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.
5th Season
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind is howling such thoughts of death
Why am I so lost and confused?
Can't find the reason for feeling blue
There's so much I can't explain
Hope this season changes soon
The lightning strikes and the mountains fall
The sea's come crashing against it all
Hang on tight in the tides of change
And get your bearings from those still sane
There's so much I've yet to feel
Hope the seasons change me too.
The serpent tangles in the lion's claw
A cloud of darkness hangs over all
As fires soar in search of sky
So blow embers like fire flies
Hoping love is where they'll lie
And the season change us too.
In Paul Weller's song "5th Season", the lyrics describe a tumultuous and uncertain state of mind. The singer is experiencing a storm inside his head, with thoughts of death and feelings of confusion and loss. He struggles to understand why he feels so blue and can't explain the reasons for it. The natural world echoes this chaos, with lightning strikes, mountains falling, and seas crashing against them.
Despite this, the singer encourages listeners to "hang on tight in the tides of change" and to seek guidance from those who remain grounded in reality. He hopes that the changing of the seasons will bring about a positive transformation for himself and for all of us. The song ends on a note of hope, with a metaphorical image of love as embers that can ignite and create a new season of growth and renewal.
Overall, "5th Season" is a powerful exploration of the human psyche and our connection to the natural world. It acknowledges the darkness within us and in the world around us, but ultimately offers a vision of resilience and transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
A storm is raging inside my head
My mind is in turmoil, filled with negativity and chaos.
The wind is howling such thoughts of death
My thoughts are dark and morbid, making me feel like death is imminent.
Why am I so lost and confused?
I cannot understand why I feel so directionless and bewildered.
Can't find the reason for feeling blue
There's no explanation for my sadness and melancholy.
There's so much I can't explain
There's a lot going on within me which is difficult to articulate or comprehend.
Hope this season changes soon
I'm looking forward to a time where positivity and change can occur in my life.
The lightning strikes and the mountains fall
The forces of nature can be powerful and destructive, much like my inner turmoil.
The sea's come crashing against it all
The waves of life can be overwhelming and unrelenting.
Hang on tight in the tides of change
It's important to stay strong during times of change and upheaval.
And get your bearings from those still sane
Find guidance from those who still possess clarity of mind.
There's so much I've yet to feel
There are still new experiences, emotions, and growth that await me.
Hope the seasons change me too.
I'm hoping that these changes will have a positive impact on me, and help me to grow and evolve.
The serpent tangles in the lion's claw
There's an intense struggle going on, with opposing forces waging a fierce battle.
A cloud of darkness hangs over all
There's a pervasive sense of negativity and gloom that casts a shadow over everything.
As fires soar in search of sky
Despite the darkness, there's still a glimmer of hope that things can change for the better.
So blow embers like fire flies
Let the small sparks of hope and positivity start to grow and spread.
Hoping love is where they'll lie
I'm hoping that these sparks of hope catch flame in the form of love and belonging.
And the season change us too.
I'm hopeful that these positive changes will affect us all, both individually and collectively.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind