Following the group's formation in 1985, singles such as "I Could Be in Heaven", "Happy All the Time" and "Shimmer" established the band as a successful indie band but The Flatmates disbanded in April 1989 before releasing a proper studio album.
The group's core members were Martin Whitehead (guitar) and Debbie Haynes (vocals). Initially, the band also included Kath Beach (bass guitar) and Rocker (drums). Prior to recording their first single, Beach left the band and was replaced by Sarah Fletcher.
The line-up of Haynes, Whitehead, Fletcher and Rocker recorded the first two Flatmates singles, 1986's "I Could Be in Heaven" and 1987's "Happy All the Time", both Whitehead compositions. Rocker left the band prior to their third single, November 1987's "You're Gonna Cry", and was replaced by Joel O'Bierne. Ironically, "You're Gonna Cry" was a Rocker composition, the only A-side he would pen for the band.
"Shimmer", released in March 1988 as the fourth Flatmates single, was the band's biggest hit, produced by Chris Allison reaching No. 2 on the UK Indie Chart. Shortly after the single was released, Tim Rippington was added as a second guitarist. Bassist Fletcher then left The Flatmates prior to their fifth and final single "Heaven Knows". She was eventually replaced by Jackie Carrera; however it was Whitehead who played bass on "Heaven Knows", while Rippington handled all the guitar.
The group split up in 1989, with Carrera joining The Caretaker Race and Whitehead and O'Bierne forming The Sweet Young Things. Whitehead later formed the short-lived band Shrimptractor in 1992.
Two collections of Flatmates material have been released on CD, Love and Death (1989) and Potpourri (Hits, Mixes and Demos '85 - '89) (2005).
The group were reformed by Whitehead in 2013, featuring Lisa Bouvier on vocals, and released a single called "You Held My Heart" on Archdeacon of Pop Records. In August 2015, Bristol-based indie label Local Underground released a second new Flatmates single, featuring covers of "When You Were Mine" by Prince, and "Comedian" (originally titled "Comedienne") by Cinerama. The band’s first full studio album, “The Flatmates” was released in March 2020.
I Don't Care
The Flatmates Lyrics
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I don't care, he don't care
I don't care, about this world
I don't care, about that girl
I don't care, he don't care
I don't care, he don't care
I don't care, he don't care
I don't care, about that girl
I don't care, he don't care
I don't care, I don't care
I don't care, I don't care
I don't care, I don't care
I don't care, he don't care
I don't care, he don't care
I don't care, about this world
I don't care, about that girl
I don't care
The lyrics to The Flatmates' song "I Don't Care" are simple and repetitive, with the repeated phrase "I don't care" serving almost as a mantra for the singer. The song seems to be about a feeling of detachment from the world and a lack of emotional investment in the people and things around them. The repetition of "he don't care" suggests that this sentiment is shared by someone else, perhaps a partner or friend.
The first verse focuses on the world and a girl, suggesting that the singer is uninterested in both. This may reflect a sense of disillusionment with the world, or a feeling of being disconnected from it. The second verse repeats this sentiment, emphasizing the lack of caring both for the world and for a particular girl. The final verse is even more minimal, simply repeating the phrase "I don't care" three times.
The song's repetitive lyrics and simple guitar riff give it a sense of urgency and immediacy, as if the singer is trying to convince themselves of their lack of caring. The lack of explicit emotion in the lyrics makes it difficult to determine the singer's true feelings--are they truly apathetic, or is this a defense mechanism against feeling too deeply? Either way, "I Don't Care" is an effective expression of disinterest and detachment.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't care, he don't care
We both have a complete disregard for the situation at hand
I don't care, about this world
I have no interest or concern for the world we live in
I don't care, about that girl
I have no emotional attachment or concern for the girl in question
I don't care, he don't care
Our indifference and lack of concern is mutual
I don't care, I don't care
My level of apathy towards the situation is high and unwavering
I don't care, he don't care
We continue to share the same level of disinterest and disregard
I don't care, about this world
My lack of concern for the world and everything in it remains unchanged
I don't care, about that girl
My indifference towards the girl in question persists
I don't care
I have absolutely no interest, investment or concern in this situation
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEE DEE RAMONE, DOUGLAS COLVIN, JEFFREY HYMAN, JOEY RAMONE, JOHN (RAMONE) CUMMINGS, JOHNNY RAMONE, THOMAS ERDELYI, TOMMY RAMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind