Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of two successful bands: The Jam and The Style Council. In England, he is recognised as something of a national institution yet, because much of his songwriting is rooted in English culture, he has remained essentially a national rather than an international star.

Weller's eleventh studio album, Sonik Kicks, was released on 19 March 2012. The Green Songfacts reports that it was recorded in Weller’s own Black Barn Studios in Ripley, Surrey, with co-producer Simon Dine and engineer Charles Rees.

Born John William Weller in Stanley Road, Woking, he was also a central figure in the Mod revival. As the leader of the Jam, Paul Weller fronted the most popular British band of the punk era, influencing legions of English rockers that ranged from his mod-revival contemporaries to the Smiths in the '80s and Oasis in the '90s. During the final days of the Jam, he developed a fascination with Motown and soul, which led him to form the sophisti-pop group the Style Council in 1983. As the Style Council's career progressed, Weller's interest in soul developed into an infatuation with jazz-pop and house music, which eventually led to gradual erosion of his audience — by 1990, he couldn't get a record contract in the UK, where he had previously been worshipped as a demi-god. As a solo artist, Weller returned to soul music as an inspiration, cutting it with the progressive, hippie tendencies of Traffic. Weller's solo records were more organic and rootsier than the Style Council, which helped him regain his popularity within Britain. By the mid-'90s, he had released three successful albums which were both critically-acclaimed and massively popular in England, where contemporary bands like Ocean Colour Scene were citing him as an influence. Just as importantly, many observers, while occasionally criticizing the trad-rock nature of his music, acknowledged that Weller was one of the few rock veterans that had managed to stay vital within the second decade of his career.

11 Track 11
Paul Weller Lyrics

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Like a dream on the ocean,
Always drifting away,
And I can't catch up,
She just slips away, (on the tide)

Sometimes a great notion,
Can lead us astray,
So weak to devotion'

So strong to deny

Oh baby baby won't you let me ride
Take me up on your sailboat ride
Come on now angels are on your side
But she slips away on the tide

Like mercury gliding,
A silver teardrop that pours,
And I can't hold on,
Through my fingers she falls

At the foot of the mountain,
Such a long way to climb,
How will I ever get up there ?
Though I know I must try

Oh baby baby won't you let me ride
Take me up on your sailboat ride,
Come on now angels are on your side,
But she slips away,
Oh never stays

Yeah she slips away
Oh and she slips away

Yeah she slips away
Oh and she slips away

Overall Meaning

In Paul Weller's song 11 Track 11, he laments about a love that constantly slips away from him. The first verse begins with a simile, stating that his love is like a dream on the ocean - always drifting away, and he can never catch up. This shows the desperation and frustration he feels towards the relationship. He then talks about a great notion that can lead one astray, meaning that sometimes we may have great hopes and expectations for a relationship, but they may not end up being what we thought they would be. However, he seems to be too weak to let go and move on, and too strong to fully commit, leading to his love continually slipping away from him.

The second verse continues with the metaphorical language, comparing his love to mercury gliding - something slippery and difficult to grasp. He expresses his desire to hold on, but she falls through his fingers, implying that perhaps the relationship has already ended or is coming to an end. He then talks about the daunting task of climbing a mountain, symbolizing the challenges he must face in order to keep the relationship alive. He knows he must try, but it seems impossible.

Overall, the song is a melancholic representation of a love that is constantly slipping away, and the struggles that one may face in trying to hold onto it. The metaphorical language and vivid imagery used throughout the song help to paint a vivid picture of the emotions involved.

Line by Line Meaning

Like a dream on the ocean,
She is like a dream on the ocean, always drifting away,

Always drifting away,
She is always drifting away like a dream on the ocean,

And I can't catch up,
He cannot catch up to her,

She just slips away, (on the tide)
She just slips away like the tide,

Sometimes a great notion,
Sometimes a great idea or thought,

Can lead us astray,
Can misguide us or lead us in the wrong direction,

So weak to devotion',
Sometimes weak when devoted or attached to someone,

So strong to deny
But strong when denying or rejecting someone or something,

Oh baby baby won't you let me ride
He wants her to let him ride with her,

Take me up on your sailboat ride
He wants her to take him on a sailboat ride with her,

Come on now angels are on your side
He thinks angels are on her side,