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.
Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't no love in the heart of town.
Ain't no love, sure 'nough is a pity,
Ain't no love 'cos you ain't around
Baby, since you been around.
Ain't no love in the heart of the city,
Ain't no love in the heart of town.
Ain't no love 'cos you ain't around.
Every place that I go, well, it seems so strange.
Without you, baby, baby, things have changed.
Now that you re gone y'know the sun don't shine
From the city hall to the county line.
Ain't no love in the heart of the city,
Ain't no love in the heart of town.
Ain't no love, sure 'nough is a pity,
Ain't no love 'cos you ain't around.
Every place that I go, well, it seems so strange.
Without you, baby, baby, things have changed.
Now that you re gone y'know the sun don't shine
From the city hall, woman, to the county line.
And that's why ain't no love in the heart of the city,
There ain't no love in the heart of town.
There ain't no love, sure 'nough is a pity,
Ain't no love 'cos you ain't around.
There ain't no love in the heart of the city,
There ain't no love in the heart of town.
Ain't no love, sure 'nough is a pity,
Ain't no love 'cos you ain't around
'cos you ain't around.
The song "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" by Paul Weller is a melancholic ballad that laments the absence of love in the bustling urban landscape. The song begins with the repeated phrase "Ain't no love in the heart of the city" which sets the tone of the song, enveloping the listener in the despair and emptiness of the city. The singer then goes on to state that it is a pity that there is no love, and the reason why is because his beloved is not around. The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the sense of loss and sadness that permeates the song.
The verses of the song describe the feeling of alienation and loneliness that the singer experiences without his loved one. Everywhere he goes, everything seems strange and unfamiliar, and the absence of his beloved casts a gloomy cloud over everything. The lyrics "Now that you're gone you know the sun don't shine / From the city hall to the county line" highlights the extent of his loss, suggesting that his world has been plunged into darkness without her.
Overall, "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" is a poignant song that captures the feeling of loneliness and heartbreak that can arise in the midst of crowded urban landscapes. The song is a testament to the power of love in transforming and enriching our lives, but also a reminder of the pain and sorrow that can result when that love is absent.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no love in the heart of the city,
The city is devoid of love.
Ain't no love in the heart of town.
Town too is devoid of love.
Ain't no love, sure 'nough is a pity,
It is a great sorrow that there is no love.
Ain't no love 'cos you ain't around
There is no love because you are not here.
Every place that I go, well, it seems so strange.
Everywhere I go, it all feels so unfamiliar.
Without you, baby, baby, things have changed.
Things have changed since you left, my love.
Now that you re gone y'know the sun don't shine
Without you, there is no sunshine.
From the city hall to the county line.
This covers a vast area, meaning the darkness caused by your absence is widespread.
And that's why ain't no love in the heart of the city,
This is why there is no love in the city.
There ain't no love, sure 'nough is a pity,
It's a great pity that there is no love.
Ain't no love 'cos you ain't around
The absence of love is due to your absence.
There ain't no love in the heart of the city,
The city is still without love.
There ain't no love in the heart of town.
Town too is still void of love.
Ain't no love, sure 'nough is a pity,
Unfortunately, there's still no love.
Ain't no love 'cos you ain't around
The absence of love continues because you are still absent.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dan Walsh, Michael Alan Price
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind