Bittersweet Symphony
Jay Z vs. The Verve Lyrics
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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
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?
The lyrics to this song express a deep sense of resignation in the face of life's trials and tribulations. The singer acknowledges that life can be both bitter and sweet, and that the pursuit of money can become an all-consuming task, leaving one feeling like a slave to the very thing they sought to attain. The singer tells the listener that they will guide them down the road they have always traveled, taking them to places where all of life's veins meet. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the inevitability of death, as in the final stages of life, everything comes together, and there is no escape.
The second verse of the song delves deeper into the singer's sense of helplessness. They acknowledge that they cannot change who they are, that they are stuck in their mold, and that the only thing they can do is hope for a sign of recognition or empathy from those around them. The singer then lets the music take over, allowing the melody to cleanse their mind and offer a brief moment of freedom. However, there is a sense of emptiness, as if the airwaves are clean of any meaning, and there is no one to sing to them.
Overall, the lyrics to "Bittersweet Symphony" paint a picture of a life filled with struggle and pain, with little hope for change or redemption. The singer longs for recognition and understanding, yet they feel trapped in their own mold, unable to break free. Through it all, they continue down the only road they have ever known, accepting their fate and facing the bitter and sweet aspects of life with equal measure.
Line by Line Meaning
Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Life is like a symphony, with happy and sad moments intertwined.
Try to make ends meet
Struggling to have enough money to make a living.
You're a slave to money then you die
Being obsessed with money is like being enslaved, and in the end, we all die anyways.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll show you the path that I am familiar with.
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet yeah
It's the path that takes you to where all the important things in life converge.
No change, I can't change
I'm stuck in my ways and can't change who I am.
But I'm here in my mold
This refers to being in a rigid form or state, unable to break free from it.
And I'm a million different people from one day to the next
Despite being stuck in one mold, there are many sides to me that come out at different times.
I can't change my mold
Again reiterates that feeling of being trapped in a certain way of living or thinking.
Well I never pray
I'm not one to pray, but in this moment of pain, I wish someone could understand.
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
Shows a humbling moment where the songwriter is pleading for help.
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
The songwriter is desperate for some kind of acknowledgement or validation of their pain.
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
Through the music, the songwriter allows themselves to be free from their worries and find solace.
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now
Despite the clean airwaves, no one is singing to them and they feel alone.
Can't change my body, no, no, no
This line emphasizes the theme of being trapped, that the songwriter can't even change their physical form.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
The songwriter will lead you down the path they know, even if it has its ups and downs.
Been down, ever been down, ever been down
Repetition of this line reinforces the ups and downs of the path they've been down.
Have you ever been down?
Asking the listener if they have experienced similar struggles in their life.
Lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc.
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER, RICHARD ASHCROFT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BlackSeranna
I believe the original DJ who mashed this up was DJ Crazy J Rodriguez. I first heard this song in 2006, when I stepped into the worst s&%t show of my life. I was trying to survive, and everywhere I turned, my life was crumbling and whatever security I thought I had was being pulled out from under me. Wouldn't have been bad if it was just about me, but the agent of chaos was threatening to undo any future my kids could have. Every day I went to the worst job of my life, where the boss yelled at all of us so much that one of the ladies admitted to me in private that she broke out into tears every day in the shower before she came to work. I hung on, and every day before and after work, I listened to this song. This song got me through the worst thing I ever went through. I don't feel like I will ever be the naïve person I was before that; I learned the depths of evil that people are capable of, and I also learned how adept I was at digging in and holding on, surviving to the next day, day after day. This song absolutely brings a tear to my eye - it saved me. I made it.
@charliecoppinger
You're a legend, thanks for sharing that. I feel a very similar way about this song, it's been a rock for me every now and then for well over a decade.
@christonacouch5550
All the hustlers love it, just to see one of us make it 😈😈👏👏🙏🙏🙌🙌
@Jonathan-Creator-Tips
Good old Youtube 👌🏾
@Hernamewaslola
I was just transported to my Jeep Grand Cherokee in ‘06 with alllll the windows down and cigs out the window
@masteraether4789
Whoever originally made this mashy up,...SALUTE....it still ROCKS OUT ..🎤👌🏼👍🏼richard Ashcroft 🎤👌🏼👍🏼💯💥💫🌉🌇🌆🏙🎚🔉🎧
@DesertRainReads
Jeepers, amazing how a mash-up manages to capture the essence of both songs perfectly. I am not even a Jay-Z fan at all, but I can acknowledge when he hit gold, this was one of those times he did with his lyrics. Plus the combo of him with The Verve meshed naturally. Props to the guy who made this mash-up originally.
@jkibudde
This is beautiful. surprised it doesn't have more views
@76Ruijorge
But unbelievable how they mix together... The sound and the rap 👌
@channelfred8694
Now that's old school rap