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.
Kling I Klang
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cry, cry, cry, cry the ?
These empty days of tears ? do not speak
Bang, bang, bang shot the passers by
I don't care, cry the ? wife
The only numbers melting in loss
And I don't care about the coming wave
Broke myself to my surprise
Then settle up and ride into the night
Seen anybody, set the ? head
Damn, damn, damn show
Is hard to tell, the fight is from within!
Move, move, move, shine your every light
Lift up ? and ? alike
Tell the man that you want him home tonight!
And I don't care about the coming wave
I take my chances in the grave
? matters now,
I can't undo what I don't know how
And I don't care what the neighbors think
? dripping from the kitchen sink
The death comes down and changes my world
?I find myself so much!
And I don't care about the coming wave
I take my chances in the grave
Broke myself to my surprise
Then settle up and ride into the night
Kling I Klang, Kling I Klang, Kling I Klang
The lyrics to Paul Weller's song "Kling I Klang" are intentionally enigmatic and open to interpretation. However, the overall message seems to be one of nihilism and detachment. The repeated phrase "Kling I Klang" might refer to the sound of bells ringing or to the clashing of opposing forces. The line "Killing all the bells to kill" suggests a desire to silence the noise and chaos of the world. The next lines, "Cry, cry, cry, cry the ? / These empty days of tears ? do not speak," could be interpreted as a commentary on the futility of tears and grief in a world that does not listen or care.
The next verse takes a violent turn, with the line "Bang, bang, bang shot the passers by." This could be a reference to the senseless violence that seems to plague society. The line "The only numbers melting in loss" suggests a feeling of desolation and despair in the face of tragedy. The chorus, "And I don't care about the coming wave / I take my chances in the grave / Broke myself to my surprise / Then settle up and ride into the night," reinforces the idea that the singer feels disconnected from the world and resigned to their fate. The final lines, "Kling I Klang, Kling I Klang, Kling I Klang," could be seen as a final resignation to the chaos and noise of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Kling, King, Killing all the bells to kill
I am destroying the bells and their sounds completely!
Cry, cry, cry, cry the ?
The sound of crying is too much to bear.
These empty days of tears ? do not speak
My days are full of sadness and tears, but they don't express anything.
Bang, bang, bang shot the passers by
I am shooting the people who pass me by.
I don't care, cry the ? wife
My wife is crying, but I don't care.
The only numbers melting in loss
I am only losing the numbers that no longer matter.
And I don't care about the coming wave
I am indifferent to the potential danger that is approaching.
I take my chances in the grave
I am willing to risk everything even if it means death.
Broke myself to my surprise
I have been broken beyond my own comprehension.
Then settle up and ride into the night
I will gather myself and move forward under the cover of darkness.
Seen anybody, set the ? head
Have you seen anyone with their head set in a certain direction?
Damn, damn, damn show
This situation is frustrating and difficult to handle.
Is hard to tell, the fight is from within!
It's difficult to determine where the conflict is coming from, but it's internal.
Move, move, move, shine your every light
We need to keep moving forward and shining a light on every situation.
Lift up ? and ? alike
We need to lift up everyone regardless of their background.
Tell the man that you want him home tonight!
Let the man know that you want him to come home tonight.
Broke myself to my surprise
I have been broken beyond my own comprehension.
Then settle up and ride into the night
I will gather myself and move forward under the cover of darkness.
And I don't care about the coming wave
I am indifferent to the potential danger that is approaching.
I take my chances in the grave
I am willing to risk everything even if it means death.
? matters now,
Nothing else matters now.
I can't undo what I don't know how
I cannot fix what I don't understand.
And I don't care what the neighbors think
I am not concerned with the opinions of others.
? dripping from the kitchen sink
There is something dripping from the kitchen sink.
The death comes down and changes my world
Death has come and altered my entire world.
?I find myself so much!
I have discovered so much about myself.
Kling I Klang, Kling I Klang, Kling I Klang
The sound of destruction and chaos is all around.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIMON DINE, PAUL WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
chrisbafc
Love this tune
Robert Wilson
Sounds like Damon Albarn