"Flowers in the Window"
Single by Travis
from the album The Invisible Band
B-side
WrittenJune 1998 (France)
Released25 March 2002 (2002-03-25)
Studio
Length3:41
LabelIndependiente
Songwriter(s)Fran Healy
Producer(s)Nigel Godrich
Travis singles chronology
"Side"
(2001)		 "Flowers in the Window"
(2002)		 "Re-Offender"
(2003)

"Flowers in the Window" is a song from Scottish rock band Travis' third studio album, The Invisible Band (2001). Frontman Fran Healy wrote the song during recording sessions for the band's previous album, The Man Who (1999), coming up with the title by looking at British audio engineer Mike Hedges' flower garden. Released as the album's third and final single on 25 March 2002, the song debuted and peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart, reached number 35 in Ireland, and also charted in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland. Several formats of the single contain a live cover version of the Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun".

Background

According to Fran Healy, he wrote "Flowers in the Window" during June 1998 in France, at Mike Hedges' recording studio while Travis were recording their previous album, The Man Who. When Hedges told Healy that every artist who had recorded at his studio wrote a song there, Healy refused to do so because he "didn't feel like it".[1] Healy had previous written songs alone in his room, but one day, he sat at Hedges' piano and composed the opening riff. He then transferred this riff to his guitar and came up with most of the song's melody and its hook, which he wanted to be six syllables. Upon looking outside at Hedges' garden, he came up with the hook and title: "Flowers in the Window".[1]

Later that night, Healy stayed at the studio while the rest of the band were out drinking. After they returned inebriated and went to sleep, Healy heard what he thought was someone choking on vomit, and he ran around the chateau searching for whoever was making this noise. Eventually, he found bassist Dougie Payne vomiting out his bedroom window. Perturbed by this incident, Healy returned to his room, wrote the song's lyrics on the back of an envelope in 10 minutes, and cried when he recited them. He explained on the band's website, "I was aware for the first time that a good distraction is necessary in writing lyrics. Or not being con[s]cious of what I'm doing is required if it is to have that magic."[1]

Although uncredited on the album, "Flowers in the Window" was co-written by Paul McCartney. In an interview for Rate Your Music, Healy explained, "I met McCartney whilst recording a television programme and I played him an unfinished track from the new album. He said: 'That's a great little song.' He helped us finish the ending, but we didn't give him a credit on the sleeve."[2]

Music video

The video features the band walking around a small town where all the residents are pregnant women. The band enter a clinic where women are staying and begin to perform the song. A chained-up man in distress appears at the end of the video. An alternate version of the video also uses clips from the movie Saved!.

Live performances

During live performances of the song, it is typically dedicated to members of the band or stage crew who have reached a significant moment in a relationship. For example, during the 12 Memories tour in 2003, it was dedicated to the lighting manager who had just had a child. In 2007, whilst playing at the Hammersmith Apollo, it was dedicated to their touring pianist Claes Björklund, who had become engaged the day before.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from The Invisible Band album booklet.[9]

Studios

Personnel

  • Fran Healy – writing
  • Nigel Godrich – production, mixing
  • Darrell Thorp – assistant engineer at Ocean Way Studios
  • Jon Bailey – assistant engineer at Air Studios
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 92
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 100
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 98
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 35
Scotland (OCC)[14] 9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 93
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 18

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 25 March 2002
  • CD
  • cassette
 Independiente [18]
1 April 2002 7-inch vinyl [19]
United States Triple A radio [20]
15 April 2002 Hot adult contemporary radio [21]
Australia 6 May 2002 CD [22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Invisible Band : Tracklisting". travisonline.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) To view information, click Preview, then Tracklisting | Song Info.
  2. ↑ "Flowers in the Window – (Song Lyric Sunday)". The Hidden Edge. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  3. ↑ Flowers in the Window (UK CD1 liner notes). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISOM 56MS.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ↑ Flowers in the Window (UK CD2 liner notes). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISOM 56SMS.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ↑ Flowers in the Window (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISOM 56S.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ Flowers in the Window (UK cassette single sleeve). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISOM 56CS.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ Flowers in the Window (European CD single liner notes). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISM 672237 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ Flowers in the Window (Australian CD single liner notes). Travis. Independiente. 2002. 672526.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ The Invisible Band (UK CD album booklet). Travis. Independiente. 2001. ISOM 25CD, 5030502011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ "Issue 637" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 16. 13 April 2002. p. 13. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Travis – Flowers in the Window" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Travis". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  15. ↑ "Travis – Flowers in the Window". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  17. ↑ "British single certifications – Travis – Flowers in the Window". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting 25 March 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 23 March 2002. p. 29. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  19. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting 1 April 2002: Singles". Music Week. 30 March 2002. p. 31.
  20. ↑ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1446. 29 March 2002. p. 32. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1448. 12 April 2002. p. 31. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th May 2002" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 6 May 2002. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2002. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
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