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.
Have You Ever Had It Blue
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a boat that's bound for hope - but left you in the queue
With your shouting, waving, taunting, flaunting friends as crew
Telling you that every lie you ever heard was true
Have you stood upon that deck - have you ever had it blue.
Have you ever woke to find the morning didn't come
Undelivered with the papers - stolen by someone
Found the milkman bound and gagged and shackles ' round the sun
The girl you had your heart set on - have you ever had it blue.
Have you ever watched the day, passing by your door
Powerless to change its course, your feet fixed to the floor
When all the people you thought you knew are changing more and more
Even the girl you thought would see, seems only to ignore
The only love worth fighting for - have you ever had it blue
The song "Have You Ever Had It Blue" by Paul Weller explores the feeling of hopelessness and despair when everything seems to be going wrong in life. The lyrics describe different scenarios where the singer feels trapped and powerless. The first verse talks about missing an opportunity and being left behind by friends who promised hope. The line "Telling you that every lie you ever heard was true" suggests that the singer has lost faith in everything they believed in. The phrase "have you ever had it blue" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the feeling of deep sadness and dissatisfaction.
The second verse takes a darker turn, describing a morning that never comes and a world turned upside down. The milkman, a symbol of regularity and routine, is tied up, and the sun is held captive. The person who holds the keys, the girl the singer had feelings for, is revealed to be the culprit. This adds another layer of betrayal and illustrates how everything the singer thought they knew was wrong. The final verse talks about watching the world pass by without being able to change anything. The line "even the girl you thought would see, seems only to ignore" highlights the feeling of isolation and loneliness.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of disillusionment with life and the people in it. The repeated question "have you ever had it blue" invites the listener to empathize with the singer and reflect on their own experiences of sadness and disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever chased the night that sailed in front of you
Have you ever pursued a seemingly unattainable goal
On a boat that's bound for hope - but left you in the queue
Have you ever been left waiting for an opportunity that never came
With your shouting, waving, taunting, flaunting friends as crew
Did you have friends who encouraged you to pursue impossible dreams?
Telling you that every lie you ever heard was true
Did they make you believe something that wasn't true?
Have you stood upon that deck - have you ever had it blue.
Have you ever felt hopeless despite your attempts at success?
Have you ever woke to find the morning didn't come
Have you ever felt like you missed the opportunity of a lifetime?
Undelivered with the papers - stolen by someone
Has someone taken what is rightfully yours?
Found the milkman bound and gagged and shackles 'round the sun
Have you found yourself unable to accomplish anything that day, despite your good intentions?
And the holder of the keys turns out to be the one
And the one who holds the key to your success turns out to be the one who set you up to fail.
The girl you had your heart set on - have you ever had it blue.
Have you ever been dumped by someone you loved deeply?
Have you ever watched the day, passing by your door
Have you ever had a day where nothing seems to happen?
Powerless to change its course, your feet fixed to the floor
Have you ever been helpless to change the events of the day?
When all the people you thought you knew are changing more and more
Were you ever disappointed when someone you knew changed dramatically?
Even the girl you thought would see, seems only to ignore
Did the person you like not return your affections back?
The only love worth fighting for - have you ever had it blue
Have you ever been in love with someone who doesn't love you back?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Wellerwellerable
When you think nothing could be better than the original version, he does this beauty. That's why I love Paul Weller.
@morenogiannelli8279
Magnifico pezzo ,che ascolterò fino alla fine dei miei giorni.
@leecash9767
"and all the people that you thought you knew are changing more and more"
@francescozabini4010
Unforgettable song! Amazing acoustic version.
@noie3825
Great to see/hear Paul play this one, after so many years. One of his finest lyrics.
@seandillon8580
Great style council track was used in the film absolute beginners
@terrikirschenzaft4353
Love to listen to this little broadcast situation with Stevie Zoom and Paul Weller whom brought the whole band with him, like the song too very much, it's funny but i just found out of Paul Weller 2 yrs ago on You Tube and he's part of my daily musical diet because he feels like a friend whom has deep feelings, something arresting about him and the music, everything about him! T Leckner, Montreal
@mavisnicholl4987
Amazing!! Paul just gets better with age!!
@Nasglen
WOW..I loved this to the bone!!!
Used to go to their concerts back in the 80's....had a terrible crush on Paul Weller. ..💗
@PB200559
Keep checking in for another listen to this. Just great. What a tight band, and Paul's voice get's better and better.