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.
The Changingman
Paul Weller Lyrics
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Or am I so jaded
I can't see or feel, like a man been tainted
Numbed by the effect, aware of the muse
Too in touch with myself, I light the fuse
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, waiting for the bang
Our time is on loan, only ours to borrow
What I can't be today, I can be tomorrow
And the more I see, the more I know
The more I know, the less I understand
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, I'm waiting for the bang
To light a bitter fuse
It's a bigger part
When our instincts act
A shot in the dark
A movement in black
And the more I see, the more I know
The more I know, the less I understand
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
(I don't have a plan)
I'm the changingman, waiting for the bang
As I light a bitter fuse
Built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, I'm waiting for the bang
As I light a bitter fuse
In the song "The Changingman" by Paul Weller, the question of genuine happiness is raised. The opening line, "Is happiness real?" implies that the subject of the song is doubtful about the existence of true happiness. This reluctance to believe in happiness is attributed to a sense of corruption and cynicism resulting from being "numbed by the effect" of negative experiences. This numbness has hindered his ability to both see and feel the positive emotions that come with happiness.
The chorus expresses the core of the song's sentiment. "I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands" means that the singer is fickle and often changes perspective depending on his situation. He is waiting "for the bang," meaning that he is waiting for a certain event to change his current state of being. This event could be either positive or negative, but the singer's awareness of this possible change keeps him on edge. He mentions that time is something that we can only borrow, and what we can't have today we can have tomorrow. This displays the singer's sense of hope and optimism for better things to come, even if he isn't convinced that they exist.
The message of the song is that happiness is uncertain and ever-changing, and the more we know and see, the less we can understand. The singer's transformation throughout the song repeats the word "I'm the changingman" because he is constantly evolving and adapting to life's changing conditions, along with his own perceptions of the world around him. Overall, the song conveys a sense of hope and optimism despite the cynicism and skepticism towards the reliability of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Is happiness real?
Am I truly experiencing joy or have I become too cynical to recognize it?
Or am I so jaded
Perhaps my pessimistic outlook has tainted my ability to feel happiness.
I can't see or feel, like a man been tainted
I've become numb to my emotions and feel as if my soul has been corrupted or damaged.
Numbed by the effect, aware of the muse
I've been desensitized to the world around me, yet I still can sense the creative inspiration within it.
Too in touch with myself, I light the fuse
My self-awareness has led me to the brink and caused me to ignite my own destructive tendencies.
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
I am someone who is constantly evolving and adapting to new circumstances that are unstable or unreliable.
I'm the changingman, waiting for the bang
I am patiently waiting for a drastic, life-altering event to occur.
As I light a bitter fuse
As a result, I am also prone to harboring negative feelings and harboring grudges.
Our time is on loan, only ours to borrow
We are only temporary visitors in this world and must make the most of our limited time here.
What I can't be today, I can be tomorrow
Even if I fail to achieve my goals today, there will always be opportunities for growth and change in the future.
And the more I see, the more I know
With each successive experience, I gain new knowledge and wisdom.
The more I know, the less I understand
Though my knowledge may increase, my awareness of my own ignorance also grows.
It's a bigger part
One's intuition and inner wisdom play a larger role in life than one may initially believe.
When our instincts act
When we follow our gut feelings and act on our intuition, we may be surprised by the outcome.
A shot in the dark
Sometimes taking a chance and moving forward without knowing the outcome may be the best option.
A movement in black
A risky, daring or rebellious choice can have a significant, sometimes unforeseen impact.
Built on shifting sands, (I don't have a plan)
Even though I am constantly changing, I do not have a clear, defined plan or goal in mind.
I'm the changingman, waiting for the bang, as I light a bitter fuse
Although my life is unpredictable, I am still waiting for something significant to happen and may act impulsively in the meantime.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRENDAN LYNCH, PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind