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.
Wings Of Speed
Paul Weller Lyrics
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That will bring you home to me,
I'll never be free,
And darkness I see,
As I wait for your smile.
Though my hands are tied,
My feet are bound by fate,
As I sit and wait,
What visions I see.
In dreams, she floats on a stream,
With Jesus as her plan,
And water in her hand,
I bought along the way,
She comes to me.
Now as night is falling,
A candle left to light the way,
Sailing hope to morning,
She comes to me calling,
To brighten up my darkest day,
And the world fades away,
With her smile.
(Oh yeah)
(I wait for your smile yeah)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Fly, on wings of speed,
That will bring you home to me,
I'll never be free,
And darkness I see,
As I wait for your smile.
(Oh yeah,yeah)
(I wait for your smile yeah)
(Yeah yeah yeah)
In "Wings of Speed," Paul Weller creates an atmosphere of longing and unfulfilled desire. Throughout the song, the singer is waiting for the arrival of a loved one who is yet to come, as they "fly on wings of speed" to bring the singer home. Despite being tied down by fate, the singer's mind is preoccupied with thoughts of the person they are waiting for. The contrast between the darkness that surrounds the singer and the hope that their loved one brings runs throughout the song. The person the singer waits for represents light and hope in an otherwise bleak world.
One of the most striking images in the song is of a woman floating on a stream with Jesus by her side, holding water in her hand. This image represents the purity and innocence of the loved one that the singer is waiting for. The image is juxtaposed with the darkness that the singer is in, emphasizing the contrast between the two. An interesting interpretation of the song could be that the singer is waiting for his own salvation, which he finds in the person he is waiting for.
Overall, "Wings of Speed" brings together imagery and sound to create a powerful atmosphere of longing and desire. The song emphasizes the hope that a loved one can bring, even in the midst of darkness and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly, on wings of speed,
Fly as fast as you can to come back to me.
That will bring you home to me,
Only by moving as fast as possible can you return to me.
I'll never be free,
I will always be bound to you regardless of the situation.
And darkness I see,
Sorrow and sadness overwhelm me.
As I wait for your smile.
I can only find solace in your comforting smile.
Though my hands are tied,
I am confined and unable to move as I desire.
My feet are bound by fate,
Iam powerless to change the course of events or outcomes.
I play out the base,
I must be patient and wait for my destiny to unfold.
As I sit and wait,
All I can do is remain still and observe what happens next.
What visions I see.
I can only imagine what the future holds and what destiny has in store for me.
In dreams, she floats on a stream,
I imagine her peacefully floating on a body of water.
With Jesus as her plan,
Her faith is her guide and comfort.
And water in her hand,
Water represents purity and clarity in her hand.
I bought along the way,
I made sacrifices to ensure that she has what she needs.
She comes to me.
I can feel her approaching and nearing me in my heart and mind.
Now as night is falling,
The darkness of despair is looming over me.
A candle left to light the way,
Hope is fading, but a small spark of light remains to guide me.
Sailing hope to morning,
Despite the darkness, I remain hopeful for the coming dawn.
She comes to me calling,
I hear her voice calling to me.
To brighten up my darkest day,
Her presence alone can lift me out of the depths of despair.
And the world fades away,
All that exists is my connection to her.
With her smile.
The only light in my world is her comforting smile.
(Oh yeah)
(I wait for your smile yeah)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind