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.
All Good Books
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bending all his words
Of which he's proud
But the carpenter was only
Making invitations
Voicing the opinions of others
Sending down a word
Only as a vessel
As a bell
And the violence you've mistaken
In the words you took to be taken
And the images of hatred
Against all that we're worth
All that you love
All that you give
All we hold dear
If Mohamed could see us now
Shaking down the walls
But not as prayer
And the power games that play out
And the lies that come within out
Against all we are worth
All we hold dear
All that is true
All that we love
All we dream of
All that you give
The song "All Good Books" by Paul Weller is a reflective piece that delves into the relationship between religious teachings and the interpretation of these teachings by humans. The opening line "If Jesus could hear us now" sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the lyrics focus on how Jesus' teachings have been distorted and manipulated over time. These manipulations can be seen through the bending of his words and the violence in the interpretation of them. The verse also suggests that Jesus was merely a messenger, voicing the opinions of others rather than promoting his own agenda.
The chorus of the song introduces the idea that the word of religion can act as a vessel for the message it conveys, much like a bell. The violence and hateful images often associated with religion are mistaken, and the true value of religion lies in what it represents - all that we hold dear, all that we love, and all we give. The second verse brings to mind the teachings of Islam, referencing Mohamed's image of shaking walls down, and the power games and lies that often come with this. The chorus is repeated once again, emphasizing the true value of religion, and the role it should play in promoting love, compassion, and understanding.
Overall, the song seems to suggest that while religion can be a powerful tool for good, it is often misrepresented and twisted by humans. Instead of focusing on the message of love and compassion that religions promote, we tend to focus on the divisions between religions and the power struggles that result. The song is a call to return to the true values of religion, and to recognize the common ground that exists between different faiths.
Line by Line Meaning
If Jesus could hear us now
Contemplating the reaction Jesus would have to the current state of the world
Bending all his words
Twisting and manipulating the scriptures to fit certain agendas
Of which he's proud
Boasting about their selective interpretation of the Bible
But the carpenter was only
However, Jesus was simply
Making invitations
Inviting individuals to follow his teachings
Voicing the opinions of others
Sharing the beliefs of the people he encountered
Sending down a word
Spreading a message
That travels well
One that can endure and resonate with people over time
Only as a vessel
Merely as a conduit for a greater truth
As a bell
Similar to the sound of ringing from a bell to bring attention to something important
And the violence you've mistaken
The misconceptions you have regarding violence
In the words you took to be taken
Your misinterpretation of certain phrases
And the images of hatred
The harmful images and messages portrayed towards others
Against all that we're worth
Disrespecting the value of human life
All that you love
Everything that holds a special place in your heart
All that you give
The things that you offer to others
All we hold dear
The things that we deeply cherish and treasure
If Mohamed could see us now
Reflecting on what Mohamed would think of modern society
Shaking down the walls
Breaking barriers and disrupting traditional systems
But not as prayer
Unlike traditional forms of worship
And the power games that play out
The manipulation and control struggles that occur
And the lies that come within out
The deceit that arises from within ourselves
All that is true
The things that are authentic and genuine
All that we love
The things that bring us joy and happiness
All we dream of
Our aspirations and desires for the future
All that you give
The things that we are willing to give to others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind