Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of two successful bands: The Jam and The Style Council. In England, he is recognised as something of a national institution yet, because much of his songwriting is rooted in English culture, he has remained essentially a national rather than an international star.

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.

Everything Has a Price To Pay
Paul Weller Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here is the tune I've been writing
It's been so long in the making
I hope it's worth all the waiting
Not expect it all for free
Everything has one ending
Everything has it's day
There's no use in pretending
Yes, everything has a price to pay

You just asked me, what I'm feeling
Should I tell you?
Nothing is for free
Can't you see, can't you see?
Everything has a price to pay

Everything that I know is
Hanging on my melody
Everything has an ending
Yes, everything has a price to pay

You just asked me, what I'm feeling
Should I tell you?
Nothing is for free
Can't you see, can't you see?
Everything has a price to pay

Here is the tune I've been writing
It's been so long in the making

I hope it's worth all the waiting
Yes, everything has a price to pay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Paul Weller's song "Everything Has a Price To Pay" are a reflection on the inevitability of consequences and endings. The singer has been working on a tune for a long time, perhaps a metaphor for something he has been planning or working on for a while. He hopes that it is worth the effort and that it will not be taken for granted or expected for free. This can be seen as a commentary on valuing hard work and effort, and not taking things for granted.

The chorus repeats the message that everything has an ending, and therefore a price to pay. This can be interpreted in many ways, as everything in life has consequences, whether good or bad. The line "There's no use in pretending" suggests that trying to avoid the consequences of our actions is futile, and that we must face them head-on. The second verse further elaborates on the theme of consequences, with the singer acknowledging that everything he knows is "hanging on [his] melody", meaning that his actions and decisions will have an impact on the world around him.

The repeated refrain "Can't you see - can't you see?" suggests that the singer is imploring someone to understand the message of the song, perhaps someone who is oblivious to the consequences of their actions. Overall, the lyrics of "Everything Has a Price To Pay" are a sobering reminder that we must be mindful of the consequences of our actions and decisions.

Line by Line Meaning

Here is the tune I've been writing -
This is the song I created

It's been so long in the making
I spent a lot of time creating it

I hope it's worth all the waiting
I hope it's worth the time and effort

Not expect it all for free
You shouldn't anticipate it without giving anything in return

Everything has one ending -
Everything has a conclusion

Everything has it's day
Everything has a time when it is successful

There's no use in pretending -
There's no benefit in attempting to deceive oneself

Yes, everything has a price to pay
Everything requires effort to achieve

You just asked me, what I'm feeling
You inquired about my emotions

Should I tell you?
Do you actually want to know?

Nothing is for free
Everything has a cost involved