The band's debut self-titled album was released on April 3, 2012. The album's first single, "Ho Hey" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
The Ho Hey Songfacts reports that Schultz and Fraites were originally based in New York and started collaborating in 2002 after Fraites’ brother, Josh, who was also Schultz’s best friend died of an overdose. The pair began writing and performing to cope with their grief and they later relocated to Denver, where they met the classically trained Pekarek after advertising for a cellist.
Their self-titled debut album The Lumineers was released on April 3, 2012, on Dualtone Records.
Their second album, Cleopatra, was released in 2016.
The band's third album, titled III, was released on September 13, 2019 and debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200.
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Flapper Girl
The Lumineers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you flinch did you care
Did he look, did he stop and stare
At your brand new hair?
Local boy, local news
Power lines, hangin' boots
Firemen in their trucks cut loose
A local boy's shoes
Cadillac, Cadillac
Businessmen dressed in slacks
I'ma buy one for us when I get back
A big Cadillac
And you can wave to all of your friends
And I'll never leave you again
Would you write, would you call back, baby
If I wrote you a song?
I been gone but you're still my lady
And I need you at home
Romeo, Juliet
Balcony silhouette
Makin' o's with her cigarette
It's Juliet
Flapper girl, flapper girl
Prohibition in curls
Hair of gold and a neck of pearls
It's flapper girl
And you can wave to all of your friends
And I'll never leave you again
Would you write, would you call back, baby
If I wrote you a song?
I been gone but you're still my lady
And I need you at home
'Cause If you ain't behind my door
Then I ain't got a home anymore
Would you write, would you call back, baby
If I wrote you a song?
I been gone but you're still my lady
And I need you at home
Lovers come, lovers go
Lovers leave me alone
She'll come back to me
The Lumineers' Flapper Girl is a heartfelt ballad that tells the story of a man who returns home after being away and expresses his love to his partner, asking if she still cares for him. The first verse describes a dramatic change in the appearance of the man's lover, as she has cut off all her hair. The man wonders if she was reluctant to make the change and if anyone stopped to notice it. The second stanza talks about the man's desire to buy a Cadillac for them to ride in together. He also promises never to leave her again. The chorus repeats the promise of his return and begs for assurance that she would still care for him.
The third verse references the classic love story of Romeo and Juliet, with the balcony silhouette and the cigarette. Finally, the song's titular Flapper Girl is introduced, as the singer describes her as having "Hair of gold and a neck of pearls." The song ends with the chorus' reprieve of the promise of the singer's return.
Overall, the song is about the longing for love, companionship, and a sense of belonging. More specifically, the song portrays the paradox of love, where one must leave to understand the depth of the need for the other.
Line by Line Meaning
Cut off all of your hair
Did you make a drastic change in your life?
Did you flinch did you care
Did you hesitate before making the change, or did you do it confidently?
Did he look, did he stop and stare
Did anyone notice your transformation?
At your brand new hair?
Specifically, did anyone notice your new hairstyle?
Local boy, local news
Small town life and the events that make it to the headlines.
Power lines, hangin' boots
Everyday elements of a small town.
Firemen in their trucks cut loose
Everyday events can become exciting in a small town.
A local boy's shoes
The small details of everyday life can be just as interesting as the big events.
Cadillac, Cadillac
Aspirations for wealth and success.
Businessmen dressed in slacks
Visual imagery to support the aspirational theme.
I'ma buy one for us when I get back
Hope for a better future and the sharing of a luxurious lifestyle with a loved one.
A big Cadillac
Specifically, a symbol of success and status.
And you can wave to all of your friends
Sharing the joy of success with loved ones.
And I'll never leave you again
The desire for stability and commitment in a relationship.
Would you write, would you call back, baby
Longing for communication with a loved one.
If I wrote you a song?
The expression of love and emotions through songwriting.
I been gone but you're still my lady
Despite physical distance, the love and commitment in the relationship persists.
And I need you at home
The importance of having a stable home life and the support of a loved one.
Romeo, Juliet
Reference to a classic story of love and tragedy.
Balcony silhouette
Visual imagery to support the reference to Romeo and Juliet.
Makin' o's with her cigarette
A small detail that adds to the romanticization of the moment.
It's Juliet
Confirming the focus on the female character of the reference.
Flapper girl, flapper girl
Reference to the 1920s culture of rebellion and freedom.
Prohibition in curls
Curls is a reference to the hairstyle of the time and prohibition is a nod to the rebellious culture of the era.
Hair of gold and a neck of pearls
Details of appearance that were valued in the time period and also hint at wealth and status.
'Cause If you ain't behind my door
The need for the support and presence of a loved one to create a stable home life.
Then I ain't got a home anymore
The connection between a stable home life and a supportive partner.
Lovers come, lovers go
The transience of relationships.
Lovers leave me alone
The feeling of loneliness and isolation that follows the end of a relationship.
She'll come back to me
However, the hope and desire for reconciliation and the continuation of love persists.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeremy Fraites, Wesley Schultz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rotg20
I love almost all of the Lumineers songs, but this is by far my favorite.
It captures so perfectly, not only one story but the zeitgeist of the early 20s. And in such a simple way.
Maybe I over analyze it but the story is about a US soldier returning to his land after WWI. When he comes back he doesn't recognize his love mate nor his country.
In more details:
The first thing that he noticed is, of course, the most visible one-
-"Cut off all of your hair"
Hair was a symbol of femininity (it still is). During the war women replaced men in labor force who had joined the armed services, they became independent and felt like they can do as much as any other male. Cutting the hair was a symbol of taking control over their own lives. "Liberation Hairdo" that gives them a strong "manly" look.
"Did you flinch?, Did you care?"
Her new hairstyle surprised him but what surprised him the most was her new attitude; it seems like she doesn't even care about the "lost' of her hair- her femininity. She likes it! - He likes it a little less.
-"Did he look?, Did he stop and stare
At your brand new hair?"
He might refer to a specific guy, maybe a guy that she had an affair with while he was gone, but I doubt it. I think that he's just talking about men in general that stayed in the US during the war. He's asking (maybe himself) if it's a "normal" thing that man are just accepting now.
Local boy, local news,
Power lines, hanging boots,
Firemen in their trucks cut loose
A local boy' shoes
Tossing boots over high wires is a military tradition in the US- the town is celebrating his homecoming.
Cadillac, Cadillac,
Businessman dressed in slacks,
I'mma buy one for us when I get back,
A big Cadillac
When he was in the army everywhere he looked there was a military Cadillac, back home there are also a lot of Cadillac, but not the military type- they're Luxury Cars owned by "Business Man dressed in slacks". He's promising her a luxury car too, but it's an empty promise. It's not like he's lying to her, not at all but he's daydreaming, as a former soldier he's probably doesn't have the money for it. (It also a subtle criticism against businessmen who cynically took advantage of the war to get rich while soldiers returned jobless).
Would you write would you call back baby if
I wrote you a song?
I been gone but you're still my lady and
I need you at home"
This shows the tremendous love he has for her, but also his dependency. He's not being fair to her: he wants her at his home-in his eyes she's still (just) his "lady" (even though she no longer act like one) but she on the other side, took a bite of the "new" world and she wants so much more then that.
Romeo, Juliet
Balcony in silhouette
Makin o's with her cigarette
It's Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet represent the old innocent love, the traditional one. He wants that kind of love. Instead he gets a Juliet that smokes provocatively.
Flapper girl, flapper girl
Prohibition in curls
Hair of gold and a neck of pearls
it's flapper girl
It’s the first time that the term "Flapper girl" appears in the song- not once but three times. It's like he's trying to explain it to himself. But again he can't see through the superficial things.
…
"Cause if you ain't behind my door
Then I ain't got a home anymore"
What a sad Sentence…this again shows the differences in their perception.
