The Flaming Lips is an American rock band formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1983. Instrumentally, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What Is the Light? (An Untested Hypothesis Suggesting That the Chemical [In Our Brains] by Which We Are Able to Experience the Sensation of Being in Love Is the Same Chemical That Caused the "Big Bang" That Was the Birth of the Accelerating Universe)". They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which feature costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex stage light configurations, giant hands, large amounts of confetti, and frontman Wayne Coyne's signature man-sized plastic bubble, in which he traverses the audience. In 2002, Q magazine named the Flaming Lips one of the "50 Bands to See Before You Die."
The band is best known for its associations with 1960s and 1970s psychedelic subculture, with elements of this culture permeating the group's instrumentation, effects, and composition. Coyne's lyrics, in particular, both reference and embody the fascination with the science fiction and space opera genres of fiction that were popular during the golden age of psychedelic subculture. His lyrical style tends to use the imagery and plot conventions of space opera to frame more abstract themes about the unfolding cycles of romantic love, highlighting its vulnerability while delving into its metaphysical implications.
The Flaming Lips is the debut release by American rock group The Flaming Lips, released in 1984. It was remastered and released as part of the compilation Finally the Punk Rockers Are Taking Acid. "Bag Full of Thoughts" was lifted for the retrospective compilation A Collection of Songs Representing an Enthusiasm for Recording...By Amateurs. At this point Mark Coyne was the lead singer; he sings lead on all songs present. in 2014, this EP was re-released on vinyl, with the cover art altered to an abstract illustration of the original photograph used on the original release.
All songs written and composed by The Flaming Lips.
How does it feel to be breakin' apart?
Breakin' down molecules
How does it feel to be out of control?
Another ring around this ball
Used to be alright
But things got strange
How does it feel to be fallin' apart?
Sinkin' from the bottom down
It's not so easy holdin' it up
With everything fallin' down
Used to be alright
But things got strange
Used to take all night
But things've changed
And God walks among us now
Used to be alright
But things got strange
Used to be uptight
But things've changed
And God walks among us now
How does it feel to be fallin' apart
With everything breakin' down?
How does it feel to be fallin' apart?
Imagine how holdin' on
Used to be alright
But things got strange
Used to be alright
But things've changed
And God walks among us now
God walks among us now
God walks among us now
God walks among us now
...