Broudie and Rogers formed the act as the "perfect pop project", and Lightning Seeds broke through in 1989 with the psychedelic synth pop hit, "Pure", which made the UK Top 20 and was a minor hit on US pop radio and a major success on US alternative radio. In the 1990s Lightning Seeds became one of the most popular and enterprising of the era. The 1995 album Jollification was a critical masterpiece, spawning several successful singles. In 1996, Lightning Seeds provided the music and production for the official England anthem for the Euro '96 football tournament. The lyrics were written and sung by comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, and the song, "Three Lions", went straight into the charts at number one.
Since the release of 1999's Tilt the act has taken a back seat as Broudie concentrated on producing the works of others. However, in 2006, Broudie reformed the band with a selection of new members, releasing a Very Best Of album, and performing a number of tour dates. In 2009, the band released Four Winds, their first album in 10 years.
Bound in a Nutshell
The Lightning Seeds Lyrics
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Lost in our weary eyes
We're tumbledown people
Leading our tumbledon lives
But a breath of life
Could make our engines roar
We're far from power, north of desire
From your mouth instead of lies
A kiss of life, for sleeping giants
Broken, bound, and battered
Freezing on picket lines
A colder frost can shatter
And chain us for all our lives
But a breath of life
Can make our engines roar
We're far from power, north of desire
Tired and bound by all those lies
As step by step, open tired eyes
A kiss of life, for sleeping giants
They spin our world from cruel to kind
And make our futures a downward slide
The strong get strong, and still want more
But day by day giants thaw
Tomorrow must be calling with a open door
There's no-one left to start our revolution anymore
We need some flames to burn down every door
We're far from power, north of desire
High and dry, hoping you'll send us
From your mouth instead of lies
A kiss of life, for sleeping giants
We're far from power, north of desire
Tired and bound by all those lies
As step by step, open tired eyes
A kiss of life, for sleeping giants
The Lightning Seeds's song Bound in a Nutshell is a poetic anthem about struggling with the limitations and oppressive forces of the world, and the hopes for a transformative power to break through and awaken the spirits of the downtrodden. The opening lines set the tone, describing people who are lost and depleted, living in run-down circumstances, but also suggests that a glimmer of hope exists, in the form of a breath of life that could rouse their engines, and stir their desire.
The song then poses a contrast between the falsehoods and deceptions that hold them bound, and the kiss of life that could awaken the sleeping giants within. They are freezing on picket lines, laboring under cold and dark circumstances, but a breath of life can dissolve their chains, and make their engines roar. There is a sense of determination and defiance in this, despite acknowledging the bleak realities of the world, and a call for a revolution to burn down every door, to open up the possibilities of tomorrow.
Through its imagery of giants and engines, Bound in a Nutshell conveys a sense of power and energy, and its lyrics evoke a strong emotional response, highlighting the struggles and hopes that resonate with many people. Its message strikes a timeless chord, inspiring people to fight for change and to believe in the capacity of people to rise up and break free from their limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
Bound in a nutshell
We feel trapped and constrained within our own small world.
Lost in our weary eyes
We don't have much hope or energy left, feeling tired and defeated.
We're tumbledown people
We are worn out, beaten down by life's challenges and difficulties.
Leading our tumbledon lives
We're stumbling through life, lacking direction and purpose.
But a breath of life
Even just a small spark of hope or inspiration could make a big difference for us.
Could make our engines roar
It could give us new energy and motivation to seize control of our lives once again.
We're far from power, north of desire
We don't have much ability or motivation to change our circumstances for the better.
High and dry, hoping you'll send us
We're stuck in a difficult situation, waiting for help or support from someone or something else.
From your mouth instead of lies
We need genuine, honest help and support, not empty promises or falsehoods.
A kiss of life, for sleeping giants
We have great potential within us, but need something to awaken and inspire us.
Broken, bound, and battered
We're damaged, tied down, and bruised by the obstacles we face in life.
Freezing on picket lines
We are stuck in a cold, bleak situation where even small efforts to improve things are met with resistance.
A colder frost can shatter
Even more difficult times could completely break us if we don't receive the help we need.
And chain us for all our lives
Our struggles could become a permanent burden if we don't find a way to overcome them.
They spin our world from cruel to kind
External forces can greatly shape our experiences, turning them from harsh to more pleasant.
And make our futures a downward slide
Negative influences can create a cycle of decline and pessimism about what's to come.
The strong get strong, and still want more
Sometimes successful people continue to accumulate more and more wealth and power, leaving the rest of us behind.
But day by day giants thaw
Gradually, our own potential awakens and we begin to move toward better things.
Tomorrow must be calling with a open door
There's hope for a better future where opportunities are more readily available.
There's no-one left to start our revolution anymore
We feel alone and without anyone to help us make significant change in our lives.
We need some flames to burn down every door
We need something powerful to break through the barriers holding us back and open new possibilities.
We're far from power, north of desire
Once again acknowledging our current lack of ability and motivation to change our circumstances.
Tired and bound by all those lies
We're weighed down and feeling hopeless because of false promises and expectations.
As step by step, open tired eyes
Slowly but surely, we begin to see new possibilities and opportunities for ourselves.
A kiss of life, for sleeping giants
Reiterating our need for help and inspiration to awaken our own potential.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IAN BROUDIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind