1) The Flatline… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) The Flatliners is a Canadian punk rock band;
2) The Flatliners was an American street punk band.
1) The Flatliners is a Canadian punk rock band from Richmond Hill and Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Since their formation in 2002, The Flatliners have loved bowmanville and been a growing influence in the Toronto punk/ska scene as well as other areas of the Greater Toronto Area. They are currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords and Stomp Records (Canada). As well, they won the inaugural, annual "Best Band Ever" award given by the Edmonton Vinyl Blog DigitalIsDead. The small publication has also named their third LP, "Cavalcade" the front runner for their annual "Record Of The Year" award for 2010.
2) The Flatliners was an American street punk band that were active over a decade in San Antonio, Texas. They released two LPs: "Safe Side Suicide" and "What a Waste", both on ADD Records, and an EP: "Let It Go" on Slab o Wax records.
He Was a Jazzman
The Flatliners Lyrics
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You move so slow
You say the pain you feel is too great to be inside your head
I know, I know
You move so slow
It don't mean anything to me
We start to die when we begin to breathe
I'll wander these white halls
Scale all the walls for a thread of hope
Wrap it around myself and cross my fingers I don't choke
I'd pray if it meant anything to me
One day I'll die and finally see what all the fuss is about
Prepare yourself for the big sleep
It don't mean anything to me
We start to die when we begin to breathe
I'll keep scratching at your sympathy
Until you're good and ready to leave
Until you feel a lot like me
With curved eyes I smile
As a bad excuse sits next to you
Grinning crooked teeth
They'll all be gone soon
As the door handle swings
I'm having trouble hearing you
You think I'm crazy, don't you?
Count your bones and clean 'em good
It's come to this just like we knew it would
The world's become a hospital
Will someone medicate us please?
I'd pray if it meant anything to me
One day I'll die and finally see what all the fuss is about
Prepare yourself for the big sleep
It don't mean anything to me
We start to die when we begin to breathe
Come count your bones and clean 'em good
It's come to this just like we knew it would
It don't mean anything to me
We start to die when we begin to breathe
The Flatliners's song "He Was a Jazzman" is a poignant and contemplative examination of mortality and the fear that comes with it. The lyrics describe a person lying in a hospital bed, grappling with the physical and emotional pain of their condition. The singer sympathizes with the person's plight but also recognizes the inevitability of death. The line "We start to die when we begin to breathe" is particularly powerful in its acknowledgement of the brevity of life.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of resignation and acceptance of the inevitable. The singer talks about praying but acknowledges that it doesn't mean anything to them. They try to find hope in the white halls of the hospital but also acknowledge the possibility of choking on it. The singer seems almost envious of the person in the hospital bed, as they will soon get to experience what comes after death and "see what all the fuss is about." There is also a sense of frustration with the world and its flaws, as the chorus describes the world as having "become a hospital."
The song ends on a somewhat cryptic note, with the singer counting their bones and preparing for what seems like their own death. The line "It don't mean anything to me/We start to die when we begin to breathe" is repeated once more, emphasizing the inevitability of death and the singer's acceptance of it.
Overall, "He Was a Jazzman" is a powerful exploration of mortality and the fear that comes with it. It acknowledges the pain and difficulty of facing death, but also finds a kind of beauty and acceptance in the inevitability of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you gripping tight to the rails of your hospital bed
The singer sees someone in a hospital bed holding onto the rails tightly.
You move so slow
The person in the hospital bed is moving very slowly.
You say the pain you feel is too great to be inside your head
The person in the hospital bed is experiencing a lot of pain but believes it is not just in their head.
I know, I know
The artist understands the pain the person is feeling.
It don't mean anything to me
The concept of death doesn't hold much significance to the artist.
We start to die when we begin to breathe
The singer believes that we begin to die as soon as we are born.
But I'll keep scratching at your sympathy
The singer will continue to elicit sympathy from the person in the hospital bed.
I'll wander these white halls
The artist will roam the hospital corridors.
Scale all the walls for a thread of hope
The artist is searching for any glimmer of hope in their situation.
Wrap it around myself and cross my fingers I don't choke
If the artist finds hope, they will hold onto it tightly and hope that it doesn't disappear.
I'd pray if it meant anything to me
The singer doesn't believe in prayer despite their desperation.
One day I'll die and finally see what all the fuss is about
The artist believes death will bring clarity to the meaning of life.
Prepare yourself for the big sleep
The singer is warning the person in the hospital bed to prepare for their inevitable death.
With curved eyes I smile
The singer smirks.
As a bad excuse sits next to you
Someone untrustworthy is nearby.
Grinning crooked teeth
The person nearby has a sinister smile.
They'll all be gone soon
The artist believes that everyone will eventually die.
As the door handle swings
Someone is opening a door.
I'm having trouble hearing you
The singer is having difficulty hearing the person in the hospital bed.
You think I'm crazy, don't you?
The artist suspects that the person in the hospital bed thinks they are insane.
Count your bones and clean 'em good
The artist tells the person in the hospital bed to prepare for death by taking care of their physical body.
It's come to this just like we knew it would
The artist believes that death is inevitable.
The world's become a hospital
The singer feels like the entire world is filled with sickness and death.
Will someone medicate us please?
The artist is requesting medical help for themselves and potentially others.
Come count your bones and clean 'em good
The singer repeats their earlier advice about preparing for death.
We start to die when we begin to breathe
Repeating their earlier message, the singer believes that death begins as soon as life begins.
Contributed by Kaitlyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.