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.
Absolute Beginners
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I looked across this world, there was no one to be seen
This empty feeling turned and quietly walked away
I saw no warmth in life, no love was in my eyes
I stared a century thinking this will never change
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
Too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall
But the absolute luck is, love is in our hearts!
I lost some hours thinking of it
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
An' I lost an era daydreaming like I do
I stared a century thinking this will never change
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
Too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall
But the absolute luck is, love is in our hearts!
In echoed steps you walk across an empty dream
But look around this world, there's millions to be seen
Come see the tyrants panic, see their crumbling empires fall
Then tell 'em we don't fight for fools 'cause love is in our hearts!
I lost some hours thinking of it
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
An' I lost an era daydreaming like I do
You can lose some hours thinking of it
You need the strength to go and get what you want
You can lose a lifetime thinking of it
And lose an era daydreaming like I do
The lyrics of Paul Weller's song "Absolute Beginners" convey a deep sense of emptiness, isolation, and longing for love and purpose in life. The singer describes walking through a dream-like existence, where the world appears desolate and devoid of human connection. The empty feeling that surrounds them dissipates, indicating a loss of hope and optimism. They perceive no warmth or love in their own eyes, suggesting a personal detachment from genuine emotions and relationships.
The singer reflects on their pessimistic mindset, staring into the abyss of time, convinced that nothing will ever change. This sentiment is reinforced by their hesitation to break free from their current state, fearing the consequences of taking risks and embracing vulnerability. The reference to the "absolute luck" being in our hearts implies that love, despite the struggles and uncertainties, has the potential to bring meaning and fulfillment to our lives.
The second verse delves deeper into the impact of this emotional void. The singer confesses to losing not just hours, but potentially an entire lifetime, consumed by this frustrating thought process. They admit to daydreaming and allowing their mind to wander aimlessly, indicative of a lack of direction and purpose.
However, the tone of the song shifts in the latter part, offering a glimmer of hope. The singer acknowledges that despite their own struggles, there are millions of people in the world who are waiting to be seen and connected with. They encourage others to witness the downfall of tyrants and crumbling empires, emphasizing that love is the driving force that should guide their actions, not foolishness or superficiality.
The repetition of the chorus highlights the universality of the theme - the loss of time and possibility due to excessive rumination. It serves as a reminder that everyone can fall victim to getting lost in their thoughts. The song calls for strength and determination to break free from this state, to pursue what one desires, and to shed the shackles of daydreaming. Ultimately, it suggests that finding love and purpose can help overcome the emptiness and transform one's perspective on life.
Line by Line Meaning
In echoed steps I walked across an empty dream
I moved forward in life, but it felt like I was going nowhere, like my aspirations and hopes were empty and unfulfilled.
I looked across this world, there was no one to be seen
When I surveyed the world around me, I felt a profound sense of loneliness and isolation, as if there were no other people in existence.
This empty feeling turned and quietly walked away
The sense of emptiness inside me eventually subsided, fading away quietly without a trace.
I saw no warmth in life, no love was in my eyes
I couldn't perceive any joy or affection in life, and it reflected in my own emotional state, as if love was absent from my gaze.
I stared a century thinking this will never change
I contemplated for what seemed like an eternity, convinced that nothing would ever transform or improve.
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
While I hesitated and held back, time moved forward swiftly, leaving me behind and unable to catch up.
Too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall
I was afraid to shatter the illusion that held me captive, too insignificant and fearful to face potential setbacks or failures.
But the absolute luck is, love is in our hearts!
However, the ultimate stroke of fortune lies in the fact that love resides within our hearts, offering us the power to overcome obstacles and find meaning.
I lost some hours thinking of it
I wasted a significant amount of time pondering over this situation.
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I require the necessary courage and determination to pursue and attain my desires.
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
I squandered a whole lifetime contemplating this matter without taking action.
An' I lost an era daydreaming like I do
And I let an entire era slip away while I indulged in idle daydreaming, failing to accomplish anything substantial.
But look around this world, there's millions to be seen
However, if you open your eyes and observe the world around you, you'll notice countless opportunities and people waiting to be discovered.
Come see the tyrants panic, see their crumbling empires fall
Witness the fear and desperation of oppressive rulers as their once-powerful empires collapse and crumble.
Then tell 'em we don't fight for fools 'cause love is in our hearts!
And in the face of such tyranny, let us proclaim that we don't engage in battles for foolish causes, for the strength of love resides within us.
You can lose some hours thinking of it
One can waste precious time contemplating this matter.
You need the strength to go and get what you want
One requires the necessary resilience and determination to pursue and achieve their desires.
You can lose a lifetime thinking of it
One can squander an entire lifetime pondering over this situation without taking action.
And lose an era daydreaming like I do
And let an entire era slip away while indulging in idle daydreaming, failing to accomplish anything substantial, just like I did.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mitsos3789
Lyrics
In echoed steps I walked across an empty dream
I looked across this world, there was no one to be seen
This empty feeling turned and quietly walked away
I saw no warmth in life, no love was in my eyes
I stared a century thinking this will never change
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
Too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall
But the absolute luck is, love is in our hearts!
I lost some hours thinking of it
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
An' I lost an era daydreaming like I do
I stared a century thinking this will never change
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
Too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall
But the absolute luck is, love is in our hearts!
In echoed steps you walk across an empty dream
But look around this world, there's millions to be seen
Come see the tyrants panic, see their crumbling empires fall
Then tell 'em we don't fight for fools 'cause love is in our hearts!
I lost some hours thinking of it
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
An' I lost an era daydreaming like I do
You can lose some hours thinking of it
You need the strength to go and get what you want
You can lose a lifetime thinking of it
And lose an era daydreaming like I do
@awayoflife4110
In echoed steps I walked across an empty dream
I looked across this world, there was no one to be seen
This empty feeling turned and quietly walked away
I saw no warmth in life, no love was in my eyes
I stared a century thinking this will never change
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
Too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall
But the absolute luck is, love is in our hearts!
I lost some hours thinking of it
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
An' I lost an era daydreaming like I do
I stared a century thinking this will never change
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
Too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall
But the absolute luck is, love is in our hearts!
In echoed steps you walk across an empty dream
But look around this world, there's millions to be seen
Come see the tyrants panic, see their crumbling empires fall
Then tell 'em we don't fight for fools 'cause love is in our hearts!
I lost some hours thinking of it
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
An' I lost an era daydreaming like I do
You can lose some hours thinking of it
You need the strength to go and get what you want
You can lose a lifetime thinking of it
And lose an era daydreaming like I do
@subtlebluntduality5997
I definitely love The Jam. I wish they were more well known in the US but for those of us who know this band, we REALLY love them!
@chewybunz
There was a radio episode I listened to back in '82 that examined why the band never broke big here.
@ottomanfred2473
🤔 to be honest ' it's almost better that they didnt make it big here in the USA. That would made them change their style to fit the us market. The Jam speaks of issues that only the UK or Europeans would understand. Long live the Jam. The UK and Europe. Thank you for sharing your great bands and talent with the world.. 🙏😊👽🍻
@captainkttyhwk
Loved them for decades...now retired to 49777 and still listening!!
@johncronin1082
Absolutely love this song ...never gets the air time it deserves
@jlmagoya
Bruce’s most melodic bass line ever. Long, sustained notes pushing the melody on from start to finish.
@houmm08
One of our greatest bands, incredible song writing and musical ability. Just amazing
@a.lee713
My generation may have crappy music, but at least we've got access to amazing stuff like this.
@spinningmonkey2358
Exactly mate 🤝
@ARyan-nf5my
Music scene’s finished kids’ve swapped it for identity politics.