Lightning Seeds are an alternative/pop band, largely the brainchild of writ… Read Full Bio ↴Lightning Seeds are an alternative/pop band, largely the brainchild of writer, singer and guitarist Ian Broudie (born 4th August 1958 in Liverpool, England). The band currently consists of Ian Broudie (vocals, guitar), Riley Broudie (guitar), Martyn Campbell (bass), Angie Pollock (keyboard) and Jack Prince (drums). Co-founder Simon Rogers, although no longer a member of the band, still works with them during album recordings. They are best known for three songs: 1989's "Pure", 1992's "The Life of Riley" and 1996's "Three Lions"

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.

Fingers and Thumbs
The Lightning Seeds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm all fingers and thumbs, I don't know what I've done
It's always the same it won't quite fall into place
You say I wish you'd stay 'cause I'm missing you
And I say everyday, I'm going to think of you

If I'm a million miles away, you're still always on my mind
You're thinking for yourself I can see
And nothing seems the way it's supposed to be

I'm all fingers and thumbs, I don't know what I've done

Instead of making me glad it's driving me mad
I know it won't be the same in a year or two
Sometime you won't mind if I'm gone

What do you make of it all, when you're world is so small
All the answers to find as the future unwinds

Overall Meaning

The Lightning Seeds' song Fingers and Thumbs is a song about being at a loss, feeling helpless, and not knowing what to do in a particular situation. The opening line "I'm all fingers and thumbs, I don't know what I've done" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is struggling to comprehend the fallout from their actions, and they feel like they've lost grasp of the situation. The singer is haunted by thoughts of their lover, and they cannot shake off their memory. The verse "If I'm a million miles away, you're still always on my mind" conveys the depth of their love for their partner, while at the same time, they are aware that everything is falling apart, and nothing seems to be going right.

The chorus encapsulates the overall theme of the song, which is the feeling of being lost and the confusion that comes from that. The singer says, "You say I wish you'd stay 'cause I'm missing you, and I say every day, I'm going to think of you." They're conflicted between staying and leaving. They're aware of the pain they're causing their partner, but they're helpless to do anything about it. The line "Instead of making me glad, it's driving me mad" conveys the confusion and the frustration of someone who is trying to do their best but feels like they're not getting anywhere. The song ends with the question, "What do you make of it all when your world is so small? All the answers to find as the future unwinds." It's a plea for understanding and a request for guidance.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm all fingers and thumbs, I don't know what I've done
I'm feeling clumsy and confused, unsure of my actions

It's always the same it won't quite fall into place
Things never seem to work out perfectly for me

You say I wish you'd stay 'cause I'm missing you
You express a desire for me to remain because you miss me

And I say everyday, I'm going to think of you
I promise to keep you in my thoughts every day

If I'm a million miles away, you're still always on my mind
Even if I'm far away, I can't stop thinking about you

You're thinking for yourself I can see
You're independent and make your own decisions

And nothing seems the way it's supposed to be
Things don't follow the expected or desired pattern

Instead of making me glad it's driving me mad
This situation is causing me distress instead of happiness

I know it won't be the same in a year or two
I acknowledge that change is inevitable and things will be different later on

Sometime you won't mind if I'm gone
At times, you're okay with me being absent

What do you make of it all, when you're world is so small
When your perspective and experiences are limited, how do you interpret everything happening?

All the answers to find as the future unwinds
We'll discover the solutions and outcomes as time goes on and events unfold

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: IAN BROUDIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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