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.
Uh Huh Oh Yeh
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryin' to find myself again
At least the part I left somewhere
Buried under a hedgerow near
A lazy bridge on a hot afternoon
Water glistening while it plays a tune
Cloud burst on a rainy day
Uh huh, oh yeh, uh huh, oh yeh
Always there to confuse and fool you
And in my mind I saw the place
As each memory returned to trace
Dear reminders of who I am
The very roots upon which I stand
And there they were for all to see
My long lost used to be's
And all the dreams I had to dream
Were really something not make believe
Uh huh, oh yeh, uh huh, oh yeh
Always there to confuse and fool you
Uh huh, oh yeh, uh huh, oh yeh
Always there to confuse and fool you
A lazy tree by a wishing well
I wish now that I could tell
If all the dreams I have to dream
Are really something I make believe
I make, make believe
Uh huh, oh yeh, uh huh, oh yeh
Uh huh, oh yeh, uh huh, oh yeh
A lazy tree by a wishing well
I wish now that I could tell
If all the dreams I used to dream
Are really something I make believe
Always there to confuse and fool you
Always there to confuse and fool you
Uh huh, oh yeh, uh huh, oh yeh
Always there to confuse and fool you
Oh yeh, oh yeh, oh yeh
Always there to confuse and fool you
Always there to confuse and fool you
Uh huh, oh yeh, uh huh, oh yeh
Always there to confuse and fool you
In "Uh Huh Oh Yeh," Paul Weller reflects on his past and tries to rediscover himself. He takes a trip down Boundary Lane, where he had left behind a part of himself buried under a hedgerow. As he meanders down towards the bridge, he sees the water glistening while it plays a tune - a sign of his hope and renewed energy. The next verse describes the appearance of his memories as they come to him - the long-lost used-to-be's and all the dreams he had to dream are now revealed as real and not fiction. Weller wonders if all the dreams he used to dream are real, or are they just a figment of his imagination? The repetition of "Uh huh, oh yeh" at the end of each stanza conveys a sense of hopelessness and confusion.
The chorus further emphasizes how confusing and misleading his thoughts and memories can be. As he passes by the lazy tree by the wishing well, he wishes he could tell whether all the dreams he dreams are make-believe or real. The lyrics speak to the universal human experience of holding onto something that may or may not be worth holding onto, leading to confusion and disillusionment. Despite the uncertainty that the lyrics convey, the overall tone of the song is hopeful and reflective.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a trip down boundary lane
I went on a journey to search for myself.
Tryin' to find myself again
I am attempting to rediscover who I am.
At least the part I left somewhere
I know that there is a part of me that I have lost.
Buried under a hedgerow near
I have a feeling that the part of me that is missing could be close by.
A lazy bridge on a hot afternoon
I saw a bridge on a hot day which seemed to be moving lazily.
Water glistening while it plays a tune
The water was sparkling and it seemed like it was making music.
Cloud burst on a rainy day
It rained hard and the clouds burst.
Wiping all my sleep away
The rain wiped all the sleep away from my eyes and made me feel awake.
Uh huh, oh yeh, uh huh, oh yeh
These words represent a confusing feeling that is always present.
Always there to confuse and fool you
The confusing feeling is always present to deceive you.
And in my mind I saw the place
I saw a place in my mind.
As each memory returned to trace
As I thought about my memories, they started coming back to me.
Dear reminders of who I am
These memories remind me of who I am.
The very roots upon which I stand
These memories are the foundation of who I am.
And there they were for all to see
I could see all my lost memories clearly.
My long lost used to be's
I felt like I had lost something important in the past.
And all the dreams I had to dream
I had a lot of hopes and dreams for the future.
Were really something not make believe
These dreams were not just imaginary, they could come true.
A lazy tree by a wishing well
I saw a tree by a wishing well that was also moving lazily.
I wish now that I could tell
I want to be able to understand the secrets of the tree and the well.
If all the dreams I have to dream
I am still hoping to realize my dreams.
Are really something I make believe
I am not sure if my dreams can ever come true, or if they are just imaginary.
Always there to confuse and fool you
The feeling of confusion is always present to deceive you.
Oh yeh, oh yeh, oh yeh
These words again represent the confusing feeling that is always present.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesschiavo4748
Paul,
I used to put this song on the jukebox in Drummonds in Richmond in 1992 when I got to the pub, so we could find each other.
Thanks mate. Still sounds brilliant
Peace !!
James
@jamesschiavo4748
So I could find my girlfriend - now my wife
@jamesschiavo4748
No glasses - fuck. Still sounds great
🍺
@IPman77
My favourite Weller track. It's just as funky now as when it came out.
@psibri1
Saw Mr. Weller when he released this, 3rd row center stage at The Greek Theater, my favorite musician ever, and was blown away. I would love to fulfill my bucket list by sitting with him for a bit and just talking and letting him know what an impact he has made on my life, since 1980.
@dang2443
Do you know how many times he has probably had that same conversation?
@sirpercivalthegood
What a song. Never will understand why he isnt huge in U.S. Chicago loves Paul. Come to Chicago please!!!
@shandywarhol4444
Yes. Kx
@shaneworrall1296
So much of his early solo stuff is timeless, horns, guitars, sax, just funky mod brilliance.
@blackmore4
Though I think the production here is a bit too polite. If there'd been a louder driven rhythm guitar and the arpeggios he plays had a more stinging sound, it would've been A1.