The Furs initially used Martin Hannett as a producer, but their initial self-titled album from 1980 was eventually produced by Steve Lillywhite. The LP quickly established the band on radio and was a top 20 hit in the UK. The album also found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Australia. The US version of the album was re-sequenced, but failed to have as strong a commercial impact.
The Furs found success in the U.S. market with the 1981 release, titled 'Talk Talk Talk', which made its impact on the US album charts and received critical acclaim worldwide. In the UK, the album was a solid hit which spun off two charting singles, "Dumb Waiters" and the original version of "Pretty in Pink". The latter song served as inspiration for the 1986 John Hughes film of the same name, and was re-recorded for the platinum-selling soundtrack.
In 1982, the band was reduced to a four-piece with the departures of Morris and Kilburn. (Ex-Birthday Party drummer Phill Calvert would briefly join the group around this time.) The band's remaining members moved permanently to New York, where they recorded the album Forever Now with producer Todd Rundgren. This album contained "Love My Way", a breakthrough Top 40 hit in both the US and the UK. Ely left the band after this release, though he would return for the 1988 single "All That Money Wants" and the 1989 album Book of Days.
The Furs' 1984 release Mirror Moves was produced by Keith Forsey, and featured the songs "The Ghost in You" and "Heaven". Both charted in the UK, and "Heaven" became the band's highest charting UK hit at the time -- but inexplicably, "Heaven" was never released as a single in America. Instead, Columbia Records opted for "Here Come Cowboys", despite both international success and heavy MTV airplay on "Heaven." "Here Come Cowboys" failed to chart, but "The Ghost In You" was a hit on the US pop charts. The band had become popular in Canada as well, CFNY, Toronto's new wave radio station, listed Mirror Moves as the #1 LP of 1984.
By this time, the band had become somewhat of a staple on US college and modern rock radio stations. As well, they were building mainstream success, fairly consistently placing singles in the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic, though they would "have more impact on future musicians than they ever did in the marketplace." In 1986, the band re-recorded a version of "Pretty in Pink", which was their biggest hit to that time in the US, and their biggest-ever UK hit.
Richard Butler later claimed that the success of "Pretty in Pink" caused the band to be pressured into entering the studio to record a follow-up release before they were ready. The result was Midnight to Midnight, an album which Butler characterized as "hollow, vapid and weak". A more overtly commercial effort than the Furs had ever recorded before, the album also featured the single "Heartbreak Beat", which was their highest charting top 40 US hit.
However, the Furs were dissatisfied with their new commercial direction, and subsequently returned to a rawer sound with "All That Money Wants", a 1988 track especially recorded for a 'best-of' collection. 1989's Book of Days saw a return to the old-school style and the temporary return of Vince Ely. 1991's World Outside was similarly more of a "back to basics" approach.
From 1988 on The Furs' chart success continued with three #1 hits on the US Modern Rock chart between 1988 and 1991.
The band splintered in 1991, with the Butler brothers going on to found Love Spit Love. After spending most of the decade apart, Butler, Butler and Ashton re-formed The Psychedelic Furs in 2000, and released a live album Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live, which also featured a new studio recording, "Alive (For Once In My Lifetime)." A DVD version of the performance included live versions of "Alive" and three other previously unreleased songs: "Anodyne (Better Days)," "Cigarette" and "Wrong Train."
Since then the Furs continue to tour the world along with former Love Spit Love drummer Frank Ferrer, ex-Information Society and World Party keyboardist Amanda Kramer and saxophonist Mars Williams who returned to the band after a stint in the late 1980s.
Showing the band's significant influence as a part of the new wave and post-punk movements, their songs have been covered by numerous other artists. Examples include Annie Lennox, Buffalo Tom, Icehouse, Powderfinger, Regenerator, and Robyn Hitchcock.
flowers
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
see the bodies bleed
i know he's so dead and gone
i think that is free
his body is upon the wall
his teeth are sharp and white
we cut his eyes with razorblades
in the eastern carpet store
he is made of dreams
put his picture on the wall
just where the mirror gleams
his body is upon the wall
his teeth are sharp and white
we cut his face with razorblades
and out of him comes foul white light
there's flowers all around his feet
there's flowers in his heart
if you take the needles out
his body falls apart
his body is upon the wall
his teeth are sharp and white
we cut his hands with razorblades
and out of him comes foul white light
make a god of politics
make a god of police
worship it with automobiles
worship it with screams
his body is upon the wall
his teeth are sharp and white
we cut his feet with razorblades
and out of him comes foul white light
make a god of useless drivel
sew it at the seams
float it down the river
where the sewage is the sea
his body is upon the wall
his teeth are sharp and white
we cut his teeth on razorblades
and out of him came stupid light
that's flowers
The Psychedelic Furs' song "Flowers" is a haunting and enigmatic piece that speaks of the fragility of life and the dangers of societal patterns that lead one to chase hollow goals. The lyrics paint a picture of death and violence, as the singer describes seeing dead bodies in cars and blood on the streets. It is unclear who the bodies belong to or what has caused their demise, but the imagery is stark and gives the song a sense of unease and discomfort.
