Excerpt:
Ian says Flowers revolves around the line that came first: `Sometimes flowers aren't enough.' It hearkens back to the Vietnam era and that war is too stupid for words.
This is one of the most ardent anti-war songs in the Hunter catalog and it is a heartfelt plea for peace: flowers are not enough. The elites who get us into wars are out of touch and this topic is similar to Death 'n Glory Boys lamenting the stupidity of the Falklands War. The flowers that people traditionally place at funerals is not enough to make up for the loss of life. He says to give it up and not fall victim to the propaganda that warfare is necessary. In the chorus he pleads:
Death, starvation, exploitation, helpless, homeless, furious
Mass confusion, disillusion,
Sometimes flowers ain't enough
I can't see God, the trees are in the way
I can't see hope, can't find love
Every man killed is an insult to any faith
Sometimes flowers ain't enoughIt's a powerful statement and well-done musically to support the strong lyrics accompanying the song.
The track was released on Man Overboard but there is also a version on Live in the UK 2010.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Flowers
(Ian Hunter)
Danger lurks in every alleyway, top 2 percent out of touch
No one learns from the lessons of history
Sometimes flowers ain't enough
They fill your heart with ancient mystery
No one knows who to trust
It's too late when you discover that sometimes flowers ain't enough
Chorus:
Give it up, give it up
Give it up, give it up
Give it up, give it up
Why don't you give it up
Sometimes flowers ain't enough
Hunger, anger, propoganda, ain't it time we all grew up?
We all got dreams but nobody's listening
Sometimes flowers ain't enough
Chorus
Death, starvation, exploitation, helpless, homeless, furious
Mass confusion, disillusion,
Sometimes flowers ain't enough
I can't see God, the trees are in the way
I can't see hope, can't find love
Every man killed is an insult to any faith
Sometimes flowers ain't enough
Chorus
Give it up, give it up
Give it up, give it up
We all sing "Thanks for the memories"
Sometimes flowers ain't enough
Ian Hunter CD: "Man Overboard"
Sleeve and track listing
New West NW6167
- The Great Escape
- Arms And Legs
- Up And Running
- Man Overboard
- Babylon Blues
- Girl From The Office
- Flowers
- These Feelings
- Win It All
- Way With Words
- River Of Tears
Review
After two albums that were somewhat political in nature (2001's Rant and 2007's Shrunken Heads), 2009 find Ian in a more mellow frame of mind. After a long and successful career he has time to look back on his life and say "Yeah... I've no complaints..."
The album opens strongly with The Great Escape, which tells of the singer's narrow escape after a "lack of respect" for a local thug. Indeed, several songs seem to be telling tales of the rougher side of life, such as the title track which informs us "They say crime doesn't pay, well take a walk down my way..."
Ian doesn't forget his working-class roots either, with the delightful Girl From The Office, which is reminiscent of the Kinks at their best and has a very English feel to it, and tells the story of a factory-floor romance. As always with Ian's songs of this nature, it has a happy ending (he gets the girl).
Ballads have always been a strong point with Ian, and these are prominent especially on the second half of the album. Not all work, however, with These Feelings being a particular weakness.
More up-tempo songs are on the first half of the album. I hesitate to say "rockers", as medium-pace is about the best we get these days (I did say Ian is more mellow these days) and guitars, although present, are rarely high in the mix any more. Those expecting another Just Another Night or Cleveland Rocks should perhaps look elsewhere. That was then and this is now... That said, Arms And Legs is a strong guitar-led song that will really work well in a live setting, as is the next track Up And Running.
Ian hopes to tour with the album both in the USA and UK, so we will wait and see how the songs work in a live setting. Reports from the two gig so far (at the time of writing, end July '09) are positive. As for where this album fits in Ian's extensive back catalogue time only will tell. It is more immediately likeable than its predecessor (sometimes it takes a few plays to "get" an Ian Hunter album, but I liked this straight away), but ulimately I feel it may end up a notch or two down from his very best.
| Flowers | 3:32 | Originally issued on Man Overboard. |
| Flowers (live October 2010) | 3:49 | This live version (recorded at an unknown UK venue) was issued on Live In The UK 2010. |
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