Rhythm guitarist Dave Pritchard, bass guitarist Greg Masters and drummer Roger Spencer were the core of a band initally known as Billy King and the Nightriders, then later known as Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders and briefly as just The Nightriders.
In 1966 they advertised for a new guitarist/vocalist, Jeff Lynne applied and joined the band. After releasing one single they changed their name to Idle Race. Under Jeff Lynne's leadership they released two albums that sold poorly, despite support from John Peel and Kenny Everett.
In 1970, Jeff Lynne decided to join The Move so he and Roy Wood could work on what would eventually become Electric Light Orchestra
The remaining members of The Idle Race recruited 2 new members and released one further album. After Greg Masters left the group they became The Steve Gibbons Band.
Dancing Flower
The Idle Race Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shedding petals, sheds one every hour
Does she, don't she, don't she, does she
Does she, does she not
Playing in the glade with a dancing flower
Shedding petals, sheds one every hour
Will she, won't she, won't she, will she
Like a caricature of a lion in a book
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
Playing in the glade with a dancing flower
Shedding petals, sheds one every hour
Will she, won't she, won't she, will she
Will she, will she not
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
Lying in the shade with a dancing flower
Shedding petals, sheds one every hour
Does she, don't she, don't she, does she
Does she, does she not
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
La la la, la, la la la la
The Idle Race's song "Dancing Flower" is a whimsical and playful tune that captures the essence of a sunny day spent relaxing in a meadow with a flower. The lyrics describe the experience of lying in the shade with a dancing flower, watching it shed its petals one by one every hour. The repetition of the phrases "does she, don't she, don't she, does she, does she, does she not" and "will she, won't she, won't she, will she, will she, will she not" in the chorus creates a sense of anticipation and wonder, as if the singer is trying to predict the flower's behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying in the shade with a dancing flower
Relaxing under a tree with a flower that moves to the beat of the wind
Shedding petals, sheds one every hour
Losing one of its parts every hour
Does she, don't she, don't she, does she
Wondering if the flower is moving on its own or being moved by the wind
Does she, does she not
Trying to determine if the flower is really alive or not
Playing in the glade with a dancing flower
Having fun in an open area surrounded by flowers that move to the sound of the wind
Will she, won't she, won't she, will she
Questioning if the flower will change its movements or stay the same
Will she, will she not
Trying to predict whether or not the flower will continue moving
Like a caricature of a lion in a book
Resembling an illustration of an animal in a storybook, rather than a living one
Pa la la la, la la, la la la la
Singing a catchy but meaningless tune
Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.