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.
Heavy Soul Pt. 1
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Written there in steam
In the heat of the moment
At the birth of a dream
Vapors passing really
So I'm touched by the thoughts
In the fleeting minutes after
Come and go, you know, where the wind blows
An' though I couldn't define
I can only tell you that I
Got a heavy soul
Tuesdays dressed in shearling
Anchored on belief
In the sunlight on the water
Or rain upon a leaf
And I'm touched by its' beauty
And I hope to touch you too
'Cause I still seek the same things
That I once sought to be true
And you know, that where the wind blows
Tho' I wouldn't be lying, when I tell you that I
Got a heavy soul
It's a joy to know
I've got a heavy soul
We're words upon a window
Written there in steam
In the heat of the moment
Everything is what it seems
Vapors passing nearly
So I'm touched by the thought
That I can't be beaten and I can't be bought
And you'll know
That where the wind blows
I don't think I'd be lyin'
When I tell you that I
I've got a heavy soul
The song "Heavy Soul" by Paul Weller is about the rawness of emotions and experiences that leave a permanent mark on one's soul. The lyrics reference words written on a window in steam, representing the temporary nature of life and how experiences can leave a lasting impact. The lyrics describe a feeling of being touched by beauty and seeking truth in the world. The line, "And I'm touched by its' beauty, And I hope to touch you too," shows a desire to share this feeling with someone else.
The song also acknowledges that life can be unpredictable, with the line "Come and go, you know, where the wind blows." Despite this uncertainty, the singer feels anchored by their beliefs and experiences, as heard in the lines "Tuesdays dressed in shearling, Anchored on belief." The overall message of the song is that even though life can be challenging and uncertain, these experiences can shape and strengthen one's soul.
Line by Line Meaning
We're words upon a window
We are like a message written on a window
Written there in steam
Our message is written in passing vapor
In the heat of the moment
During a moment of intense feeling
At the birth of a dream
At the beginning of a hopeful vision
Vapors passing really
The passing vapor is fleeting
So I'm touched by the thoughts
I am moved by these passing thoughts
In the fleeting minutes after
In the brief but significant moments following
The time that we've come
The time we have spent together
Come and go, you know, where the wind blows
It is uncertain where we are headed next
An' though I couldn't define
Even though I can't explain it clearly
I can only tell you that I
I can only express that
Got a heavy soul
I feel a deep soulfulness
Tuesdays dressed in shearling
An expression of a particular moment or style
Anchored on belief
Based on strong conviction
In the sunlight on the water
In the beauty of nature
Or rain upon a leaf
Even in the small details of nature
And I'm touched by its' beauty
I am moved by the beauty of nature
And I hope to touch you too
I hope to share this feeling with you
'Cause I still seek the same things
Because I am still searching for the same things in life
That I once sought to be true
That I once believed were true
And you know, that where the wind blows
And you know, that we can't predict the future
Tho' I wouldn't be lying, when I tell you that I
Although I can't predict the future, I wouldn't be lying to say that
Got a heavy soul
I still feel a deep soulfulness
It's a joy to know
It is a happy thing to feel this way
We're words upon a window
We are like a message written on a window
Written there in steam
Our message is written in passing vapor
In the heat of the moment
During a moment of intense feeling
Everything is what it seems
Things are as they appear to be
Vapors passing nearly
The passing vapor is nearly gone
So I'm touched by the thought
I am moved by this idea
That I can't be beaten and I can't be bought
That I have an unbreakable spirit
And you'll know
And this is something you will see
That where the wind blows
That we can't predict the future
I don't think I'd be lyin'
I truly believe
When I tell you that I
When I say that
I've got a heavy soul
I still feel a deep soulfulness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind