Formation
In early 1993, guitarist and singer Roine Stolt had written material for his third solo album The Flower King and sought for musicians to perform it. He had wanted to release a progressive rock-style album for a while and felt the time was right to pursue the project. The album features Stolt on vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards, Jaime Salazar on drums, and Hasse Fröberg on vocals, and was recorded in Sweden between May 1993 and January 1994.
In preparation for Stolt's concert tour to support the album's release, Stolt, Salazar, and Fröberg were joined by Stolt's brother Michael on bass and Tomas Bodin on keyboards. The five performed their first gig on 20 August 1994 at an outdoor festival in Uppsala, Stolt's hometown and the city where The Flower King was recorded. After they decided to become a full time band, they officially adopted the name The Flower Kings, named after Stolt's album. Stolt had produced a list of potential titles for the record, one of which was "The Flower King", and chose it because of its positive meaning and its reference to the hippie era of the 1960s.
Activity
After performing a series of concerts through 1994, the band entered the studio in December 1994 to record their debut album, Back in the World of Adventures. The recording process was gradual, finishing in September 1995.
In 2000, Michael Stolt was replaced by Jonas Reingold. Two years later, Salazar was replaced by Zoltan Csörsz. Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation joined the band the same year as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist.
Other contributors have included Hasse Bruniusson (percussion) and Ulf Wallander (saxophone).
Stolt has written the vast majority of the material the band has recorded, with Bodin contributing most of the rest. The music is best described as symphonic progressive rock, bearing a strong resemblance to the music of Yes, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, and early Genesis, with jazz fusion and blues influences. The band's lyrics are almost uniformly positive and uplifting, affirming such values as love, peace, and spirituality, and furthering their association with Yes.
Their 1999 album Flower Power contains the eighteen-section, almost 60-minute "Garden of Dreams".
In June 2007, they released The Road Back Home, a compilation of remixed songs from 1994 to 2006, plus "Little Deceiver" (a previously unreleased track) and the full version of their cover of "The Cinema Show" by Genesis.
Zoltan Csörsz was replaced by new drummer Marcus Liliequist for one album, but returned for the 2007 album, The Sum of No Evil. He was subsequently replaced by Erik Hammarström in 2008.
In 2008, Ola Heden, previously of Reingold's side project Karmakanic, joined on guitar, vocals and keyboards.
In November 2008, the band were the opening act of the Ecco Prog Fest in Moscow.
After touring in 2008, The Flower Kings were inactive for four years. Stolt felt the band had varied levels of focus in their direction and had started to feel lost. They reunited in 2011 to work on new material after Stolt felt it was the right time and sensed eagerness from the other members to work together. This marked the arrival of German drummer Felix Lehrmann. Banks of Eden, the group's eleventh album, was released in June 2012 and was recorded with analogue recording techniques and styles reminiscent of the height of vinyl records. This was followed by Desolation Rose in October 2013.
The line up of Stolt, Bodin, Reingold, Fröberg and Lehrmann played together for the last time in 2015. 2016 and 2017 saw the bandmembers busy with other engagements.
In December 2017, the first part of a career-spanning box set titled A Kingdom of Colours was released. This first box, with 10 discs, covers the period from 1995 to 2002 and includes the studio albums from Back in the World of Adventures to Unfold the Future. The second box set, titled A Kingdom of Colours 2 and covering the albums Adam & Eve through to Desolation Rose, was released in June 2018.
In September 2018, Stolt announced a new album named Manifesto of an Alchemist. The album did not feature long-time keyboardist Tomas Bodin, and as such it is credited to "Roine Stolt's The Flower King" rather than "The Flower Kings"
In August the same year Roine Stolt presented a new band called "Roine Stolt and friends play The Flower Kings". The band featured Stolt, Fröberg and Reingold with new keyboard player Zach Kamins and new drummer Mirko De Maio. Roine Stolt stated that he was done being in a group and wanted to tour as a solo artist like Roger Waters or Steven Wilson. Tomas Bodin was not a part of this group and made his displeasure quite public. The band toured with Spockâs Beard in November and December 2018 and continued to do shows in 2019, this time under the name "The Flower Kings Revisited".
