Velvet Morning
- The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been long
And yes
I still feel strong
Into the half light
Another velvet morning for me, yeah
Stands still
As you take
Your last pill
Into the half light
Another velvet morning for me, yeah
And now I'm trying to tell you
About my life
And my tongue is twisted
And more dead than alive
And my feelings
They've always been betrayed
And I was born a little damaged man
And look what they made
I said, don't you find
That it's lonely
The corridor, you walk there alone
And life is a game
You've tried
And life is a game
You're tired
Yes
I'm coming down
Your beauty is
A color surround
Into the half light
Another velvet morning for me, yeah
And now I'm trying to tell you
About my life
And my tongue is twisted
And more dead than alive
And my feelings
My feelings, they've been betrayed
And I was born a little damaged man
And look what they made
He said, don't you find
That it's lonely
The corridor, you walk there alone
And life is a game
You've tried
And life is a game
You're tired
And life is a game
You've tried
The first verse of "Velvet Morning" by The Verve speaks to the passage of time and the lingering feelings of a past relationship. While it has been a long time since the end of the relationship, the singer still feels strong emotions about it. The second verse takes on a darker tone as it speaks to the use of drugs and the toll they take on the body. The half-light referenced in both verses could be seen as a metaphor for the emotional state of the singer, caught between the lightness of moving on and the darkness of addiction.
The third verse adds another layer to the emotional complexity of the song. The singer is trying to communicate about their life, but finds that their words fail them. Their tongue is "twisted" and they feel more dead than alive. This inability to communicate their feelings effectively has been a theme throughout their life, and they feel that they have been betrayed by their own emotions. The final line in this verse, "And look what they made," could be interpreted as a commentary on how societal expectations and attitudes towards mental health have caused the singer to feel damaged.
The chorus of the song expresses feelings of loneliness and fatigue. Life is compared to a game, one that the singer has tried to play but is now too tired to continue. The final verse returns to a more positive tone, with the singer acknowledging the beauty of the person they are with. However, the struggles of the past verses have left their mark, and the singer still struggles to express themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes
Agreeing to something that is being said
It's been long
A long time has passed since something happened
And yes
Again agreeing to something that is being said
I still feel strong
Despite the time passed, the feeling remains strong
Into the half light
Moving into a slightly lightened area
Another velvet morning for me, yeah
Starting a new day, similar to previous ones
Time
The duration that something exists
Stands still
Time seems to stop or not move at all
As you take
During the process of taking something
Your last pill
Taking the final pill which has to be consumed
And now I'm trying to tell you
Attempting to communicate with someone
About my life
Describing things that have happened in my life
And my tongue is twisted
Having difficulty speaking and forming words
And more dead than alive
Feeling mostly lifeless
And my feelings
Personal emotions and sentiments
They've always been betrayed
My emotions have continuously been let down or not understood by others
And I was born a little damaged man
I was born with some inherent problems or issues
And look what they made
Others have created who I am through their actions and treatment towards me
I said, don't you find
Asking someone if they agree or notice something
That it's lonely
Feeling alone or isolated
The corridor, you walk there alone
The path you take in life can be a solitary one
And life is a game
Life can be seen as a game
You've tried
You have attempted to succeed in life
You're tired
Feeling fatigued or worn out from trying
Yes
Agreeing again to something that was said previously
I'm coming down
Going through a downswing, feeling low or depressed
Your beauty is
Commenting on someone's physical attractiveness
A color surround
A visual sensation or experience
And life is a game
Repeating the message of life being akin to a game
You've tried
Again mentioning the attempt one has made in life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard Paul Ashcroft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@StrangeAttractor
maybe the most beautiful song ever written. Since you're here I know it means something profound to you, as it does to me. Maybe existence is all we share, but what a trip it is.
@tonymannion8480
Perfectly put
@arkman2237
It has a special in my heart indeed, weird how time and space joined us for a particular song we love, whag a trip it is
@IsraelForlife-nb7zq
Superb.
@billy78son77
Reminds me of my partner who passed away 3 yrs ago. I always thought of her and played this when I was away working
@sillysausage4549
Harmonically, the "don't you find, that it's lonely" parts are just beautiful. I'm a musician myself, and this is the best song on the album, for me, just for those little segments. Watch the footage of them performing it live at Glastonbury. Wonderful.
@liamgilchrist5447
Hihi the okkooo I k k
@liamgilchrist5447
Kk Ookk on Ono o on Nikki on it innovation onkn lo lol oh iik
@needleseupins
Oh, so glad to read this. I'm not a musician and lately, listening to the album, which I didn't for years, and particularly to this song, I became blisfully lost at that part of the chorus, and finding it strangely perfect without knowing the technical reason, and thinking how superb it is and sadly so underrrated. Best song no doubt. One Day is quite special as well.
@andrewshipley7660
The transition from the verse you mention leading onto ‘the corridor you walk down alone’ at 3:52 on is brilliant.