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.
Bring Back The Funk
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a time, there was
When the brightest half of the sky
Let us know we were loved
And there was a feeling old and gold
And bold
And beautiful
Something noble, something lost
When you bring back the funk y'all
Slip up and slide
When you bring back the funk y'all
With no place left to hide
No place left to hide
When not only the wind in our sails
Some magic too
Sometimes we forget
Just how high the moon
It was something bright and fine
And in time
Became the world
It would shed stars and bars
All kinds of hearts
Were together again
When you bring back the funk y'all
Slip up and slide
When you bring back the funk y'all
With no place left to hide
When you bring back the funk y'all
Slip up and slide
When you bring back the funk y'all
With no place left to hide
No place left to hide
When you learn to speak
Whenever you want or need
When you learn to cry
When it passes you by
It is something, something to me now
It is something, something to me now
Give me something, something to me now
Once upon a dream
In the midnight hour
There was nothing like scene
And we thank the crowd
Now its a feeling tame and small
And though it all
I'll look for word
Just one more night exists
Just what if
We dreamt for all
When you bring back the funk y'all
Slip up and slide
When you bring back the funk y'all
With no place left to hide
When you bring back the funk y'all
Get up and slide
When you bring back the funk y'all
With no place left to hide
When you bring back the funk y'all
Get up and slide
When you bring back the funk y'all
There'll be no place left to hide
When you bring back the funk y'all
When you bring back the funk y'all
When you bring back the love y'all
When you bring back the love y'all
When you bring back the funk y'all
When you bring back the love y'all
When you bring back the funk y'all
When you bring back the funk y'all
Get up and slide
When you bring back the funk y'all
There'll be no place left to hide
When you bring back the funk y'all
When you bring back the funk y'all
When you bring back the love y'all
When you bring back the love y'all
When you bring back the funk y'all
When you bring back the love y'all
When you bring back the funk y'all
The lyrics to Paul Weller's song "Bring Back The Funk" are nostalgic and about reflecting on a better time in the past. Weller reminiscences about a time when "the brightest half of the sky" - perhaps meaning the world - showed love and there was a feeling of something old and bold and beautiful. There was something noble that was lost but it was safe yet curious. Weller then implores us to bring back the funk, to slip up and slide with no place left to hide. The nostalgia continues as he sings about how it was a feeling bright and fine which in time became the world; but now it is something tame and small. He wonders if it is possible to dream again and have that feeling of togetherness once more. The ending of the song repeats the hook to bring back the funk and the love.
In summary, the lyrics of "Bring Back The Funk" express a longing for a time when things were better and a desire to return to that state of joy and unity. Weller suggests that this can be achieved by bringing back the funk, a metaphor for the feeling of that golden age.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time
There was a period in the past
There was a time, there was
A time existed in the past
When the brightest half of the sky
When the sun shone brightly
Let us know we were loved
It gave us a feeling of love and warmth
And there was a feeling old and gold
A feeling of nostalgia and happiness
And bold
And confident
And beautiful
And attractive
Something noble, something lost
A sense of righteousness and something missing
Safe yet curious
Feeling secure yet curious about the world
When you bring back the funk y'all
When you revive the joyful and soulful vibe
Slip up and slide
Move freely and enjoyably
With no place left to hide
With nothing to fear or be ashamed of
When not only the wind in our sails
When we have not only our spirits lifted
Some magic too
But also something special and inexplicable
Sometimes we forget
We tend to overlook
Just how high the moon
How amazing life could be
It was something bright and fine
It was a beautiful and wonderful time
And in time
Over time
Became the world
It turned into everything around us
It would shed stars and bars
It would radiate achievement and success
All kinds of hearts
People with different personalities
Were together again
Joined together once more
When you learn to speak
When you find your voice
Whenever you want or need
At any time you desire or require
When you learn to cry
When you let your emotions out
When it passes you by
When the opportunity is gone forever
It is something, something to me now
It means something to me now, something important
Give me something, something to me now
Give me something meaningful now
Once upon a dream
In a dream I had
In the midnight hour
Late at night
There was nothing like scene
There was no place more amazing
And we thank the crowd
And we express our gratitude to the people around us
Now its a feeling tame and small
Now it feels dull and insignificant
And though it all
Despite everything
I'll look for word
I will search for the right words
Just one more night exists
Just one more night is still there
Just what if
What if
We dreamt for all
We have the power to dream and achieve anything
Get up and slide
Stand up and dance joyfully
When you bring back the love y'all
When you bring back the feeling of love and togetherness
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@colindiven963
Out of this world..this guy never fails to amaze me..out standing the older he gets he just shines with absolutely amazing music..first class
@diannekrogh3668
Can't stop chain playing this one! Wow!!
@TheMICKLEE777
Reminds so much of The Style Council....
@senatormendoza7657
Killer
@stephenbastide1073
Certainly damn does.