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.
Phoenix
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The cool of the morning
I got nothing on my mind
Only love that's coming
The birds and bees
I find it
The sun through the trees
I find it
And beauty everywhere
I
Some do find it
Wait to tomorrow
Other deny it
Wait to tomorrow
We all go on looking
Wait to tomorrow
Some days we find it, find it
See friend holding hands
See lovers by fountains
And out of these ashes
A Phoenix is rising
The birds and bees
I find it
The sun through the trees
There's a scent in the air
I find it
And beauty everywhere
I
Some try hide it
Wait to tomorrow
Try hard to describe it
We all go on looking
Wait to tomorrow
Some days we find it, find it
Others deny it
Wait to tomorrow
Don't even get to try it
Wait to tomorrow
We all go on looking
Wait to tomorrow
Some days we find it, find it
The birds and the bees
The sun through the trees
There's scent in the air
And beauty everywhere
The birds and the bees
Wait to tomorrow
The sun through the trees
There's scent in the air
Wait to tomorrow
And beauty everywhere
Wait to tomorrow
Some try hide it
Wait to tomorrow
Others deny it
We all go on looking
Wait to tomorrow
Some days we find it, find it
Wait to tomorrow
Paul Weller's song Phoenix talks about the beauty of nature and the search for love and meaning in life. The opening lines of the song "The blue of the sky, the cool of the morning, I got nothing on my mind, only love that's coming" sets the tone for the song. Weller sings about the simple joys of life like seeing friends holding hands and lovers by fountains, and how out of the ashes, a Phoenix rises, symbolizing hope and rebirth.
Throughout the song, Weller emphasizes that we are all searching for something, whether it's love or meaning in life, and we all go on looking, waiting for tomorrow. He also acknowledges that some people try to hide their feelings, while others deny them, but ultimately we all have days where we find what we are looking for.
The chorus of the song, which is repeated throughout, emphasizes the beauty and wonder of the natural world, with lines like "The birds and bees, the sun through the trees, there's scent in the air, and beauty everywhere." Weller's powerful lyrics and poignant melody create a sense of hope and optimism, reminding us that love and beauty can be found all around us, if we are willing to look.
Line by Line Meaning
The blue of the sky
The clear sky above is a symbol of a new beginning filled with hope and promise.
The cool of the morning
The refreshing morning air is a reminder to take a breath and appreciate the simple things in life.
I got nothing on my mind
The singer is in a state of clarity and free from distraction or worry.
Only love that's coming
The singer is filled with love and positivity for the future.
The birds and bees
I find it
The sun through the trees
There's a scent in the air
I find it
And beauty everywhere
I
The world is full of beauty and wonder, and the singer is able to appreciate its simple pleasures.
Some do find it
Wait to tomorrow
Some people are able to find joy and wonder in life immediately, while others may need to wait and search for it in the future.
Other deny it
Wait to tomorrow
Some people may be unable or unwilling to recognize the beauty in the world and may need more time to come to appreciate it.
We all go on looking
Wait to tomorrow
Some days we find it, find it
Everyone continues to search for beauty and meaning in life, and there may be days where they are successful in finding it.
See friend holding hands
See lovers by fountains
And out of these ashes
A Phoenix is rising
Through the acts of love and companionship, new beginnings and opportunities for growth can arise.
Some try hide it
Wait to tomorrow
Try hard to describe it
We all go on looking
Wait to tomorrow
Some days we find it, find it
Some people may try to conceal their emotions or feelings, while others may struggle to put them into words. Nonetheless, everyone continues to search for beauty and meaning, and may eventually be successful in finding it.
Others deny it
Wait to tomorrow
Don't even get to try it
Wait to tomorrow
We all go on looking
Wait to tomorrow
Some days we find it, find it
Some may be in a state of denial or feel unable to try to find meaning in the world, yet all individuals continue to look for it, and some days may be successful.
The birds and the bees
Wait to tomorrow
The sun through the trees
There's scent in the air
Wait to tomorrow
And beauty everywhere
Wait to tomorrow
Beauty can be found all around us, however, sometimes we need to wait until the next day to fully appreciate it.
Wait to tomorrow
This refrain serves as a reminder that sometimes it takes time to recognize and appreciate the beauty in the world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAN NICHOLAS KYBERT, PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind