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.
Porcelain Gods / I Walk On Gilded Splinters
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Know they must be crazy.
I don't see their misfortune,
Guess I'm just too lazy.
Ju suie le grand zomb' baby,
My yellow belt of choison.
Ain't afraid of a she-rat,
Fill my brains with, fill up my brains with poison.
Walk through the fire, children
And you fly through the smoke, oh yeah. .
Sssee my enemy on the end of a
On the end, on a rope.
Gris-gris on your doorstep,
And soon you'll be in the gutter, children
Melt melt your heart like butter now,
I can make you, o-o-oh, I can make you ssstutter (Kon)...
Kon killy, killy kon kon
Walk on guilded splinters.
Kon killy, killy kon kon
Walk on guilded splinters (oh yeah).
Why don't you throw away my coffee,
And put poison in my chalice.
That's when pride begins to fade, yeah, oh,
You feel my malice.
Why don't you try walkin' on pins and needles
You will see what they can do.
Now walk on guilded splinters
With the King of the Zulu (yeah, yeah).
Kon killy, killy kon kon
Walk on guilded splinters, oh yeah,
Kon killy, killy kon kon
Walk on guilded splinters (oh yeah).
Went upstairs to pack my,
My leavin' trunk, yeah,
Ain't never seen the ghost whiskey man, yeah,
Just stop and run, no.
I don't need no whiskey, oh
I'm no whiskey man,
Make it stop and run.
A black cat passed through this way-ay,
Hoo yeah, there goes the neighborhood.
Ooh yeah. I'm cryin' now.
Now we have to take it home (oh yeah).
Now we have to take it home.
When we left some with us while we were here.
Yay, yay.
Heyeah! You wanna hear it. Here it is (listen). Get down.
Kon killy, killy kon kon
Walk on guilded splinters, (oh yeah, yeah),
Kon killy, killy kon kon
Walk on guilded splinters, (Yeah my baby).
The lyrics of Paul Weller's "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" are cryptic and enigmatic. The song is and often interpreted as a surreal and mystical journey. The opening lines - "People think they jive me, know they must be crazy" - can be construed as a way of Weller distancing himself from trivial interests and pursuits of others. He is not much interested in their misfortunes and is too lazy even to bother. The subsequent lines - "Ju suie le grand zomb' baby, my yellow belt of choison, Ain't afraid of a she-rat, Fill my brains with, fill up my brains with poison" - contain French phrases and references to toxic substances, and further fuel the surreal and mysterious vibe of the song.
The chorus - "Walk through the fire, children, And you fly through the smoke" - contains references to struggles and adversities. The lines "Gris-gris on your doorstep" and "And soon you'll be in the gutter" paint an image of desperation and misery, while the phrase "Melt melt your heart like butter now, I can make you, o-o-oh, I can make you ssstutter" indicate the unknown powers that Weller has. The verses "Why don't you throw away my coffee, And put poison in my chalice", "Why don't you try walkin' on pins and needles", and "Now walk on guilded splinters With the King of the Zulu" continue the mystical and surreal tone of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
People think they jive me,
People believe they can deceive me but they are delusional.
Know they must be crazy.
It is clear that they are wrong and possibly insane.
I don't see their misfortune,
I am indifferent to their unfortunate situation.
Guess I'm just too lazy.
Maybe I am just too relaxed and apathetic towards others.
Ju suie le grand zomb' baby,
I am a powerful zombie.
My yellow belt of choison.
My belt is yellow as it shows that I possess the highest level of skill.
Ain't afraid of a she-rat,
I am not scared of a female rat.
Fill my brains with, fill up my brains with poison.
I want to be intoxicated with poison.
Walk through the fire, children
Do not fear danger and confront it fearlessly.
And you fly through the smoke, oh yeah.
You will overcome risks with ease.
Sssee my enemy on the end of a
My adversary is held captive on a rope.
On the end, on a rope.
The enemy is struggling fiercely before meeting his end.
Gris-gris on your doorstep,
Bad luck is looming around you.
And soon you'll be in the gutter, children
Your condition shall deteriorate rapidly.
Melt melt your heart like butter now,
Your heart shall soften and relent to my will.
I can make you, o-o-oh, I can make you ssstutter (Kon)...
I can make you nervous and mentally confused.
Kon killy, killy kon kon
Magical incantation used to bring about a curse or enchantment.
Walk on guilded splinters.
I shall tread on expensive materials symbolising wealth and prosperity.
Why don't you throw away my coffee,
Why don't you ruin something that I cherish?
And put poison in my chalice.
Put poison in my cup of drink.
That's when pride begins to fade, yeah, oh,
At that point my sense of self-respect starts to diminish.
You feel my malice.
You sense my intention to cause harm.
Why don't you try walkin' on pins and needles
Why don't you do something risky and painful?
You will see what they can do.
You shall perceive the harmful consequences of a dangerous decision.
With the King of the Zulu (yeah, yeah).
I shall proceed in the company of the Zulu royalty.
Went upstairs to pack my,
I ascended the stairs to collect my belongings.
My leavin' trunk, yeah,
My travel luggage.
Ain't never seen the ghost whiskey man, yeah,
I have never witnessed an apparition of the spirit of a whiskey seller.
Just stop and run, no.
I simply halted in my tracks and fled.
I don't need no whiskey, oh
I do not require alcohol.
I'm no whiskey man,
I am not a whiskey drinker.
Make it stop and run.
Stop and go away.
A black cat passed through this way-ay,
A black cat crossed my path.
Hoo yeah, there goes the neighborhood.
My vicinity is now cursed, and chaos is sure to ensue.
Now we have to take it home (oh yeah).
Finally, we've ended the show and must leave.
When we left some with us while we were here.
We gave some of ourselves to the concert attendees, and they shall remember us.
Heyeah! You wanna hear it. Here it is (listen).
My friends, listen to what I have to sing about!
Get down.
Listen and enjoy my music.
Yeah my baby).
Endearing term used for someone you want to impress or comfort.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., AT LAST PUBLISHING CO.
Written by: JOHN CREAUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheMusicalElitist
Steve White being amazing as always!
lennyboysmith
Absolutely brilliant. I saw this line up once I think and they were the best backing band he has had. Stevie white on drums!!!!!! Best drummer I’ve seen live and I wish he would back Paul again but Paul weller is a true genius. Bravo to this performance I’m glad it’s here. IT NEEDS MORE VIEWS!!!!!!!
Santiago Galvan
5:52 sublime
John Glenn
Gig's been postponed twice here in Ireland. Dying to see the Modfather