out there who truly 'calls out his name' and whether there is any meaning in life beyond human connection. The song is bittersweet, questioning the nature of existence but also acknowledging the importance of human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Who knows?
Expressing uncertainty about the existence of something.
Maybe there isn't a vein of stars calling out my name
There might not be anything significant or noteworthy happening in one's life.
No glow from above our heads
There is no spiritual or cosmic presence guiding one's actions.
Nothing there to see you down on your knees, umm hmm
There is no higher power or divinity to turn to in moments of weakness or desperation.
Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven (twenty years in the future)
Looking ahead to a future time period.
Off in the future maybe there ain't no heaven
Perhaps there is no afterlife or paradise to strive for.
It's just you and me and maybe it's just as well
It could be enough to have a close relationship with another person, without any external validation or reward.
And if there ain't no heaven maybe there ain't no hell?
If the idea of an afterlife is not present, then the concept of divine punishment or eternal damnation may also not exist.
Calling out my name (calling out my name)
Repeating the idea that there may not be anything or anyone trying to get one's attention or provide guidance.
Who knows? (calling out my name)
Repeating the idea that there is uncertainty and lack of knowledge about the nature of existence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WAYNE MICHAEL COYNE, STEVEN GREGORY DROZD, MICHAEL LEE IVINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Green Floor Studio
This song reminds me of a time a few years ago in my life, all things seemed possible, everything was just right where it needed to be. I would listen to this song and drive around with my girl at the time. We would watch the sky, smoke, ponder the vein of stars, talk about life. Now it’s 2020, things got a lot weirder, many things out of place. The girl has since moved on and found someone else. Those summers are long gone. Now this song brings a heavy nostalgia for what once was. I love it so much but damn sometimes it’ll bring a tear or two.
NSixtyFour
Fuck man. That is literally my life. <3 Down to the song
Ricky Bobby
I saw them a few years ago do this song. It was amazing. It was hot and a little stuffy in the venue. Then this song began and there was this sudden breeze that came thru and you could hear the crowd with a collective "Ahhhhhh". It was an amazing and dare I say magical evening. It was perfect.
arminho09
First time I heard this song I had a tear rolling down my face but I was not even sad.
DirtyBirds 83
They’ll do that to you. Such beautiful music.
Peter DellOlio
this is one my favorite Lips songs. amazing it isn't more known.
Geo B
This is one of my favorite songs, by anyone.
CHOKE THE CHICKEN
This song is like psychedelia coldplay
Green Floor Studio
definitely one of the best of all time. brings some weird form of nostalgia that i simply cannot explain
Ryan Carter
Their best song hands down for me.