In July 2019, "Revisited" was removed from the band name, making it clear that this line up was now "The Flower Kings". The band went on to release the double albums Waiting for Miracles in 2019 and Islands in 2020, the latter having been recorded entirely remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 24 March 2021, Roine Stolt announced two big projects. The Flower Kings are working on a brand new album "in the same innocence" of Stardust We Are. On 19 April 2021, Roine officially teases that Stardust We Are is getting a brand new vinyl remaster.
On April 8th 2022, InsideOut and Roine Stolt announced that Back in the World of Adventures and Retropolis were getting "remastered and partly remixed". The release date for both was placed on May 27th 2022. Also Stardust We Are and Flower Power are getting remixes and remastered in June.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flower_Kings
Studio albums
The Flower King (1994)
Back in the World of Adventures (1995)
Retropolis (1996)
Stardust We Are (1997)
Flower Power (1999)
Space Revolver (2000)
The Rainmaker (2001)
Unfold the Future (2002)
Adam & Eve (2004)
Paradox Hotel (2006)
The Sum of No Evil (2007)
Banks of Eden (2012)
Desolation Rose (2013)
Manifesto of an Alchemist (2018)
Waiting for Miracles (2019)
Islands (2020)
By Royal Decree (2022)
I Am the Sun
The Flower Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grown my beard, I'm still a child
Dead ends shortcuts just the same,
I'm the master of my game
Predictable, now you may say,
The Danny Kaye of present day
Close my hand and wave my wand,
Brainchild of your wonderland
Now,
(Now) I'm at the peak
Never forget what I tell you
Never give in to the big sleep, fast becoming
Now,
I'm at the edge
Never reject what I offer
Never believe what they tell you, let's move a mountain
Now watch me fight, now watch me bleed,
A universal spiral seed
The progress lingers, thoughts of man--
Take it as far as humans can
(Now) think of me your solid dream,
Catch me floating down the river
I'm an island drifting by,
Time again your sole forgiver
Now,
I am the sun
I am the first day of summer
Never give in to the dark deep, fast becoming
Now, (now!)
I am the moon
I am the end of the tunnel
Never believe in the dark age, let's move a mountain
Call me ageless, call me ghost,
The diamond duke behind the shades,
Sunflower beneath the skyline
Swaying in the land of snakes
Hey, I used to be a king
Now I'm just a king of laughter
Put me faith in anything,
Anything that's close to wonder
Anything that's close to wonder...
I'm in the middle, now see what I done,
Staring into the sun
You think you're drowning, but slowly you slip
Through the grinders of time
Afternoon the upstream, begging for time
Hum the words "I feed you my colorful shrine"
I'm in the middle, hold on to what's mine
In the limbo of time
You think you're dreaming, but gradually you learn
What it's like being torn
I'm on the other side painting skies to the poor
Hum the words "I'll join you; we'll break down the scores"
Break down, down
(Break down, down)
Break down, down
(Break down, down)
Break down, down
(Break down, down)
Break down, down
(I left my heart in San Francisco... I left my mind at Brisco Bay)
She came from the islands, seen places afar
They said she was gifted, reading the stars
And though I'm certain she was telling the truth
She'd faint when the mob start rocking the boat
In time, your eyes will open,
And the curtains will drop
To see we are one, this one that we are
In time, your eyes will open,
And time will tell
Larger than life, revolve among stars
She came from a time, time running slow
Transcending the limits, step up to the flow
She brought to the table all the wonders of life
The year of the dragon, she opened her eyes
In time, your heart will open,
And you'll let her in
To see we are one, this one that we are
In time, our hearts will open,
And time will tell
Larger than life, revolve among stars
Getting up in the early morning
Getting all my things together
I'm leaving today
Gonna make my breakfast tea
Gonna feed the birds and fishes
I'm sailing away
I may be a stray dog, mama, I never heard living soul
I may be a bit confused but my mind is as clear as ever
And I'm as free as a... FISH!!
I will get out in the open, I'll find a place in the summer
On mountains undone
I'm up for the wheels of wonder, I'm in for the cosmic drive
It's great being alive
I may be a baby elephant, step back or I'll step on your toes...
I'll be the atomic juggler, I'll pull up a missile up your nose...
Won't take a bite of your cake
Won't play with your baby snakes
I'll find my way out, thanks
Won't swim in your money pool
Won't be the domestic fool
I'm cool with NO rule
I may be the fuzzy dice but I won't burn my fingers twice...
I may be the 7th wonder, wake up!! Don't put me on ice...
The lyrics to The Flower Kings' song "I Am The Sun" depict a sense of pride and self-empowerment. The singer is confident in their ability to control their own fate, and they see themselves as the master of their own game. They acknowledge that they have been around for a while, yet they still see themselves as a child, which suggests a sense of youthfulness and playfulness. The second stanza of the song speaks to the singer's success and the fact that they are at their peak. They urge listeners to never give up or believe in the dark times, but rather to move mountains and make progress. They describe themselves as a "universal spiral seed," further emphasizing the idea of growth and development.
The rest of the lyrics discuss the singer's journey to self-discovery and how they have learned to appreciate wonder and the beauty of life. They describe themselves as "in the middle" and "on the other side," indicating a sense of being between different stages or states of being. They also reference various other characters, such as a woman who reads the stars, a stray dog, and a baby elephant. These characters may represent different aspects of the singer's personality or different stages in their life journey. Overall, the lyrics to "I Am The Sun" convey a sense of self-discovery, confidence, and empowerment.
Line by Line Meaning
Been around for a while
I have lived for a long time.
Grown my beard, I'm still a child
I grow old but remain young at heart.
Dead ends shortcuts just the same,
I have known obstacles and challenges but still strive to succeed.
I'm the master of my game
I am in control of my life and destiny.
Predictable, now you may say,
My predictable nature may be questioned.
The Danny Kaye of present day
My personality is likened to Danny Kaye, an actor and comedian.
Close my hand and wave my wand,
I can make things happen with ease.
Brainchild of your wonderland
My imagination is the source of your inspiration.
Now,
At present,
(Now) I'm at the peak
I have reached the pinnacle of my success.
Never forget what I tell you
My advice should always be remembered.
Never give in to the big sleep, fast becoming
Don't give up and die easily.
Now,
At present,
I'm at the edge
I am at the brink of something great or possibly dangerous.
Never reject what I offer
Do not miss the opportunity I am presenting.
Never believe what they tell you, let's move a mountain
Let us believe in ourselves and achieve the impossible.
Now watch me fight, now watch me bleed,
Observe my struggles and my wounds.
A universal spiral seed
I represent the cycling of life and creation.
The progress lingers, thoughts of man--
Man's thoughts and advancements continue to affect the world.
Take it as far as humans can
We should push ourselves to the limits of our potential.
(Now) think of me your solid dream,
Think of me as your inspiration.
Catch me floating down the river
Join me in my journey and adventures.
I'm an island drifting by,
I am independent and unique.
Time again your sole forgiver
I can be the one who forgives your mistakes every time.
Now,
At present,
I am the sun
I represent the energy and light of the summer.
I am the first day of summer
I am the start of sunshine and warmth.
Never give in to the dark deep, fast becoming
Do not fall into darkness and despair that is approaching quickly.
Now, (now!)
At present,
I am the moon
I represent the quiet reflection and introspection at the end of the day.
I am the end of the tunnel
I am the source of light at the end of a dark or uncertain time.
Never believe in the dark age, let's move a mountain
Let us believe in progress and work to achieve it.
Call me ageless, call me ghost,
I am timeless and otherworldly.
The diamond duke behind the shades,
I am a mysterious figure with great wealth and power.
Sunflower beneath the skyline
I am a symbol of beauty and hope, found in unexpected places.
Swaying in the land of snakes
I am able to move gracefully even in difficult circumstances.
Hey, I used to be a king
I used to have vast power and influence.
Now I'm just a king of laughter;
Now I am someone who brings joy and lightness.
Put me faith in anything,
I believe in the power of anything.
Anything that's close to wonder
Anything that elicits awe and amazement is worth believing in.
I'm in the middle, now see what I done,
I have accomplished much so far in life.
Staring into the sun
I am bold and unafraid of even the brightest things.
You think you're drowning, but slowly you slip
You may feel like you are suffocating, but change is happening incrementally.
Through the grinders of time
We are all subject to the passing of time.
Afternoon the upstream, begging for time
The future is uncertain and unknown.
Hum the words "I feed you my colorful shrine"
We are all part of something greater and more beautiful than ourselves.
I'm in the middle, hold on to what's mine,
I am trying to keep what is important to me.
In the limbo of time
We are sometimes stuck in a state of indecision or waiting for something to happen.
You think you're dreaming, but gradually you learn
You may feel like you are in a dream, but slowly reality sets in.
What it's like being torn
The experience of being pulled in two different directions.
I'm on the other side painting skies to the poor
I am creating beauty for those who have less.
Hum the words "I'll join you; we'll break down the scores"
We will work together to overcome obstacles and challenges.
Break down, down
We will dismantle the barriers and challenges in our way.
(Break down, down)
She came from the islands, seen places afar
She is well-traveled and knowledgeable.
They said she was gifted, reading the stars
She had special powers of insight and foresight.
And though I'm certain she was telling the truth
I believe she was honest.
She'd faint when the mob start rocking the boat
She could not handle crowds and chaos.
In time, your eyes will open,
You will eventually see the truth.
And the curtains will drop
The facade will disappear.
To see we are one, this one that we are
We are all one entity, connected in some way.
Larger than life, revolve among stars
We are greater than the physical world and can rise above it.
She came from a time, time running slow
She was from a different era when things were slower and simpler.
Transcending the limits, step up to the flow
She was able to break free from constraints and move forward.
She brought to the table all the wonders of life
She embraced all that life had to offer and shared it with others.
The year of the dragon, she opened her eyes
A time of transformation and renewal for her.
In time, your heart will open,
You will eventually become more loving and empathetic.
And you'll let her in
You will allow her to influence and inspire you.
I may be a stray dog, mama, I never heard living soul
I may not have many connections but I am independent and self-sufficient.
I may be a bit confused but my mind is as clear as ever
Despite confusion, I am still able to think clearly.
And I'm as free as a... FISH!!
I am truly free and unconstrained by anything or anyone.
I will get out in the open, I'll find a place in the summer
I will explore and discover new things.
On mountains undone
I will travel to places no one has ever been.
I'm up for the wheels of wonder
I am seeking excitement and adventure.
I'm in for the cosmic drive
I am ready for the journey into the unknown.
It's great being alive
I appreciate and love life.
I may be a baby elephant, step back or I'll step on your toes...
I may seem innocent but I am still capable of causing harm.
I'll be the atomic juggler, I'll pull up a missile up your nose...
I am capable of great feats and accomplishments.
Won't take a bite of your cake
I am not interested in superficial things.
Won't play with your baby snakes
I am not interested in games or manipulation.
I'll find my way out, thanks
I am independent and do not need others to help me.
Won't swim in your money pool
I am not interested in wealth or material possessions.
Won't be the domestic fool
I will not be confined to traditional or societal expectations.
I'm cool with NO rule
I am comfortable living without rules or limitations.
I may be the fuzzy dice but I won't burn my fingers twice...
I may have made mistakes but I will not repeat them.
I may be the 7th wonder, wake up!! Don't put me on ice...
I am an incredible and unique entity that should not be ignored or suppressed.
Contributed by Kaelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
dave78729
If anyone's interested in understanding 'prog', this album is the great starter - along with spock's beard's ''V". Both are very accessible and incredible.
Mike Reiss
I would think anyone who's landed on here already knows what prog is. Anyway, imo, the best to start with prog is the big name bands(ie Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, ELP, KC etc.). If it wasn't for those bands you would have no Flower Kings.
PlanetWisconsin
@Mike Reiss Ahh but this is a very refined version of Prog Rock. đ
Banzairino
accessible? oh boy. this album requires dozens and dozens of listenings, even if you're a prog veteran. it's long and the music is really variegated and complex. but it's indeed rewarding, 'cause it's a masterpiece
Mike Reiss
@PlanetWisconsin It's modern prog at least compared to the famous bands. I remember when this was new which means I feel really old now.
Vincenzo Enzo Rippa
One of best track ever
Ethan Horton
I was so into this album a decade ago that I changed my name on Runescape to "I am the Sun" and never changed it again. My favorite band, man.
Craig Colbert
I had the distinct pleasure of attending the 2003 Nearfest concert & The Flower Kings were phenomenal....
Andrew Wilson
Yeah my dad went I wasnât 21 yet still trying to see them, they played a21 and over show in Pittsburgh
Andrew Wilson
I love this