Bittersweet Symphony
- The Verve Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the veins meet yeah,

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no

Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
Try to find some money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the things meet yeah

You know I can't change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no

I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no,
I can't change
Can't change my body,
No, no, no

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down




Have you ever been down?
Have you've ever been down?

Overall Meaning

The Verve's song Bittersweet Symphony is about the struggles of everyday life and how we're constantly trying to make ends meet in a world where we're a slave to money. It's a bittersweet symphony because although we're trying to make the best of our lives, we're constantly faced with obstacles that make it difficult. The singer in the song talks about being stuck in his mold, but acknowledges that he's a million different people from one day to the next. He's constantly changing, but he's still stuck in his mold.


The chorus repeats "I can't change" several times, emphasizing the difficulty in breaking free from societal expectations and the constraints of our own minds. It's a song about feeling trapped and unable to change the course of our lives. Despite these feelings of restriction, the song ends on a hopeful note as the singer declares that he’ll take us down the only road he’s ever been down, which we can interpret as a metaphor for embracing the familiarities and unpredictability of life. There's also a sense of comfort to be found in knowing that you're not alone in your struggles, as the singer invites us to join him on his journey.


Line by Line Meaning

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Life is full of highs and lows, and the balance between pleasure and pain can be both beautiful and tragic.


Try to make ends meet
Striving to achieve financial stability and security.


You're a slave to money then you die
The pursuit of wealth is all-consuming, but ultimately life is short and material possessions hold no real value.


I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Following the paths that have already been travelled, and never venturing too far out of one's comfort zone.


You know the one that takes you to the places Where all the veins meet yeah,
Referring to the highways and streets that intersect and connect all the different parts of one's life.


No change, I can't change I can't change, I can't change But I'm here in my mold I am here in my mold But I'm a million different people From one day to the next I can't change my mold No, no, no, no, no
Despite a desire for transformation and growth, feeling trapped in one's habits and patterns of behavior.


Well I never pray But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
A moment of desperation and vulnerability that drives one to seek relief or guidance from something greater than themselves.


I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now
The power of music to provide solace and release from emotional turmoil, but the sense of isolation and disconnection that can come from feeling unheard and unseen.


'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life Try to make ends meet Try to find some money then you die
Repeating the opening lines to emphasize the cyclical, struggle-filled nature of existence.


You know I can't change, I can't change I can't change, I can't change But I'm here in my mold I am here in my mold And I'm a million different people From one day to the next I can't change my mold No, no, no, no, no
Echoing earlier sentiments about being stifled by one's own limitations and contradictions.


I can't change my mold No, no, no, no, no, I can't change Can't change my body, No, no, no
Frustration with physical constraints and the inability to fully transcend one's earthly form.


I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down Been down Ever been down Ever been down Ever been down Ever been down Have you ever been down?
A final restatement of the theme of feeling stuck in one's own routine and reticent to explore unfamiliar territory, posed as a rhetorical question to the listener.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music, Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Richard Ashcroft

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@northeasthergame

lyrics:

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Tryna make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
Well, I've never prayed but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singin' to me now
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
I can't change, oh, no
I can't change, oh
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Tryna make ends meet, tryna find somebody then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no,

I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no
It's just sex and violence, melody and silence
It's just sex and violence, melody and silence
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?



@baib20

Lyrics-
'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony that's life
Trying to make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the veins meet, yeah

[Chorus]
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould
But I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)

[Verse 2]
Well I've never prayed, but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

[Chorus]
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no
Have you ever been down?
I can't change it you know, I can't change it



@Soli_Deo_Gloria_.

What is the chief end of man ?

Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.


There is a reason why somthing rather than nothing and it is predicated on the uncaused non contingent first cause of all contingency...


God


Seek Christ Jesus the Redeemer


The cosmological argument
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CulBuMCLg0


The contingency argument
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FPCzEP0oD7I


Fine tuning of the universe
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EE76nwimuT0&t=9s


The ontological argument
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xBmAKCvWl74


The moral argument
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OxiAikEk2vU



@roldantoribiopamela7767

LETRA
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Tryna make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
Well, I've never prayed but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singin' to me now
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
I can't change, oh, no
I can't change, oh
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Tryna make ends meet, tryna find somebody then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no,
I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no
It's just sex and violence, melody and silence
It's just sex and violence, melody and silence
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?



All comments from YouTube:

@_subawu_

The 1 billion view mark was passed 2-15-2024! A true testament to this song and video.

@viannizvnv7222

let's fucking go

@spleeeen4it

there are loads of better songs than this

@axy_cz

@@spleeeen4itnope

@noahsegonds4728

And it has got one more million within the 5 previous days !

@_subawu_

and yet, here you are lol@@spleeeen4it

82 More Replies...

@famousshortz

This is one of those rare songs that never gets old and it stays in your memory forever. Simply a masterpiece

@ayasreviewsandtoycolection7148

You should listen to the song titled standing outside a phone booth with change in my pockets. It's an oldie but a goody.

@boston218

@@ayasreviewsandtoycolection7148 👍

@LuvBorderCollies

I think I've listened to it a thousand times and it just doesn't get old. A thousand might be a stretch but hundreds would be slightly conservative.

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