From 1984 to 1996 he was the guitarist for The Stone Roses, one of the most influential acts of its era. He grew up on Sylvan Avenue in Timperley and after attending Heyes lane Junior School, he passed the 11+ exam and went on to attend Altrincham Grammar School for Boys where he met Ian Brown - who co-incidentally also lived on Sylvan Avenue but went to a different primary school. His partnership with Roses' lead singer Ian Brown (who he had been friends with since their teens when they had bonded over a love for punk rock) formed the heart of the band's lyrical and musical output. As a guitarist, Squire was known for his spiralling riffs and amazing live solos. He was arguably the most accomplished British rock guitarist of the 1980s.
Band infighting and rumoured cocaine abuse led to his departure from The Stone Roses in 1996. He promptly formed his own band, The Seahorses (an anagram of 'he hates roses', but whether this was intentional is disputed). The album Do it Yourself was released in 1997, but The Seahorses disbanded due to creative differences in 1999.
Following a three year hiatus, Squire finally released his first solo album, Time Changes Everything in 2002. A concept album followed in 2004 entitled Marshall's House .
Besides music, Squire is also an accomplished artist. His artwork has adorned album covers and promotional posters for his music. In the 1980s, Squire's artistic style was heavily influenced by the action painting technique of Jackson Pollock. In recent years, Squire has shown a broader use of mediums and has incorporated newer influences to his work. One of his artworks formed the cover for Travis's 1997 release U16 Girls. In 2004, Squire held two well-received art exhibitions in London and Manchester.
Although it has almost been a decade since he left the Roses, Squire still has a lasting feud with ex-bandmate Ian Brown. In a 2005 Q magazine article, Squire blasted Brown, claiming that "When he (Brown) was stoned, he was at best a tuneless knob and at worst a paranoid mess" (but he was only responding to queries about what went wrong with the Second Coming sessions and the state of Brown's vocal due to his marijuana habits). Although both Brown and Squire have performed Stone Roses songs in their solo gigs, a band reunion seems unlikely. Surprisingly, in May 2005 Squire hinted at intentions for a Roses reunion at Glastonbury that year.
Strange feeling
John Squire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remember the feeling
Every single shade of blue
Call it luck, call it fate
Call it what you will
Don't hesitate
And let the city lights be your crown tonight
Talking gallows and guillotines
I've got a strange, strange feeling
Sure I'm not the only one
Wishing the morning would never come
The candles are dying now
Here comes the sun
Sitting on the kerb
Waiting for my patient
Traffic come and traffic go
Waiting for my patient
We never made that flight to paradise
Where were you sleeping last night?
I've got a strange, strange feeling
Ballard Bacon and Hirst to me
I've got a strange, strange feeling
Sure I'm not the only one
Wishing the morning would never come
The candles are dying now
Here comes the sun
Strange
Feeling
Somehow I know
Today's the day
The song 'Strange Feeling' by John Squire is about reflecting on a past relationship and the feelings that come with it. Squire describes his former lover as just 'something I had to do' and admits that he remembers every single shade of blue, meaning he remembers all the sad and melancholic moments in that relationship. However, he also says that he doesn't regret it and labels it as luck or fate that they met.
The chorus repeats the phrase 'I've got a strange, strange feeling' and talks about the singer wishing the morning would never come. This could be interpreted as him not wanting to wake up and face the reality of their broken relationship. Squire mentions 'talking gallows and guillotines' which could be a metaphor for the relationship being toxic and self-destructive. He acknowledges that he's not the only one feeling this strange sensation and alludes to the fact that others might empathize with his situation.
The bridge is about waiting for his 'patient' and how they never made a certain flight. He asks where she was sleeping last night, indicating that they are no longer together. The song ends with Squire saying that he has a strange feeling and somehow he knows that today's the day. This final lyric is open to interpretation, but it could mean that the singer is ready to move on and start a new chapter in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
You were just something I had to do
I did what I had to do in the past, and now you're just a memory
Remember the feeling
Don't forget how it felt when we were together
Every single shade of blue
The range of emotional states I experienced, all sad and melancholic
Call it luck, call it fate
It doesn't matter if it was chance or destiny that brought us together
Call it what you will
You can interpret our relationship however you want
Don't hesitate
Act now or you'll regret it later
And let the city lights be your crown tonight
Embrace the urban lifestyle and party hard tonight
I've got a strange, strange feeling
I sense something unusual is going to happen today
Talking gallows and guillotines
Discussing dark topics related to execution and death
Sure I'm not the only one
I'm convinced other people feel the same way I do
Wishing the morning would never come
Wanting to prolong the night and avoid facing reality
The candles are dying now
The mood is fading and the party is winding down
Here comes the sun
A new day is beginning and the darkness is receding
Sitting on the kerb
Waiting outside for someone to arrive
Waiting for my patient
Expecting someone who needs my attention or assistance
Traffic come and traffic go
The normal flow of vehicles on the road
We never made that flight to paradise
We missed out on our chance to escape to a perfect place
Where were you sleeping last night?
I'm suspicious of your whereabouts and actions
Ballard Bacon and Hirst to me
Artists who resonate with my current mood and personality
Strange
Unusual and unexpected
Feeling
An emotional sensation or intuition
Somehow I know
It's a gut feeling that I can't explain logically
Today's the day
Something important or transformative will happen soon
Contributed by Aubrey C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BluetonicUK28
Brilliant!
spaced377
both solo abums are great
strange_invitation
@spaced377 I read almost every interview that came out last summer when his show was on and I can't remember reading that! I thought he had given up music for good! That would be awesome!
strange_invitation
It certainly would!
spaced377
he let it slip 3 or 4 months back that his 3 solo was finished
strange_invitation
@spaced377 For sure, though TCE is my favourite
spaced377
yer its time he tried again
spaced377
im sorry i cant remember some art show i think
strange_invitation
@spaced377 Let slip where?!!! :O