"Lovers leave me alone"
She left him. But he's still optimistic: "Lovers come, lovers go…She'll come back to me" he's optimistic but also blind. He doesn't understand that things will never be the same- the world has changed. If he doesn't want to be left behind he need to change too.
@TheLizaMaeShow
Cut off all of your hair
Did you flinch, did you care
Did he look, did he stop and stare
At your brand new hair
Local boy, local news
Power lines hangin boots
Firemen in their trucks cut loose
A local boy's shoes
Cadillac, cadillac
Businessmen dressed in slacks
I'm gonna buy one for us when I get back
A big cadillac
And you can wave to all of your friends
And I'll never leave you again
Would you write would you call back baby if
I wrote you a song
I been gone but you're still my lady and
I need you at home
Romeo, juliet
Balcony in silhouette
Makin o's with her cigarette
It's juliet
Flapper girl, flapper girl
Prohibition in curls
Hair of gold and a neck of pearls
It's flapper girl
And you can wave to all of your friends
And I'll never leave you again
Would you write would you call back baby if
I wrote you a song
I been gone but you're still my lady and
I need you at home
Cause if you ain't behind my door
Then I ain't got a home anymore
Would you write would you call back baby if
I wrote you a song
I been gone but you're still my lady and
I need you at home
Lovers come, lovers go
Lovers leave me alone
She'll come back to me
@caffeinatednation8885
Lyrics
Cut off all of your hair
Did you flinch, did you care
Did he look, did he stop and stare
At your brand new hair
Local boy, local news
Power lines, hangin' boots
Firemen in their trucks cut loose
A local boy's shoes
Cadillac, Cadillac
Businessmen dressed in slacks
I'm gonna buy one for us when I get back
A big Cadillac
And you can wave to all of your friends
And I'll never leave you again
Would you write, would you call back baby if
I wrote you a song
I been gone but you're still my lady
I need you at home
Romeo, Juliet
Balcony silhouette
Makin' o's with her cigarette
It's Juliet
Flapper girl, flapper girl
Prohibition in curls
Hair of gold and a neck of curls
It's flapper girl
And you can wave to all of your friends
And I'll never leave you again
Would you write, would you call back baby if
I wrote you a song
I been gone but you're still my lady
I need you at home
If you ain't behind my door
Then I ain't got a home anymore
Would you write, would you call back baby if
I wrote you a song
I been gone but you're still my lady and
I need you at home
Lovers come, lovers go
Lovers leave me alone
She'll come back to me
@_roseanevieira
We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.
Winnie the Pooh 🍯
@thedumpsterbehindachilis7763
The Lumineers are some of the best lyricists ever. They manage to capture an entire new emotion and story in each of their songs. I personally think they deserve way more fans.
@nickvandermey6065
No man no, Charlie boy was a wonderful creation. Anything beyond that is them working a gimmic, their music isn't free!
Not only that bit they've been accused of ripping off a band in existence before them...oh man if you think they're anything more than a good band I got some white powder you might like to try, believe me you'll love it just dont ask me details about it.
@alexak4907
I feel like the Lumineers are from a different time
@dream-kz8zu
Yea 100%
@CocAustin
This song reminds me of my dad. He passed away in 2013 and he was a businessman and every time I hear it I always think about him singing to my mom from heaven. I get teary whenever the lyrics are "I'll never leave you again". The one that gets me the most though is "Lovers come Lovers go Lovers leave me alone she'll come back to me. Whenever he sings that part I feel like my dad is singing it in heaven and waiting for my mom to come back to him.
@dyanivanloenhout7088
That is so sad, I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope this song makes you happy
@hamnasajjad5313
Whenever i listen to this i imagine an old man sitting in his rocking chair listening to this song on an old radio while looking at his ceiling with teary eyes, waiting for someone, someone he lost long ago, waiting for her while knowing she'll never come back.
@dyanivanloenhout7088
That’s so sad stop
@sweetnsournugget2609
I know I'm late but it really reminds of my great uncle