"Flowing" is a song by the group 311. It first appeared on the 1999 album Soundsystem and was released as the second single from the album. It was included on 311's Greatest Hits '93-'03 album in 2004.
The song did not obtain as much attention as the first single from Soundsystem, "Come Original", but did reach #17 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.
"Flowing" is characteristic of a steady rhythm and prominent percussive beats. It is one of the band's heavier songs. The chorus constitutes the bulk of the song, with the repetitive phrasing indicating an inability to stay focused on something and being constantly reminded of unpleasant past occurrences. The song is not as heavily influenced with the reggae style as some of the bands other work, though it is still slightly evident in the styling.
Along the way to close my eyes
I lost where I was going
the more it will spin
the more that I try
to stop my mind flowing away, away
to all that I despise
along the way to close my eyes
You can't be let down if you don't expect the world
expect to lay awake and by your sleeping girl
if somebody cares then there is no way you can tell
cursed consciousness is your private hell
Along the way to close my eyes
I lost where I was going
the more it will spin
the more that I try
to stop my mind flowing away, away
to all that I despise
along the way to close my eyes
Tick, tick, tick the clock bludgeons your mind
endlessly replaying times that were unkind
go away sun I'm not prepared for you today
it seems you are, it seems you are, huh!
Along the way to close my eyes
I lost where I was going
the more it will spin
the more that I try
to stop my mind flowing away, away
to all that I despise
along the way to close my eyes
Underneath where finds me
all the brothers are gone
I can see the passing refugees
Flowing
They are flowing
Nobody saw it get to my head
no, they can't find me
calling loud in the dark ravine
Flowing
Oh, I am flowing
Flowing back the village river bed
as the water flows underneath my head
All the brothers have gone back overseas
girlies pass me by
I had the meanest heart you've ever seen
Flowing
Oh I'm flowing
If I could crawl out of this yawning earth
go find Suzy-Boo
we'd smoke gold in the dreamland too
Flowing
We are flowing
Flowing by my river to the sea
by my mean old spirit in the trees
I turned my face to the sound above
no, they can't see me
old bones, just food for the trees
Flowing
Oh, I'm flowing
There was lies and fires in the hills
down the living streets
their smoke blows back my memories
Flowing
Oh, I'm flowing
Flowing down river to the sea
flowing mean old bones in the stream
If these bones could ever sail a while
for an extra mile
they'd flow just like the river Nile
Flowing
They are flowing
Cold light, vibrating low
Bundles of sound spiraling slow
No fear, more sense
More to be felt for all the beings in the know
Chrous :
Lose hold
Just let it go
Give in, give up, abandon yourself to the flow
Lose hold
Just let it go
Give in, give up, abandon yourself to the flow
Live moon, mother of all
Calling those who still wonder in the night
Live moon, unveiling now
The part of us already breathing in the light
Do not seek control
Do not seek shelter
The light will find you wherever you might go
Do not seek control
Do not seek shelter
The light will find you
The light will find you
(Chorus)
(Let it go, just let it go)
(Let it go)
Underneath where finds me
all the brothers are gone
I can see the passing refugees
Flowing
They are flowing
Nobody saw it get to my head
no, they can't find me
calling loud in the dark ravine
Flowing
Oh, I am flowing
Flowing back the village river bed
as the water flows underneath my head
All the brothers have gone back overseas
girlies pass me by
I had the meanest heart you've ever seen
Flowing
Oh I'm flowing
If I could crawl out of this yawning earth
go find Suzy-Boo
we'd smoke gold in the dreamland too
Flowing
We are flowing
Flowing by my river to the sea
by my mean old spirit in the trees
I turned my face to the sound above
no, they can't see me
old bones, just food for the trees
Flowing
Oh, I'm flowing
There was lies and fires in the hills
down the living streets
their smoke blows back my memories
Flowing
Oh, I'm flowing
Flowing down river to the sea
flowing mean old bones in the stream
If these bones could ever sail a while
for an extra mile
they'd flow just like the river Nile
Flowing