Venus Fly Trap

Album: Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Venus flytrap is an insectivorous plant in which the leaves fold together to trap insects. Marina wrote this sassy, funk-driven pop track as a celebration of being wild, free and not accepting norms, just like the carnivorous flora.
  • This self-empowerment tune finds Marina refusing to repress herself in order to gain acceptance in the music industry.

    They'll shame you, blame you, pretend to even hate you
    Take away your rights, pacify you with their lies
    Whatever you give life, you will get back
    Why be a wallflower when you can be a Venus fly trap?


    Marina prefers to be independent and confident, like a Venus flytrap, rather than shy and withdrawn like a wallflower.
  • Marina admitted to Vogue that she sees herself as being in between a Venus flytrap and a wallflower. For years, she struggled with carrying shame in her life, but now the Welsh singer is free of her self-consciousness, she feels proud that she hasn't had to compromise that much in her career. "All artists have to compromise a little, but it's amazing that I've had the creative freedom to write the records that I want," Marina added. "You don't have to conform in order to see success in your creative life."
  • Marina released "Venus Fly Trap" as the fourth single from Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land. It ties in with the album's themes of celebrating individuality and denouncing the mistreatment of women.
  • Marina wrote the song on her own and co-produced it with James Flannigan. The British songwriter/producer contributed to seven out of the 10 Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land tracks. He has also worked with Lucy Spraggan ("Lighthouse") and Carly Rae Jepsen ("Now That I Found You").
  • Fun fact: The Venus flytrap is native only to one area of the world: the coastal bogs of North and South Carolina in the United States. Specifically, they are only found within a 60-mile (100-kilometer) radius of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.