Whirlpool`s End
Paul Weller Lyrics


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The sun came out & hung above
Over our heads but far enough to see
A bomb exploding in another town
Children choking on a poison cloud
While on the streets, where lovers once walked,
Side by side in idle talk
Bullets fall like unholy rain
People change as the panic sets in,
A frightened baby by her dead mother's side
In a brutal world where there's nowhere
To run, hide or cry

Now nothing feels the same way,
Feels like it's changing again,
Upon a street with no name
It's hard to find it again

I ran as fast as my feet could fly
Down country lanes where I took my time-
Time like a hound snapping at my heels
I got past thinking so I could feel,
Feels like a film playing in my head
And I kept rolling down green Surrey hills,
In Spring

Now nothing feels the same way
Feels like I'm changing again
Upon a street with no name
It's hard to find me again,




The sun came out & hung above, over our heads
But far enough to see

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Whirlpool's End" by Paul Weller is a commentary on the destructive nature of war and how it affects innocent people caught in its path. The song paints a vivid picture of chaos and destruction caused by a bomb exploding in an unknown town. The singer describes how the sun hangs above the scene, distant enough to see but unable to alleviate the suffering of the people caught in the massacre. The imagery of children choking on a poison cloud and bullets falling like unholy rain serves to highlight the brutal and senseless violence of war. The lines "People change as the panic sets in, A frightened baby by her dead mother's side" are a poignant reminder of how human beings are affected by the horrors of war.


The second half of the song takes a more introspective turn. The singer acknowledges how the world has changed and nothing feels the same anymore. They describe running down country lanes, feeling the time snap at their heels like a hound. The image of rolling down green Surrey hills in spring conveys a sense of freedom and escape from the harsh realities of the world. However, the singer's journey is not without its difficulties, as they struggle to find themselves again on a street with no name.


Overall, "Whirlpool's End" is a powerful message about the impact of war on people's lives, and the toll it takes on the human psyche.


Line by Line Meaning

The sun came out & hung above
The bright and blazing sun appeared and stayed in the sky without causing any trouble.


Over our heads but far enough to see
The sun was high in the sky, but still visible from where we were standing.


A bomb exploding in another town
A destructive device blew up in a different city causing harm and destruction.


Children choking on a poison cloud
In the wake of the explosion, innocent kids struggled to breathe due to the release of a hazardous gas.


While on the streets, where lovers once walked,
In the very same locale where people used to express their love for one another through movement,


Side by side in idle talk
Now only sauntering side by side and exchanging meaningless conversational tidbits.


Bullets fall like unholy rain
Gunshots descended from the sky in a manner that felt both otherworldly and sinister.


People change as the panic sets in,
Individuals altered their attitude because of the growing fear and anxiety that began to envelop them.


A frightened baby by her dead mother's side
A terrified infant huddled by her deceases parent in desperate search of comfort.


In a brutal world where there's nowhere
In a ruthless environment where no place exists


To run, hide or cry
To escape danger, conceal yourself, or shed tears of sorrow/grief seems impossible.


Now nothing feels the same way,
The mood of things shifted dramatically


Feels like it's changing again,
Current conditions seem to be in a state of flux once again.


Upon a street with no name
Navigating on a particular path that has no given designation.


It's hard to find it again
It is a difficult undertaking to rediscover ones path.


I ran as fast as my feet could fly
I sprinted with all my might.


Down country lanes where I took my time-
Down less-travelled rural routes where I was able to slow down and enjoy the scenery.


Time like a hound snapping at my heels
The fast-approaching future leaving little room for complacency.


I got past thinking so I could feel,
Freeing myself from obsessive conjecture so that I could experience raw emotions unfiltered by overthinking.


Feels like a film playing in my head
Sensations emboldened with the vivid, cinematographic qualities of a motion picture.


And I kept rolling down green Surrey hills,
I continued to move downward through scenic hillocks in Surrey, England.


In Spring
The season during which this ascent occurred was that of Spring.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

jon asquith

Watched this hundreds of times and it kicks arse every time anyone who thinks he lost it after The Jam need to watch this and apologise!

Donald Williams

I agree with all of you. Been watching this one over and over since the original broadcast. The whole set is on fire. So much soul and intensity... The breakdown at 4:10!

Peter Nicholls

He never lost anythin mate!... he knew it was time to move on...Style Council was a progression with good songs ... then came Weller full bore! . Can't fault the guy... pure genius!.

iamcharliecooperdrums

I remember watching this on TV as a 12 yr old guitar player - I was so blown away by Steve White I decided the drum kit was the way to go. I now make a living playing drums. Awesome performance.

JOHN RICHARDSON

Steve is such a badass drummer!!!

ginaza

Steve white is a fucking ledge.soo much better than his brother.....

TheMusicalElitist

I now own that green Pearl kit

Mne Nadoelo

Weller is loving it. Craddock is loving it. White is loving it. Even the bloody string section are loving it. Infectious Weller.

Shed End Mods

We are all loving it!! Just gets the blood pumping every time!!

chollis54

The "Horn" section...... that cellist is fucking gorgeous!

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