Florence Welch on her songwriting inspirations: “I just love his use of imagery”
Florence Welch and her Machine have been making their mark on the music scene for nearly 20 years, delivering soaring hits like ‘Dog Days Are Over’ and ‘Shake It Out’. Fans and critics alike praise the London-born artist for her ethereal persona and lyrical depth, filled with poetic reflections on life, loss, and love. But where does this sense of mysticism originate? Welch’s musical influences are vast and varied, but one particular song stands out above the rest.
That, to some surprise, would be ‘Green Grass’ by Tom Waits, which Welch claimed back in 2012 was the song she wishes she had written. It’s easy to see the song’s influence on her, especially back then when she was only at the beginning of her supersonic career, with its poetic lyrics akin to her own style. “Lay your head where my heart used to be/ Hold the earth above me/ Lay down on the green grass/ Remember when you loved me,” Waits drawls, conjuring worldly visions similar to those in Welch’s songs.
‘Green Grass’ is a real lyrical sibling to anything by Florence and the Machine, but the frontwoman admitted that she would dream of having penned “really anything by Tom Waits.” She even went as far as to say that she “wish[ed she] was Tom Waits,” explaining, “His songs are so visceral and bloody. I just love his use of imagery.”
Welch’s admiration for Waits is abundantly evident, and in many ways, he can be found laced in every word and note she has ever produced. For the Californian musician, words are at the forefront of musicality, and to this end, his lyrics can be seen as poetic ruminations on the untold or previously unsaid aspects of life. This clearly appealed to Welch’s persona also, in terms of its spirituality, soul-searching, and defiance.
In the case of ‘Green Grass’, Waits’ classic gravel tones are the mouthpiece for a melancholic but equally bluesy reflection on the ending of a relationship. “Come closer don’t be shy/ Stand beneath a rainy sky/ The moon is over the rise/ Think of me as a train goes by,” he laments, later claiming: “If the sky falls, mark my words/ We’ll catch mocking birds.”
The allusions to love in tune with nature make for stunning lyricism, and it’s easy to see how ethereal artists like Welch draw inspiration from such a work of art. Given how closely it aligns with the themes and images of her own songs, it would certainly be interesting to see Welch cover the track that has provided so much inspiration to her career, all while introducing a new legion of Florence fans to the mystical mastery of Tom Waits. Well, one can dream.
For every musician, there will always be that one song they idolise. In most cases, replicating anything near it will remain an aspiration out of their grasp, but for a special select few, such as Florence Welch, they will get to emanate their heroes both in lyrics and sound and, in turn, seal legends like Tom Waits into the hall of fame. Florence and the Machine undoubtedly still have far to go, but it’s mesmerising to think about the many budding musicians they have the potential to inspire along the way, just like those who came before them.
