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.
Find the Torch Burn the Plans
Paul Weller Lyrics
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Find your way though the sand
Sing it like you already own it
[Incomprehensible] so show it
Oh, oh, oh
Find the torch, burn the plans
Scream like you already know it
Our dream is all that we owe it
Oh, oh, oh
Live your life if you can
Ride the wave with all [Incomprehensible]
Shout like you already know it
Our dream is all that we owe it
Oh, oh, oh
Sing it like you already own it
[Incomprehensible] so show it
Oh, oh, oh
Sha, la, la, sha-la-la
(Sha, la, la, sha-la-la)
Sha, la, la, sha-la-la
(Sha, la, la, sha-la-la)
Oh, oh, oh
The lyrics of Paul Weller's song "Find the Torch / Burn the Plans" provide a message of inspiration and encouragement to the listener. The opening lines urge one to "dream the dream" and persist through life's challenges by finding their way through the sand. The song impresses upon the listener that if they have a dream, they should go ahead and sing it out with confidence and make it a reality, by stating their case in the right place. The chorus encourages people to find their own path, taking control of their life, and to be passionate about their dreams, as the dream is all that they owe to themselves.
The song talks about grabbing opportunities and not just waiting for the world to give permission to pursue one's own dreams. The metaphorical lyrics "Find the torch, burn the plans, state your case in the land" hints at the need to separate from the old ways and creating an independent path by lighting one's way to a successful and fulfilling future. The sonorous "Sha la la" repeated throughout the song creates a positive atmosphere and reinforces the message interpreted through the song's lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Dream the dream if you can't
Imagine the possibility of success even if it seems impossible to achieve
Find your way though the sand
Overcome obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your dreams
Sing it like you already own it
Project confidence in your vision and your ability to achieve it
Incomprehensible
Unable to discern the lyrics to provide meaning
Find the torch, burn the plans
Be willing to take risks and blaze your own trail towards your goals
State your case in the land
Defend your vision and share it confidently with the world
Scream like you already know it
Express your vision with passion and conviction
Our dream is all that we owe it
We owe it to ourselves to pursue our dreams and make them a reality
Live your life if you can
Seize opportunities and take action towards realizing your goals
Ride the wave with all [Incomprehensible]
Make the most of life's opportunities and challenges as they come
Shout like you already know it
Be confident and assertive in your pursuit of your vision
Sha, la, la, sha-la-la
Refrain lyrics with no discernable meaning
(Sha, la, la, sha-la-la)
Refrain lyrics with no discernable meaning
Oh, oh, oh
Refrain lyrics with no discernable meaning
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIMON DINE, PAUL WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mod 66
This should be our national anthem