The lyrics then shift to describe a specific body that has been placed upon a wall. The body is described as having sharp, white teeth, and the singer speaks of cutting it with razor blades. The strange imagery continues as the corpse is said to emit a "foul white light," adding to the eerie and surreal atmosphere of the song. The idea of death and the macabre is juxtaposed with the notion of flowers, which are said to grow around the body's feet and in its heart. The flowers are a symbol of beauty and rebirth, but they also carry with them a sense of sadness and loss.
As the song progresses, the lyrics hint at a critique of modern society and its obsession with material wealth and power. The singer admonishes the listener to not make a god out of politics or the police, and to not worship these false idols with "automobiles" and "screams." This section of the song speaks to the dangers of blindly following authority and ignoring one's own morality and intuition.
Overall, "Flowers" is a melancholy and thought-provoking song that hits on themes of death, beauty, and societal decay. Its lyrics are open to interpretation, but they invite the listener to reflect on the fragility of life and the dangers of losing sight of what is truly important.
Line by Line Meaning
see the people dead in cars
Witness the victims of accidents in their vehicles
see the bodies bleed
Observe the sight of blood oozing out of their bodies
i know he's so dead and gone
Acknowledge that the person is deceased and departed
i think that is free
Presume that now the person is free from the bodily constraints of life
his body is upon the wall
The remains of the person are displayed on the wall
his teeth are sharp and white
His teeth stand out and are gleaming white
we cut his eyes with razorblades
Using razor blades, the eyes are mutilated
and out of him comes foul white light
Blood and flesh emanate an eerie white light
in the eastern carpet store
In a place filled with lively colors and patterns
he is made of dreams
He is now what dreams are made of because he is no more
put his picture on the wall
Hang his photograph upon the wall
just where the mirror gleams
Reflecting off the mirror, the image looks real
there's flowers all around his feet
Flowers have been placed at his feet as a mark of respect
there's flowers in his heart
Metaphorically, there is love and admiration in his heart
if you take the needles out
Extract harmful elements from the body
his body falls apart
The body can no longer sustain itself once the harmful elements are removed
make a god of politics
Portray politics as an all-powerful entity
make a god of police
Create a notion that law enforcement is a divine institution
worship it with automobiles
Show adoration with cars as vehicles of power
worship it with screams
Revere it with loud expressions of admiration
make a god of useless drivel
Elevate worthless, trivial things to the status of gods
sew it at the seams
Create them so that they may appear real and complete
float it down the river
Make it look like they disappear and are gone
where the sewage is the sea
The waste is now mixed with the vastness of the sea
we cut his hands with razorblades
Hands are butchered with blade cuts
and out of him comes foul white light
From the severed parts seep unpleasant illumination
we cut his feet with razorblades
Feet are sliced with sharp blades
and out of him comes foul white light
The blood that flows is glowing in a sickly white glare
we cut his teeth on razorblades
Teeth are mangled with razors and made to glisten
and out of him came stupid light
There is no profound or lasting value to this light that is generated
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOM SMITH, JASON SWINSCOE, STUART MCCALLUM, TOM CHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tim O'Connor
"Make a god of useless drivel
sew it at the seams
float it down the river
where the sewage is the sea
his body is upon the wall
his teeth are sharp and white
we cut his teeth on razorblades
and out of him came stupid light
that's flowers"
So The Psychedelic Furs invented speed metal? 😊
The album still sounds excellent.
Scott Leipski
And out of him comes stuipd light, enough said, fuckin great!
Pablo D. Martín Fontana
"Flowers" (Lyrics)
The Psychedelic Furs
See the people dead in cars
See their bodies bleed
I know he's so dead and gone
I think that is free
His body is upon the wall
His teeth are sharp and white
We cut his eyes with razorblades
And out of him comes foul white light
In the eastern carpet store
He is made of dreams
Put his picture on the wall
Just where the mirror gleams
His body is upon the wall
His teeth are sharp and white
We cut his face with razorblades
And out of him comes foul white light
His power's all around his feet
There's flowers in his heart
If you take the needles out
His body falls apart
His body is upon the wall
His teeth are sharp and white
We cut his hands with razorblades
And out of him comes foul white light
Make a god of politics
Make a god of police
Worship it with automobiles
Worship it with screams
His body is upon the wall
His teeth are sharp and white
He cuts his feet with razorblades
And out of him comes foul white light
Make a god of useless drivel
Sew it at the seams
Float it down the river
Where the sewage is the sea
His body is upon the wall
His teeth are sharp and white
He cuts his teeth with razorblades
And out of him came stupid light
That's flowers
christopher brown
38 years ago??? i bought the album when it 1st came out.
Clifford Ayers
whatever.
Ruud Van Looy
Somewhat about yes, holding the vinyl record in my hands right now. Label says 1980 :)
Ross McDonough
Too good
Greg Stewart
so brilliant
Athhar3
My vinyl is scratched to shit. It's better now.