The album was produced by jazz percussionist/producer Gary McFarland. At the time, McFarland was part owner of the Skye label, along with Latin percussionist Cal Tjader (who was Wendy and Bonnie's godfather) and jazz guitarist Gábor Szabó.
Wendy and Bonnie grew up in Millbrae, California, in the San Francisco Bay suburbs. Their parents, Art and Jeane Flower, were professional musicians. In 1967, Wendy played and recorded with an early San Francisco psychedelic band called Crystal Fountain; Bonnie later joined the band as drummer. The following year, Tjader heard some of the Flower sisters' acoustic home demos and arranged a recording session with Skye. The sisters, who were teens at the time the album was recorded, composed all the songs. McFarland served as arranger on the sessions, crafting a post-psychedelic soft rock sound with Brazilian overtones. Musicians who performed on the album included guitarist Larry Carlton, drummer Jim Keltner, and keyboardist Mike Melvoin.
The Skye label went bankrupt shortly after the album's release. In 1971, while planning for additional recording with the Flower sisters, McFarland was mysteriously murdered in a New York bar.
In the early 1970s, Wendy and Bonnie provided background vocals on two Cal Tjader albums for Fantasy Records. Thereafter, the sisters pursued separate careers in music and entertainment, but did not record together again.
Genesis was reissued on CD in 2001 by the Sundazed Records label. In 2008, it was reissued in expanded format, including demos, alternate mixes, and vintage live recordings, on 2-CD and 3-LP vinyl sets.
Their recording "By the Sea" was sampled by the Welsh space rock band Super Furry Animals on the single Hello Sunshine, which is also the opening track on the band's 2003 album Phantom Power.
In 2010, French singer Laetitia Sadier of UK group Stereolab recorded "By the Sea" for release on her album, The Trip.
After singing guest harmony with Super Furry Animals at San Francisco's The Fillmore, New York's The Tonic and London's ICA, Wendy Flower performed (backed by Jane Weaver and The High Llamas) as one of the Lost Ladies of Folk at the 2007, Jarvis Cocker-curated Meltdown Festival. She sang on Weaver's Fallen By Watchbird album and, in 2013, released her own indie-pop album, New.
Bonnie Flower died at the age of 63 on November 15, 2017.
The Paisley Window Pane
Wendy & Bonnie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The paisley window pane won't shine anymore
A year has passed
I find myself here alone and still kind of shy
Wishing you were so far away
Our love was so hard to find
The paisley window pane won′t shine anymore
Though it still remains
For you've gone from me
Many times before
The paisley window pane won't shine anymore
No, the paisley window pane won′t shine anymore
I still recall the love that we shared
Now it′s lost and so goodbye
I still recall the love that we shared
Now it's lost and so goodbye
I lead some days forgetting my dreams
Trying hard not to cry
The paisley window pane won′t shine anymore
Though it remains by an open door
For you've gone from me many times before
Won′t shine anymore (won't shine anymore)
Won′t shine anymore (won't shine anymore)
Won't shine anymore
The lyrics of Wendy & Bonnie's song "The Paisley Window Pane" convey a sense of loss and nostalgia. The repetition of the phrase "The paisley window pane won't shine anymore" creates a bittersweet mood, as the image of a once-beautiful window now dull and faded symbolizes the end of a relationship. The singer reflects on the past, remembering the love that was once shared but has now been lost, and feeling lonely and shy in the present without their partner. The lyrics also suggest that this is not the first time the relationship has gone through a rough patch, with the line "For you've gone from me many times before" hinting at a history of breakups and makeup...
Line by Line Meaning
The paisley window pane won't shine anymore
The singer's relationship has failed and the symbol of their love, the paisley window pane, no longer reflects the light it once did.
A year has passed
Time has passed since the singer and their partner separated.
I find myself here alone and still kind of shy
The singer is alone and still feels uncomfortable in their solitude.
Wishing you were so far away
The artist wishes their former partner was out of their life completely.
Our love was so hard to find
The relationship was difficult to establish and the love was not easily formed.
Though it still remains by an open door
The paisley window pane still exists and is visible through an open door.
You've gone from me many times before
The singer's partner has left them on multiple occasions.
No, the paisley window pane won't shine anymore
Reinforcing the earlier line, the artist reiterates that the symbol of their lost love does not reflect the light it once did.
I still recall the love that we shared, Now it's lost and so goodbye
The artist remembers the love they had, but acknowledges that it is gone and must say goodbye.
I lead some days forgetting my dreams, Trying hard not to cry
The artist tries to forget their aspirations and avoid crying over the loss of their relationship.
Won′t shine anymore (won't shine anymore), Won′t shine anymore (won't shine anymore), Won't shine anymore
Repeating the refrain emphasizes the permanent loss of the love the singer once shared.
Writer(s): WENDY FLOWER, BONNIE RAE FLOWER
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.