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.
Woodcutter
Paul Weller Lyrics
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Its people angry in their sleep
There's more small-town paranoia
Sweeping down its evil sheets
You better give me the chance
I'll cut you down with a glance
Yeh, with my small axe - so help me
And tho' weak I'm strong
And if it comes to the crunch
Then I'm the woodcutter's son
And I'm cutting down the wood for the good of everyone!
You can tell it's witching hour
You can feel the spirits rise
When the room goes very quiet
And there's hatred in your eyes
You better give me the chance
I'll cut you down with a glance
Yeh, with my small axe - so help me
And tho' I'm only one
And tho' weak I'm strong
And if it comes to the crunch
Then I'm the woodcutter's son
And I'm cutting down the wood for the good of everyone!
There's a silence when I enter
And a murmur when I leave
I can see their jealous faces
I can feel the ice they breathe
You better give me the chance
I'll cut you down with a glance
Yeh, with my small axe - so help me
And tho' I'm only one
And tho' weak I'm strong
And if it comes to the crunch
Then I'm the woodcutter's son
In Paul Weller's song "Woodcutter", he tackles small town paranoia and the sense of anger that engulfs a community. Sugartown, as the fictional location is called, is plagued with this angst, and it's evident in the way the people from there interact with one another. The lyrics highlight this, as it talks about how the people are "angry in their sleep" and how "hatred is in their eyes" during the witching hour. However, despite this negative climate, the singer of the song, who is "the woodcutter's son," seeks to make a positive impact. He wants to "cut down the wood for the good of everyone" and is determined to do so, no matter how weak he may seem. He exudes confidence in his ability to cut down those who stand in his path, which is a juxtaposition to the cowardice that some of the townspeople may be experiencing.
The lyrics in "Woodcutter" represent the complexities that come with living in a small town. The singer is seemingly on the outside of the town, looking in, and trying to make a difference. He doesn't want the negativity to continue, and he wants to be the one to change it. It's also important to note the significance of the woodcutter's son, as he's not only representing himself, but his whole family. The power of the smallest things, such as an axe, is highlighted here, emphasizing how small steps can have a significant impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugartown has turned so sour
The town of Sugartown has become bitter and unpleasant
Its people angry in their sleep
The people of the town are so angry that their emotions even arise in their dreams
There's more small-town paranoia
The townspeople are plagued by an irrational fear of everyone around them
Sweeping down its evil sheets
This paranoia is spreading throughout the town like a dark cloud
You better give me the chance
You should be careful not to challenge me
I'll cut you down with a glance
I have the power to take you down with just a look
Yeh, with my small axe - so help me
Despite my humble tools, I am capable of great things
And tho' I'm only one
Even though I am just a single person
And tho' weak I'm strong
Despite my perceived weakness, I possess great strength
And if it comes to the crunch
If the situation becomes critical
Then I'm the woodcutter's son
I am capable of doing what is necessary, just like my father the woodcutter
And I'm cutting down the wood for the good of everyone!
I am taking action for the benefit of all, even if it is not popular
You can tell it's witching hour
The time when supernatural forces are at their height can be sensed
You can feel the spirits rise
These forces are causing emotions and energies to become heightened
When the room goes very quiet
A sudden hush can be detected
And there's hatred in your eyes
In this quiet, the artist can detect malice and enmity in the eyes of others
There's a silence when I enter
An eerie calm precedes the arrival of the artist
And a murmur when I leave
After the singer departs, there is a noticeable low-level rumble or whispering
I can see their jealous faces
The singer can sense a covetousness in the expressions of those around them
I can feel the ice they breathe
These envious people are exhaling a negative, cold energy that the artist can sense
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind