Flickers by London Grammar Lyrics Meaning – The Illumination of the Mind’s Eye
Lyrics
Desire paths will lead you quicker here than the rest,
And you can hope for a life that is calm
But come in time, you’re gonna pick up one that feels
A little hard the wind lays heavy, it weighs in stone,
My instinct tells me I should walk this path alone
And you can hope for a life that is calm
But come in time, you’re gonna pick up one that feels
A little hard
And every time I go to bed
An image of you flickers in my head
And every time I fall asleep
An image of you flows in my dream
Footsteps have traced this land before
My skin is hurting, I cannot feel my feet anymore
And you can hope for a life that is calm
But come in time,
You’re gonna pick up one that feels a little hard
And every time I go to bed
An image of you flickers in my head
And every time I fall asleep
An image of you flows in my dream
And every time I go to bed
An image of you flickers in my head
And every time I fall asleep
An image of you flows in my dream
It flickers, it flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers in my head
Yeah it flickers. It flickers
It flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers in my head
Flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers in my head
It flickers, it flickers, it flickers
It flickers, it flickers in my head
In my head now
Can’t get rid of it in my head no
In my head now
In my head now oh oh oh
In my head
In my head now
In my head
In my head now
In my head
Hey hey
Hey hey, hey oh
In my head
Flickers in my head
You’ll flicker in my head
Flicker in my head
You’ll flicker in my head
In the tapestry of modern music, few bands weave as hauntingly beautiful patterns as London Grammar. Their track ‘Flickers’ is no exception, with its intricate melodies and evocative lyrics painting pictures of longing and the contours of mental landscapes. To dissect this auditory enigma is to embark upon a journey through the psyche’s ability to hold onto ephemeral memories, desires, and unspoken dreams.
The song’s thematic layers beckon for an exploration deeper than a surface listen; from visceral imagery to the subtle resonance of human vulnerability, ‘Flickers’ stands, shimmering in the dim light of our collective consciousness. It is an offering to the altar of introspection, a piece that limns the shadow dance between the tranquil surface we project and the turbulent depths we navigate silently.
The Journey of the Soul Set to Melody
The opening lines of ‘Flickers’ immediately set the tone for a tale of weary travelers on an existential path. ‘The path is long, it’s cold and wet’ sings frontwoman Hannah Reid, in a voice that rings out like the toll of an ancient bell, resounding through chambers of the listener’s own experiences. The phrase ‘Desire paths’ invokes the idea of trails created by natural human inclination, suggesting a narrative deeply rooted in the instincts and inherent inclinations that guide us.
The song seems to suggest that although the journey may be less defined and more arduous, following one’s intrinsic desires—those ‘desire paths’—leads to a destination more authentic than any traditionally trodden road. Yet, the promise of calmness in life remains elusive, reflecting an understanding that the pursuit of inner peace is often accompanied by inevitable hardship.
An Ongoing Echo of Memory and Dream
Suspending reality with the refrain of ‘And every time I go to bed / An image of you flickers in my head’, London Grammar conjures the haunting persistence of memory that haunts us in the quietest moments. The imagery is simple yet incisive; it’s less about the image itself and more about its unwavering presence, the way some thoughts become an intrinsic part of our mental framework.
This motif of ‘flickers’ is masterfully used to represent the impermanence and fragility of thought and memory, yet paradoxically also their resilience. As we all recline into the arms of Morpheus, the song recognizes that our subliminal encounters often weave indelible markers within our subconscious, crafting dreams out of those recurring visions of the day.
A Tapestry Woven of Past Pain and Presence
Further along, Reid sings of footsteps that have ‘traced this land before,’ inviting listeners to contemplate the haunting idea that all our experiences are not entirely our own. The interconnectedness of past and present pain is palpable, a shared heritage that links us to the countless souls that have walked similar paths.
As ‘Flickers’ progresses, the tactile imagery of feet growing numb with pain suggests both the literal difficulty of life’s journey and a metaphor for emotional desensitization. The lyrics deftly mirror the human condition: even as we pursue serenity, we are reminded of the inevitable trials that harden our sensibilities.
Diving Into the Song’s Hidden Meaning: Cycles of Thought and Existential Longing
Scrutinizing ‘Flickers’ reveals a deeper current, one that flows beneath the perceptible themes of remembrance and dream. There is a cyclic nature to the lyrics, reflective of the cyclical nature of thought itself. Throughout the song, the cyclic return to the refrain underscores a Sisyphean struggle against the mind’s relentless replay of certain moments or people that captivate us.
But perhaps the reservoir these lyrics draw from runs even deeper, tapping into a wellspring of existential yearning. The ‘flickers’ can be seen as the intermittent sparks of realization and clarity that come to us amidst the foggy routine of existence, and the recurring ‘flicker in my head’ is the songwriter’s way of spotlighting the flashbulb moments that illuminate our otherwise obscure inner narratives.
Memorable Lines That Echo the Haunt of Humanity
‘But come in time, you’re gonna pick up one that feels a little hard,’ Reid intones, embodying a sense of resignation that is universally relatable. The line resonates with the listener, a somber acknowledgment that the road to tranquility is often paved with difficulty and self-doubt.
And yet, as the song nears its end and the melodies crescendo, there is an emerging sense of acceptance—of the flickers, of the pain, and of the circuitous journey of life. The acceptance is neither defeatist nor naive; rather, it is a sage understanding that hardship and beauty are entwined, as are memories and their ghostly after-images that inhabit us all.
