Flower by Soundgarden

Album: Ultramega OK (1988)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

One of the earliest Soundgarden songs, this was released as their second single and included on Ultramega OK, which was their only album released on the independent label SST (making Soundgarden a true "Indie Band" at the time).

The song was composed by their guitarist Kim Thayil, with lyrics added by lead singer Chris Cornell. In our interview with Thayil, he explained that in their early years, Cornell would often have lyrics written, which he would then match to tracks he thought would work with them.
The song is about a beautiful young girl who suddenly finds herself old and gray. Chris Cornell uses "vain" and "veins" to imply that vanity and drug abuse led to her demise, as at the end of the song the flowers hit her grave.
Kim Thayil used an interesting technique to create the unusual opening sounds. He put his guitar right next to the amplifier and blew across the strings in time with the drums. This produced a sitar-like effect that Thayil later used in other songs.

Comments: 3

Teri from CaI still have this cassette. One of the three I bought back in the beginning.
David from Mcalester, OkI think "Flower" is about a young girl who becomes a stripper. Lives a troubled, hard life(she was on borrowed self esteem/ she's early gray) . And dies an early death due too drug abuse (along her veins/as flowers hit her grave).
Tim from Somewhere In, GaI think this song is about a popular, wealthy stuck up prep school girl. The mention of "being treated like a queen" and "in her uniform" and other similar lyrics in the song make me interpret the song this way.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Bad BoysInner Circle

Most of us only know "Bad Boys" by Inner Circle from the 25 seconds used as the Cops theme, but it's a full song telling the story of a Jamaican youth who doesn't accept family support and ends up a criminal.

Sixth Avenue HeartacheThe Wallflowers

Mike Campbell from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played the slide guitar on "Sixth Avenue Heartache." There is a connection here - Wallflowers lead singer Jakob's dad, Bob Dylan, played with Tom Petty in The Traveling Wilburys.

Old ManRedlight King

Neil Young rarely allows his songs to be sampled, but he let the Canadian group Redlight King use "Old Man" in their 2011 song, also called "Old Man."

Time After TimeCyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper came up with the title "Time After Time" when she saw it in TV Guide magazine. It's the name of a 1979 movie about a man who invents a time machine.

Without YouNilsson

The song "Without You," a hit for Nilsson in 1972 and Mariah Carey in 1994, was written and originally recorded by Badfinger in 1970.

Three Week HeroPJ Proby

The first time Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones all recorded together in the studio was when they backed American singer PJ Proby on his Three Week Hero album.