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.
Big Boss Groove
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To get any back to you will have to pay
Don't shout or get upset
It's the same message from the holy Tory government
Don't rock the sinking ship
And don't fly in the face of it
Work for your heaven's way
It's the same bullshit from the pulpit and the president
Hear keys getting in my way
It drives me crazy when I hear them say
"Let us pray" 'cause I want my heaven here on earth
Get up is what we say
Don't wait for judgement day
There's too much going on
You might think you're weak
But together we can be so strong
This world is no man's land
Our lives are in our hands
Our will is our command
You put it together and together we can make a stand
Our faith is the key to it
The unifying for some reason to be
You will see if you stand outside
The big boss groove
Get on up!
Our faith is the key to it
The unifying for some reason to be
You will see if you stand outside
The big boss groove
Get up is what we say
And don't wait for judgement day
There's too much going on
You may think you're weak
But together we can be so strong
This world is no man's land
Our lives are in our hands
Our will is our command
You put it together and together we can make a stand
In our hands, our command, and together we can make a stand!
Yeah!
The lyrics of Paul Weller's "Big Boss Groove" convey a message of empowerment, resistance, and the rejection of established authority. The song critiques the government, the church, and the president, referring to them as "holy Tory government," "bullshit from the pulpit," and "the sinking ship." Weller urges the listener not to wait for judgment day and not to comply with the oppressive systems in place.
The chorus highlights the importance of unity and collective action. Weller sings about coming together to be strong, emphasizing that individuals have the power to shape their own destinies. He challenges the notion of relying on a higher power for salvation ("Let us pray"), instead advocating for taking control of one's life and creating a better world on earth.
The phrase "the big boss groove" can be interpreted as the dominant system, the powerful forces that seek to control and suppress. Weller encourages listeners to stand outside this groove and resist its influence. The song suggests that faith in oneself and unity among individuals are the key ingredients to bring about change and counter the oppressive structures in society.
Overall, "Big Boss Groove" is a call to action and a rallying cry for people to come together, reject the status quo, and fight for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold on is what they say
They tell you to wait and be patient
To get any back to you will have to pay
You have to pay in order to receive what you deserve
Don't shout or get upset
Don't express your anger or frustration
It's the same message from the holy Tory government
The government is sending the same message
Don't rock the sinking ship
Don't cause further trouble or conflict
And don't fly in the face of it
Don't challenge or oppose it
Work for your heaven's way
Strive towards your own version of happiness
It's the same bullshit from the pulpit and the president
The religious and political leaders are feeding you the same lies
Hear keys getting in my way
Hearing the religious prayers annoys and bothers me
It drives me crazy when I hear them say
It frustrates me when I listen to their words
"Let us pray" 'cause I want my heaven here on earth
I want to create my own paradise in this earthly life
Get up is what we say
We encourage you to take action
Don't wait for judgement day
Don't postpone your actions until it's too late
There's too much going on
There are many things happening
You might think you're weak
You may believe you're not strong enough
But together we can be so strong
But when united, we become powerful
This world is no man's land
This world does not belong to anyone in particular
Our lives are in our hands
We have control over our own lives
Our will is our command
Our desires dictate our actions
You put it together and together we can make a stand
If we join forces, we can take a stance together
Our faith is the key to it
Believing in something is crucial
The unifying for some reason to be
It brings people together for a purpose
You will see if you stand outside
You will understand if you observe from a distance
The big boss groove
The influential and powerful system in place
Get on up!
Energize and take action!
And don't wait for judgement day
And don't delay until it's too late
You may think you're weak
You might believe you lack strength
But together we can be so strong
However, when united, we become powerful
In our hands, our command, and together we can make a stand!
We have the ability to take control and stand together
Yeah!
Expressing agreement and enthusiasm
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MICK TALBOT, PAUL WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cherokee Lair
This is one of my absolute favorite Paul Weller songs~The lyrics are as true today as they were when this came out in the mid-eighties. It is such a brilliant riff on our ridiculous governments and our religious beliefs...
And then he thoroughly cracks me up by dressing in sansabelt slacks and a teall green knock off Polo shirt. Bliley. I cannot look at this video without laughing but my God he got better at dressing himself!
Juan Bermudez
It drives me crazy when I hear them say
"Let us pray" 'cause I want my heaven here on earth
is my favorite line in any song ever
Daniel Palmer
One of the best songs from the band!! ✌️☺️
David Fowles
Weller and Talbot were brilliant together wish they would make a few new tunes...class act
Arkham guard 64
They actually did work together on Weller's On Sunset album I think
Troll
Love this song!
AVportau
one of the classiest brass pop bands ever..... even better than Haircut 100 and that's a big call coz i think Pelican West is such a legendary brass pop album... Paul is a musical genius.
PJ T
It's the dumpster fire of 2020 and this song is so true for today. ❤️🙌✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏻
joe ok
One of the most exciting Perth WA dance night club songs back in mid 1980's
ChainNonSmoker
What a great and beautiful groovy R&B music it makes me emotional. Weller &CO keeps changin me life.