Watching The Lightbugs Glow

Album: American Head (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kacey Musgraves provides spoken-word and wordless melody on this close-to-an-instrumental track. She also sings on two other American Head tracks, "God and the Policeman" and "Flowers Of Neptune 6."
  • Frontman Wayne Coyne told Uncut magazine that when some friends commented Musgraves "was a beautiful American country version of the Flaming Lips," he dismissed it. However, after the country star covered "Do You Realize??" at Bonnaroo 2019, the Flaming Lips talked to her and they found they had a lot in common.

    After Coyne and his bandmate Steven Drozd convinced Kacey to sing on "God And The Policeman," they started comparing LSD trips - both good and bad ones. Coyne asked Musgraves about her song "Mother," which she wrote after dropping some acid. She told them during her trip she saw some lightning bugs floating around in her yard.

    "Some of Kacey's good experiences on acid exactly mirror mine and Steven's," said Coyne. "She knew I was recording our conversation, and there's a kinda inaudible story from her at the end of 'Watching the Lightbugs Glow,' about her taking the lightbug off the leaf, and taking it into her house where they dance together to some bossa nova."
  • Lightning bugs (also called fireflies or glowworms) are a type of beetle that uses bioluminescence during twilight to attract mates. Several artists have recorded songs inspired by the insect of which the best known is Owl City's "Fireflies."
  • Wayne Coyne said to Apple Music of this gentle instrumental: "We like that it just floats along. You don't have to listen to it so intensely."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."