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.

22 Dreams
Paul Weller Lyrics

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I had 22 dreams last night
And you were in 21
The last one I saved for myself
Just to save my soul

I got this scene by a fireplace
I lose control and I'm in that place
I had 22 dreams last night

I had 45 films to watch
But only one I could take
The mysteries of a secret smile
It was so dull a place

Pull me over with a loving kiss
I remember all the things I missed
You mean so much with the darkness gone
I fell in love with the morning sun
I had 22 dreams last night

You pick me up with a loving kiss
I remembered all the things I missed
You mean so much with the darkness gone
I fell in love with the morning sun

I had 22 dreams last night
And you were in 21
That's enough for a lifetime of dreams
That's enough for anyone

22, 22, 22, 22
22, 22, 22, 22
22, 22, 22, 22

Just to save my soul
Just to save my soul

Just to save my soul
Just to save my soul

Overall Meaning

In "22 Dreams," Paul Weller sings about having 22 dreams in one night, with a particular focus on the fact that his lover is present in 21 of them. He saves the last dream for himself, for the sake of his soul. The line "Pull me over with a loving kiss" suggests a strong emotional connection with his lover, as they help him overcome his inner struggles. He reflects on the mysteries of a secret smile and the beauty of being free from darkness, noting that he fell in love with the morning sun.

The song conveys a sense of hope in overcoming one's struggles, with references to finding love and light in the darkness. Weller's use of vivid imagery, such as the fireplace and the morning sun, helps to create a strong emotional impact for the listener. The repetition of "22" throughout the song creates a hypnotic effect, further emphasizing the dream-like quality of the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

I had 22 dreams last night
I had a restless night with a lot of dreams, twenty-one of which you were a part of.

And you were in 21
Almost all of my dreams involved you in some way.

The last one I saved for myself
I kept one dream to myself and didn't involve you in it.

Just to save my soul
I needed to keep one dream to myself for my own well-being.

I got this scene by a fireplace
I had a dream where I was sitting in front of a fireplace.

I lose control and I'm in that place
I felt overwhelmed and lost in that dream.

I had 45 films to watch
In another dream, I had many films to choose from.

But only one I could take
But I could only choose one to watch.

The mysteries of a secret smile
The film I chose was about a person with a mysterious smile.

It was so dull a place
The film was uneventful and boring.

Pull me over with a loving kiss
In another dream, you pulled me over with a kiss full of love.

I remember all the things I missed
I remembered all the moments we were apart and how much I missed you.

You mean so much with the darkness gone
Your presence in my life has a significant impact and without it, there is darkness.

I fell in love with the morning sun
The rising sun symbolizes newfound hope and love in my life.

That's enough for a lifetime of dreams
Having you in my dreams for even one night is enough for a lifetime.

That's enough for anyone
Having someone as special as you in their dreams is enough for anyone.

Just to save my soul
The dream I kept to myself was important for my own well-being.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: SIMON DINE, PAUL WELLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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