Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of two successful bands: The Jam and The Style Council. In England, he is recognised as something of a national institution yet, because much of his songwriting is rooted in English culture, he has remained essentially a national rather than an international star.

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.

Savages
Paul Weller Lyrics

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You're savages, he knows you are
Do you not think that god is looking down?
On you savages.. the children run, to mothers
You put bullets in their backs
Ah cowards, can you not see
Do you not think that love is coming down?

You have no gods, they have all disowned you

You have no love, so you take it out on
People's lives in progress
That's what keeps you going when you're savages

Savages, you can dress it up
Give it a name and a fancy uniform
And a flag to fly to hide behind
Can you not see the truth that's on the ground

You have no love
It has all gone cold on you
You never have, so you take it out on
Those whose love is growing
That's what you hate most, when you're savages

Do you not see the love is coming down?

Overall Meaning

The song "Savages" by Paul Weller is a political statement against violence and warfare. The lyrics are a searing critique of the kind of brutality and aggression that undergirds conflicts around the world. The song is addressed to those who perpetrate violence and kill people in the name of power and supremacy. Weller calls them out as "Savages" and constantly asks them if they can't see how love and peace are the only things that matter.

The song's opening lines, "You're savages, he knows you are. Do you not think that god is looking down?" sets the tone for the song. It is a direct indictment of those that condone and perpetrate violence against innocent civilians. The use of the phrase "he knows you are" is significant because it suggests that there is someone, some higher power that is watching and keeping track of all the violence. Weller implores "Do you not see the love is coming down?" in a hope that the perpetrators would see reason and cease their actions.

The song's repetitive structure indicates a sense of urgency and a need for immediate action. The lyrics talk about the children who are caught in the crossfire, and the havoc and mayhem that wars create. Weller's delivery is passionate, and his message is clear - that those who engage in violence are savages and that they have no place in a society that values life, love, and peace.

Line by Line Meaning

You're savages, he knows you are
Paul Weller is addressing a group of people and calling them savages, while acknowledging that they are aware of their own inhuman behavior.

Do you not think that god is looking down?
Weller wonders if the savages ever consider the possibility of a higher power observing their actions.

On you savages.. the children run, to mothers
Weller describes how children are afraid of the savages and instinctually seek solace from their mothers.

You put bullets in their backs
The savages are violent and commit heinous acts against innocent people, particularly children.

Ah cowards, can you not see
Weller calls the savages cowards and questions if they are oblivious to the consequences of their actions.

Do you not think that love is coming down?
Weller wonders if the savages are capable of recognizing the potential for love and healing in the world around them.

You have no gods, they have all disowned you
Weller suggests that the savages are alone and abandoned by any higher power or governing force.

You have no love, so you take it out on
The savages lack love and compassion, leading them to take out their frustration and anger on innocent people.

People's lives in progress
Weller emphasizes that the savages disrupt and destroy the lives of those who are simply trying to live and prosper.

That's what keeps you going when you're savages
The savages' violent behavior is a result of their lack of love and the satisfaction they derive from harming others.

Savages, you can dress it up
Weller acknowledges that the savages may attempt to hide or justify their behavior through appearances or symbols.

Give it a name and a fancy uniform
The savages may use titles or clothing to attempt to legitimize their violence.

And a flag to fly to hide behind
The savages use symbols, such as a flag, to conceal their true motives and intentions.

Can you not see the truth that's on the ground
Weller urges the savages to recognize the reality of their actions and the damage they cause.

You have no love
The savages lack love and compassion.

It has all gone cold on you
Weller suggests that the savages have lost any capacity for love or emotional connection.

You never have, so you take it out on
The savages have never experienced or known love, leading them to act out against others.

Those whose love is growing
The savages target those individuals or groups who are experiencing love and growth.

That's what you hate most, when you're savages
The savages are fueled by their own lack of love and desire to destroy that which they do not understand or possess.

Do you not see the love is coming down?
Weller asks the savages if they are capable of recognizing and accepting love when it is presented to them.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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