Talk:(Nothing But) Flowers

Post-apocolyptic

I don't see any evidence in the lyrics that this is "post-apolcolyptic." The only indication of how the world returned to its natural state is in the lines

The highways and cars

Were sacrificed for agriculture

I thought that we'd start over

But I guess I was wrong

Making it seem like they were intentionally converted, not through a war or something. Also, there's the constant refrain of "you got it," suggesting it was a wish that was granted. But then the protagonist finds that he misses the advancements and comforts of the modern world.

I also think the line "Once there were parking lots now it's a peaceful oasis" is intended as a counterpoint to "paved paradise to put up a parking lot" (Big Yellow Taxi).

I would re-write the lyrics paragraph to something like this:

The lyrics describe a world where modern progress has been reverted back to a more natural state, due either to a political movement or by a necessity, such as dealing with over-population. While the protagonist may have once been in favor of the transformation, he finds himself now missing the modern conveniences and culture of the industrialized age.

The song may be seen as a response to "Big Yellow Taxi" where "they paved paradise to put up a parking lot." In this song the parking lots and shopping malls are gone and in their place is "nothing but flowers."

Fnordware (talk) 16:54, 25 March 2011 (UTC)

OK, since nobody protests I'll make the change. I'll leave out the Big Yellow Taxi bit though. Fnordware (talk) 16:40, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

Notability

Removed 4-year old notability tag, which generated no discussion (until now). The song is unquestionably notable; written by a prolific composer (Byrne), it was the only single released from a major act's last albumand their second last single of any kind. Has been discussed extensively by critics such as Robert Christgau, and used in films ("Clerks", "Meu Tio Matou Um Cara"). Porterhse (talk) 03:36, 27 July 2019 (UTC)