Weller's eleventh studio album, Sonik Kicks, was released on 19 March 2012. The Green Songfacts reports that it was recorded in Wellerโs 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 โ 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.
Clues
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An open top one if it's warm
And if the flowers are in bloom
I'll lose myself to you
I'll be whistling down a street
You'll hear our footsteps start to meet
Then the craziness begins
We'll shoot the breeze
Heading up west
In an open top deck
Trying to remember just what for
Then we'll talk for hours and hours
About nothing much at all
With your long hair falling down
In curl after curl
And I too shy to ask
What I really want to do
Racked, with my own self doubt
I stumble and fall
Like a fool in love
My mind in the air
Heaven knows where
Yeah, heading up west
In an open top deck
Trying to remember just what for
The lyrics to Paul Weller's song Clues are a romantic and dreamy depiction of a couple's first date, where the singer invites his love interest on an open top bus ride through the city. He describes how they will meet early in the morning when the flowers are in bloom, and how he will be whistling down a street, anticipating the moment they will finally meet. Once they do, they will embark on an adventure together, "shooting the breeze" and talking "for hours and hours about nothing much at all". The singer's shyness prevents him from expressing his true feelings and desires, but he is entranced by the image of his partner's long hair falling down in "curl after curl".
Line by Line Meaning
I'll meet'cha on a bus at dawn
I will see you on a bus early in the morning.
An open top one if it's warm
It will be an open-top bus if the weather is warm.
And if the flowers are in bloom
And if flowers have blossomed, I will be captivated by your beauty.
I'll lose myself to you
I will give myself wholeheartedly to you.
I'll be whistling down a street
I'll stroll down the street cheerfully.
You'll hear our footsteps start to meet
You'll hear our footsteps merging as we walk towards each other.
Then the craziness begins
Then the madness begins.
An' like chalk and cheese
And like two very different things.
We'll shoot the breeze
We will chat idly.
Heading up west
Going in the direction of the west.
In an open top deck
On the top of an open bus.
Trying to remember just what for
Trying to recall why we are doing this.
Then we'll talk for hours and hours
Afterward, we'll talk endlessly.
About nothing much at all
About nothing noteworthy.
With your long hair falling down
With your long hair cascading down.
In curl after curl
In wave after wave.
And I too shy to ask
And I am too timid to ask.
What I really want to do
What I truly desire to do.
Racked, with my own self doubt
Troubled by my own disbelief.
I stumble and fall
I falter and lose my balance.
Like a fool in love
Like an infatuated simpleton.
My mind in the air
My mind is drifting aimlessly.
Heaven knows where
Only God knows where.
Yeah, heading up west
Yes, we are heading towards the west.
In an open top deck
On the top of an open bus.
Trying to remember just what for
Trying to recollect why we had undertaken this tour.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian DRFW
I saw Mr. Weller at the Greek Theater in Pasadena when this came out. I was 4th row center. It was unbelievable. What an artist and what amazing back up talent. Information I purchased at the show detailed some of the difficult times he faced after The Style Council (I love them) did not get re-signed. There is so much meaning behind his music for me. The second time I saw him was for Days of Speed (? I think) it is a pretty small venue called 4th and B in San Diego. His music has had such an impact on my life, ย ย it is hard to explain. From The Jam, but really when The Style Council came out. I would so LOVE to just sit with this man for a while, have a smoke and a drink and just talk. I would love to convey how he has influenced me so much. My favorite artist of all time.
chris brown
Love this song
Jo Sullivan
Love this song
Eddie Murphy
As Noel Gallagher said at the time,did the album cover look like a man that was all washed up, of course not...30 years old we are still on the Wellerbus!!
Brian DRFW
So excellent..I know this album back and forth 100 times. Got to see him on this tour.
Ciaran
Brilliant! But hard to listen to. I was only in love once in my life, I'm single, no kids & 51. Paul Weller was THE love of MY love's life & I still love this song.
Mod 66
What a song this is produced when he had been written off by everyone. 43 yrs now
Tony Small
One of many many fantastic choons from the magical musical poet ๐that is weller ๐ป๐
Everything is on the One
A beautiful song from a much loved album
Alan Binnie
Still his best album in my opinion.