We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

about

Being originally from Florida, I am in fact a "Florida Man," and the title is of course a play on the news headline trope in which a man from Florida does some sort of laughably absurd (often illegal) activity. "Florida Man Wearing Only Assless Chaps Sells Meth to Undercover Policeman Disguised as Alligator in Wal-Mart" ... that sort of thing. Although I have purposely lived far away from FL for nearly 25 years, I am occasionally reminded that you can take the man out of Florida, but you can't necessarily take Florida out of the man. This song is my plea to the universe to sort of exorcise the small bit of skanky Florida that still exists within me. No offense intended, of course. Musically, I'm a big fan of staccato chords, especially when coupled with cymbal chokes, so I wanted to open the album with a bang in this style. I set the tone for what's to come on the record by juxtaposing mellow, clean verses against crunchy open-chord R.E.M.-ish guitars in a big chorus with a strong melodic resolution. I wasn't intending to try to sound alt-country in any way, but somehow I think it turned out somewhat that way ... which is fine with me since I'm a big Old 97's fan!

lyrics

Well, I said goodbye to you a long time ago
But I came back a half dozen times or so
You really know just how to reel me in
Even though you're a batshit comic book villain

Oh, Florida, it's time for me to run
You're killing me, in more ways than one

I know I've done a dumb thing or nine
I've never been one to toe the line
It's not what I do
I've misplayed
But like the old PSA, 
I learned it by watching you

This was not the end goal when we walked on the moon
You ought to know you are a damned cartoon
You smell like Boone's Blue Hawaiian and Virginia Slims
Your date to the prom was your toddler son, Colt Braeden

Oh, Florida, won't you let me go?
I can't take this circus, don't you know?

I know I've done a dumb thing or nine
I've never been one to toe the line
It's not what I do
I've misplayed
But like the old PSA,
I learned it by watching you

You've got pyromania
And plenty of hysteria
You're chock full of kleptomania
You ooze megalomania
Weirder than Transylvania
You're no Arcadia
You could be a paradise if you'd just
Open your heart and shut your face
And stop being so proud to be a disgrace

I know I've done a dumb thing or nine
I've never been one to toe the line
It's not what I do
I've misplayed
But just like the old PSA,
I learned it by watching you

credits

from There is No Light Without the Dark, released January 23, 2021

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The Stan Laurels image

The Stan Laurels Austin

The Beatles, Breeders, Zombies, Kinks, Cars, and Debussy make up just some of the layers of the Warhol-esque sonic power-pop art painting that is The Stan Laurels, the musical creation of earthling Sound Scientist John Lathrop of Austin, TX, USA.

contact / help

Contact The Stan Laurels

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like The Stan Laurels, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now