His first solo album,'The Sky is Too High', was released in 1998 and has a very muted, uncommercial sound. 'TSITH' was followed by 'The Golden D' which features two covers of the band Mission Of Burma. The next album to come was 'Crow Sit On Blood Tree', which has some of his most ethereal tracks to date on, and is very lo-fi. Fourth album 'The Kiss Of Morning' shows Graham developing as an artist in his own right and the songs take on a more fleshed out and accomplished form. However, it was not until the release of 'Freakin' Out' in 2004 that Coxon had a solo mainstream hit. 'Happiness In Magazines', Graham's fifth album, is largely considered to be his most accessible and complete work, featuring frantic, slick guitar-pop of the highest order.
In 2006 Graham Coxon released his sixth solo album, 'Love Travels at Illegal Speeds', preceeded by the UK Top 20 single 'Standing On My Own Again'. 'Love Travels at Illegal Speeds' shows Coxon branching out to try his hand at some new sounds as well as tightening the punk-pop formula that is his hallmark. The album was released in two formats, with a DVD containing interviews and live tracks as an optional extra.
It marks Coxon's first album away from his now-defunct indie label 'Transcopic'. Coxon also played guitar on Peter Doherty's 2009 solo album Grace / Wastelands.
11th May 2009, Coxon released his 7th album 'The Spinning Top'. 2009 saw Coxon embark on numerous gigs with Blur, including headlining Glastonbury Festival.
More solo discography:
A+E (2012)
The End of the F***ing World (Original Songs And Score) (2018)
The End of the F***ing World 2 (Original Songs And Score) (2019)
I Am Not Okay with This (as Bloodwitch) (Original Songs And Score) (2020)
Superstate (2021, in association with Z2 Comics)
Revolver
Graham Coxon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once I had my dreams
But all of that is changed now
You took things inside out
The truth is not that comfortable, no
And mother taught us patience
The virtues of restrain
Beyond which we must go
To find a secret promised to us, yeah
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when it all gets blown away
That's when I reach for my revolver
The spirit fights to find its way
A friend of mine once told me
His one and only aim
To build a giant castle
And live inside his name
Crying, whispering, singing from within
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when it all gets blown away
That's when I reach for my revolver
The spirit fights to find its way
Tonight the sky is empty
But that is nothing new
'Cause their eyes look upon us
And they tell me
We're nothing but slaves
That's when I reach for my revolver, just slaves
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when I reach for my revolver
Graham Coxon's song "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" is a cover of a post-punk classic originally written by Mission of Burma in 1981. Coxon's interpretation takes on a more sombre tone, with a softer and more contemplative sound. The lyrics reflect a disillusionment with the world, a sense of being betrayed by life's promises, and a desire to escape.
The opening lines of the song begin with a nostalgic recollection of a time when the singer had "heroes" and "dreams". However, the singer declares that "all of that is changed now" and blames the listener for turning their world inside out. The singer then references their parents, who taught them patience and restraint, but also set boundaries beyond which they were not supposed to go. The singer suggests that there is a secret they were promised which they want to find, and the only way to do so is by reaching for their revolver, a metaphorical representation of their desire to shed their constraints and find their own path.
The second verse describes a friend who has a singular goal of building a castle and living inside it, but the singer sees this as a sad, lonely existence. The chorus repeats the refrain of reaching for the revolver, expressing the idea that the spirit fights to find its way despite the difficulties it faces.
The final verse describes the sky as empty, implying a sense of vastness but also of emptiness. The singer connects this to the idea that they are nothing but slaves, suggesting that all humans are beholden to a higher power or system. Despite this, the singer once again reaches for their revolver, suggesting that even in the face of oppression and limitations, there is always a possibility for escape or rebellion.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I had my heroes
At one point, I had idols and role models
Once I had my dreams
I had aspirations and goals, but not anymore
But all of that is changed now
Things are different and I have let go of those dreams
You took things inside out
Someone or something has turned everything upside down
The truth is not that comfortable, no
The reality of the situation is hard to face
And mother taught us patience
Our mother instilled in us the value of being patient
The virtues of restrain
The importance of self-control and moderation
And father taught us boundaries
Our father taught us limits and rules to follow
Beyond which we must go
We must surpass these boundaries to achieve a hidden treasure
To find a secret promised to us, yeah
This treasure is something that has been guaranteed to us
That's when I reach for my revolver
When everything becomes too much to handle, I turn to my coping mechanism
That's when it all gets blown away
The pain and frustration disappear, even if only temporarily
The spirit fights to find its way
My innermost self struggles to come to terms with the situation
A friend of mine once told me
Someone I know shared their thoughts with me before
His one and only aim
Their sole objective in life
To build a giant castle
Was to create a grand legacy for themselves
And live inside his name
To be remembered for centuries to come
Crying, whispering, singing from within
The emotions and aspirations are deep-seated and constantly present
Tonight the sky is empty
Presently, there is nothing to look up to or inspire us
But that is nothing new
This has been the case for some time now
'Cause their eyes look upon us
Others judge us and our accomplishments
And they tell me We're nothing but slaves
Their opinions reflect their belief that we are merely puppets in the grand scheme of things
That's when I reach for my revolver, just slaves
At this point, feeling helpless and enslaved leads me to my coping mechanism
That's when I reach for my revolver
When things become unbearable or out of control, I use my coping mechanism
That's when I reach for my revolver
The instrument symbolizes my way of dealing with an overwhelming situation
That's when I reach for my revolver
No matter how out of control everything may seem, I'll always have my coping mechanism available
That's when I reach for my revolver
The song ends with the repetition of this line, alluding to its significance in the narrative
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind