Manic Street Preachers - Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky (Live Jools Holland 1996)

[@oaksie99]

Has there been a band in the UK whose lyrics mean so much? So much vacuous shite about. The Manics have been so important. Incredible.

[@martinironfoot2844]

To my darling basset hound, Elbee, who suffered 4 years of hell in a puppy farm, this song always makes me think of you. I’m sorry we couldn’t rescue you much sooner and I’m sorry you could never get over what they did to you. We will love you forever ❤️

[@MIKE-TYTHON]

Life’s cruel. this comment really resonates with me.

[@issyjas3309]

Beautiful post, happiness is fleeting and transient. Elbee was fortunate for your being, bless you

[@Manics4Eva1978]

I am so sorry to hear this 😢

[@clarksonmatt]

James Dean Bradfield is one of the best vocalists and song writers in the whole world. . . . What an amazing video! :)

[@ryanchisefsky]

i love that he gives everyone the finger at the end of it.

[@ModerateObserver]

James almost cracked at points here -- it amazes me he was able to perform this song so well at that particular time. Unimaginable emotion he must have been feeling singing those words.

[@issyjas3309]

Imagine it takes a lot out of James to sing this song, it’s truly heartbreaking lyrics. Genius of Richy , look no further.

[@dimitrispodilatis5814]

What an amazing performance.James is a musical giant,just brilliant.

[@piggystardust]

1996 feels like it was yesterday...

[@monkeyliver1986]

Consider yourself lucky. I was only a year old

[@scottboyd9138]

James... that is outstanding! Serious kudos also to the harp player. Beautiful.

[@richardkelly8288]

I remember seeing this when it was originally broadcast (18 years ago!) and just being stunned. Beautiful & heartbreaking

[@jennytot86]

God his voice is just heaven to me

[@Manics4Eva1978]

This song got me into the Manic Street Preachers!

[@almaboreal]

we miss you richey

[@TheIkaraCult]

James' genius is extraordinary

[@conorsmith8551]

Did Richey write the lyrics or Nicky ?

[@cechzc2e]

​@@conorsmith8551richey wrote the lyrics, and it was around the loneliness of zoo animals....apparently

[@SLW93]

James didn't write the lyrics, but his genius is in finding the appropriate music to fit Richey's complex lyrics

[@darrenc6382]

I am at a loss to describe it. A beauty only matched by man's ignorance. We are all small black flowers in the sky...

[@TheIkaraCult]

here chewing your tail is joy, it makes me weep hearing this song

[@bdh8683]

What a voice... don't you notice how lucky we are to have JDB and MSP?

[@GRIDMASTER6]

One of the best vocalist and musician ever, and what a song, a so with deep thoughts.

[@manorbier]

Forever classic. James Dean Bradfield forever

[@delboy7957]

What an album

[@vikingmog]

this song will never stop breaking my heart.

[@cazb877]

Beautiful song, the harp sounds amazing on this track!

[@tonyevz9457]

One of the best songs ever written or ive heard for me... amazing band.. miss richey... hope hes ok warever u r... coz u wrote this... phonamonal song.... love the manics.. ✌ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@bcool5208]

the story behind this is so beautiful

[@osodeanteojosyt]

you know, if the beatles had composed this song 40 years ago it would be more popular than let it be so... you get the point. Long Live the Manics.

[@oldsynth]

One talented geezer

[@fancychopper]

love this song. Its about Richey watching a programme about caged animals and it really sickened him. He phoned Nicky who was watching the same prog! The Small Black Flowers is a refference to the smoke and flack that would be left after antiaircraft bullets missed there target.

[@johnboyginger]

mark james bryson the small black flowers are the birds flying free that the caged animals see and long to be aren’t they?

[@jamsams]

@@johnboyginger makes sense

[@owainhealey3509]

I thought the small black flowers where the cameras of the people taking photos and how the animals would perceive them?

[@jamsams]

That isn't in keeping with the song...at all.

[@alee571]

Masterpiece

[@1984harps]

" People like to have this idea that 'i approach the microphone and I go to sing small black flowers, suddenly i breakdown in reams of tears.' It just doesn't happen like that at all, If I was gona be like that it would have been on The Holy Bible." -James Dean Bradfield

[@JAYFD2929]

Wonderful song, wonderful moving performance.

[@bradwirelocustmanic6207]

Nicky wire's idea to have the big multi string thing alongside james on this song / genius 👏

[@KylenXo]

James was still very cute back there. It´s intresting that even today the more touching songs of the Manics are those about Richey

[@mariaandersson2318]

Just beautiful❤️💖

[@NickForrer]

@calimaeochango its in open G tuning - same as 'this is yesterday' for anyone wanting to play either song. Thats why JDB often plays them back to back at concerts - no need to retune or change guitars.

[@billtbodger]

I remember hearing this at the time and I have always loved it, it is a beautiful song jet yet the sentiment is anything but beautiful.

[@AliPee87]

Amazing. Such a good voice & amazing lyrics!

[@Partoftheratpack]

Everything must go - timeless record.

[@KDawgMcG]

"Here chewing your tail is joy"

[@jamiefoyers2800]

Good arrangement on this track. Certainly that little bit different to the usual Manics tracks. Looking forward to hearing/seeing them live on the telly on Radio 2's live weekend festival this weekend.

[@薔薇薫麻美]

amazing performance,one of my favorite songs of MANICS.

[@davidhughes2145]

always bring a tear!

[@CursedRecordingsUK]

I love it

[@richardsmith2825]

Wales is not just a country, but an idea. Things could have been so different if we had understood our position in the scheme of things. Celts understood Gaia 5,000 years ago. Now I fear it’s too late.

[@jamsams]

Beautiful.

[@vikingmog]

is that from later ..with jools holland 96'. what a song & the best version

[@TeamTerrill]

Awesome video!

[@JanuaryWonder]

Masterpiece.

[@Kitti_B]

it's beautiful!

[@nw6231]

Best Irish band of all time

[@降雨侍]

Welsh.

[@angelaryder7777]

@@降雨侍 😂 honestly, some people amirite?

[@stephenemm3829]

The lyrics were written by Richy - beautiful but heartbeaking

[@TheSammyJJ]

Richey

[@jamesmcmanus1192]

Wish i had that rio number want out of this town use to know it not any more don't recognise the place

[@fiucik1]

I'm not crying, you're crying...

[@scotty6388]

Just you

[@Predicador_Maniaco]

Very true!

[@KDawgMcG]

Perfect

[@greggsergeant1926]

Thats awesome. Thanks for uploading

[@holdercomm]

a heart breaker

[@63virgini]

la musique est belle

[@lilacfloyd]

2023

[@mkfloyd9131]

Melancholy...

[@nom843]

wow

[@preachyboy]

This song made me cry the 1st time I heard it. felt like if I knew it before since ever. (only bellzeboss picture does not match with the song...)

[@paulp4452]

Would love to understand the thought process with deciding on that guitar tuning. I've heard some old bootlegs where he does Rainddropskeep falling on my head after this in the set and spends 30 seconds retuning his acoustic back to normal tuning

[@justmadeit2]

Did Richey Edwards write this ?

[@saintnicole3209]

yes he did! :)

[@justmadeit2]

Thanks, I did think he may have done . Check out my chnl if you like, decent playlist of music and a big Playlist on understanding Depression and stuff :)

[@getheroutofthetruck]

Richey wrote it while he was sectioned at Velindre/Whitchurch Psychiatric Hospital in Cardiff. Comparing it to a zoo: 'Once you roared now you just grunt lame.'

[@melissawright1979]

Stunningly beautiful. . . although I have no idea what the song is actually about lol x x

[@melissawright1979]

@@1986beetlebum Really? That's interesting

[@Moir79]

Drop d, and drop g! Cripes!

[@williemac1]

@calimaeochango it a brilliant tune,i think the guitar is in open G tuning

[@empav1971]

Hasn't and will never be :)

[@cbatzo6786]

Always interpreted an extra dimension - the metaphorical cages humans are in.

[@DanielS10291]

holy bible more so!

[@timberwolf27]

Who's he flipping off at the end?

[@monkeyliver1986]

The last great manics album imo

[@ahagestedt]

While this song is gorgeous and inventive in its own right, I still have mixed feelings about it being a Manics song. But more importantly, on a more objective level, you gotta have major respect for a band that went from those first three albums and their raw, racous sound to this ethereal offering. Astounding talent.

[@TheIkaraCult]

here chewing your tail is joy

[@HoneyBunch1981]

I will ASHTRAYS zP LOVE YOU!

[@Sk0osH]

James was so damn good back then.

[@dabarro]

I think it is played in open G tuning.

[@Predicador_Maniaco]

The truth, I do not know. Over a year ago that I have the video, so I would not know to tell you.

[@karenlr100]

love the harp better than the album

[@loontheklown1]

hehe check out the title

[@chriscorry2672]

Mon the st,Mirren

[@HoneyBunch1981]

ASHTRAYS!

[@welshpenguin7]

not a boo...more of a whoo :)

[@mkfloyd9131]

Can someone inform popothedragon James did not write this.....

[@chrismooney9275]

He wrote the music. He writes all of the music. Edwards was a lyricist

[@chrismooney9275]

Edwards typically wrote poems. Bradfield would then read them, and try and compose music around them. That's how it worked

[@mkfloyd9131]

So I am right then, thanks for confirming it...

[@freng0_]

pedantic