Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Weller (born 25 May 1958) is an English singer / songwriter, leader of two successful bands: The Jam and The Style Council. In England, he is recognised as something of a national institution yet, because much of his songwriting is rooted in English culture, he has remained essentially a national rather than an international star.

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.

Woodcutters Son
Paul Weller Lyrics

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Sugartown has turned so sour
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' 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!

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

Overall Meaning

In Paul Weller's song Woodcutters Son, he paints a bleak picture of a town that has turned sour. He sings about the anger and paranoia that permeates the small town, creating an environment of mistrust and hatred. The lyrics suggest that the town is haunted by spirits who rise at the witching hour, making it eerie and uncomfortable. Weller uses the metaphor of the woodcutter's son to describe his resilience and strength in the midst of this hostile environment. He claims that even though he is weak, he is powerful enough to cut down anything that stands in his way. He is unafraid to face the challenges that come with living in such a hostile environment.

Line by Line Meaning

Sugar town has turned so sour
The town is no longer sweet as it is filled with anger and bitterness.

Its people angry in their sleep
The people are angry even when they are sleeping.

There's more small-town paranoia Sweeping down its evil sheets,
There is increased paranoia among the people leading to suspicion and mistrust.

You can tell it's witching hour You can feel the spirits rise When the room goes very quiet And there's hatred in their eyes
An unsettling feeling is present when something supernatural is happening and people's emotions are high leading to hatred.

You better give me the chance I'll cut you down with a glance Yeah, 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
The persona of the song would take on anyone with a mere look and if left with no choice, he would fight with all his might.

And I'm cutting down the wood for the Good of everyone!
He has a noble purpose and he is working towards creating something good for the people.

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
He is resented by the people and can sense their negative energy

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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