After that band's demise in 1999, Ashcroft began his solo career, releasing Alone with Everybody in 2000, Human Conditions in 2002 and Keys to the World in 2006. He performed vocals for the track Lonely Soul on UNKLE's 1998 release Psyence Fiction and his voice can also be heard on the The Chemical Brothers' album Come With Us track The Test.
He is good friends with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and Coldplay's Chris Martin (whom Ashcroft thanks for 'letting me be myself again'), and occasionally plays as support at Oasis and Coldplay concerts, including the European and second UK legs of Coldplay's 'Twisted Logic Tour'. He recently described himself as 'the best support act you'll ever see'. The Oasis track "Cast No Shadow" is dedicated to him. Chris Martin introduced him as "the best singer in the world" when he performed "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (which Martin called "the best song in the world") with Coldplay at the London Live 8 concert in 2005. On his second album Human Conditions The Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson guest stars on the song Nature is the Law.
Ashcroft is married to Kate Radley, ex-Spiritualized keyboard player.
A Country Thing City Thing Blues Thing
Richard Ashcroft Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How strong am I?
It feels so good to be free
And I want you to know how I feel
You take me from the madness, the awe inspiring sadness
Take me to the places where the air is clean
Fill my heart with wonder, wake me from my slumber [I've been sleeping]
Toss me to the ocean like a sinking stone
Could be a blues thing
Could be a country thing
Could be the real thing
Took a walk over the rocks on the beach
And I was thinking of all the things that I have and can never be
And I was dreaming lazy along your head as
I watched the sunset
You take me from the madness, the awe inspiring sadness
Show me faces that I need to know [I've been sinking]
Throw me to the ocean like a stone, I will just fall in [and I'll be drowning]
Heaven knows where this flood will go
Could be a city thing
Could be a blues thing
Could be a country thing
Could be the real thing
Could be a city thing
Could be a blues thing
Could be a country thing
Could be a me thing
Think, could be a blues thing
Think, could be the real thing
You take me from the madness, the awe-inspiring sadness [ I've been sleeping]
Take me to the places where the air is clean [and I've been drowning]
Fill my heart with wonder, wake me from my slumber [I've been sleeping]
Back into the ocean like a sinking stone [and I've be drowning]
Lift me out of this logic leaves my heart grounded [I've been sleeping]
Take me to the places where the air is clean [and I've been drowning]
Meet me at the fountain, the one standin' in the garden [you come listening]
I'll wash your hands as you just dance
Stand by me
Stand by me
My, my, my, my ,my, my, you're real fine
The lyrics of Richard Ashcroft's song A Country Thing City Thing Blues Thing have a deep and emotive meaning. The song portrays a feeling of struggle and confusion after having lived through difficult days. The song opens with a questioning tone - How many days have I felt like this? This shows that the singer is feeling unsure about his past actions, and is searching for a way to feel free from his troubles. He wants the person he is addressing in the song to know how he feels and how they help him cope with his problems.
The verse that follows showcases the relief he feels after being in the presence of this person - You take me from the madness, the awe inspiring sadness, Take me to the places where the air is clean, Fill my heart with wonder, wake me from my slumber. These lines show how spending time with this person makes him feel enlightened, and brings him out of his sad state of mind. The chorus of the song - Could be a city thing, could be a blues thing, could be a country thing, could be the real thing - underscores the feeling of confusion that the singer is going through.
Overall, the song is about overcoming the struggles of life and emerging a better person. The lyrics showcase the journey of a person from a stage where he is struggling with himself to a stage where he has found peace and enlightenment. The song is a beautiful composition filled with deep emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
How many days have I felt like this?
Questioning the frequency of feeling suspended in his thoughts
How strong am I?
Questioning his emotional stability
It feels so good to be free
Expressing happiness at being liberated from emotional turmoil
And I want you to know how I feel
Expressing a desire to share his emotional journey
You take me from the madness, the awe inspiring sadness
Acknowledging the support provided by someone who helps him navigate through emotional turmoil
Take me to the places where the air is clean
Asking for help to escape from negativity and go to a place where he can get some peace
Fill my heart with wonder, wake me from my slumber [I've been sleeping]
Asking for someone to reignite his curiosity and passion which he had lost in his depression
Toss me to the ocean like a sinking stone
Admitting to feeling like he is sinking with no hope left
Could be a city thing
Speculating that his emotional distress could be a result of living in a city
Could be a blues thing
Speculating that his emotional distress could be a result of listening to blues music
Could be a country thing
Speculating that his emotional distress could be a result of living in the country
Could be the real thing
Speculating that his emotional distress could be rooted in real events
Took a walk over the rocks on the beach
Reflecting on taking a walk on the beach
And I was thinking of all the things that I have and can never be
Regretting missed opportunities
And I was dreaming lazy along your head as
Recalling a time when he lazily admired someone
I watched the sunset
Recalling watching the sunset
Show me faces that I need to know [I've been sinking]
Asking for help to meet people who can help him feel better
Throw me to the ocean like a stone, I will just fall in [and I'll be drowning]
Acknowledging the hopelessness he feels in his situation
Heaven knows where this flood will go
Acknowledging that he is unsure where this emotional journey will lead him
Think, could be a blues thing
Continuing to speculate about the possible root of his emotional distress
Think, could be the real thing
Continuing to speculate about the possible root of his emotional distress
Back into the ocean like a sinking stone [and I've be drowning]
Describing the feeling of sinking again in his emotional turmoil
Lift me out of this logic leaves my heart grounded [I've been sleeping]
Asking for help to break free from his negative thought patterns
Meet me at the fountain, the one standin' in the garden [you come listening]
Asking for someone to come and listen to him by the fountain in the garden
I'll wash your hands as you just dance
Expressing that he wants to help and support the person who supports him
Stand by me
Asking for emotional support
My, my, my, my, my, my, you're real fine
Expressing appreciation for the person who supports him
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard Paul Ashcroft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ed. Villanueva & Dreams
me llena de nostalgia saber que mi juventud siempre estuvo acompañada de la música de The Verve y Ashcroft
Runner Up
I remember this Bside, on Richards First solo single....couldn't get enough of this era of his music....
So beautiful 🙌
njxagle
Oír a Ricardo con y después de The Verve, solista; Es un viaje de Ida, cuanta sabiduría en las letras,
Isa Avila
AMO DE MAIS ❤
Teresa Trejo
Linda canción 🧡
Juan Serpa Beleño
siempre lo dire escuchar la musica de richard fue lo mejor que pudo pasar
msmarlarenee1
Truly beautiful music and amazing landscapes.
Trevor Anthony Rautenbach
This is what pure talent sounds like
Betsy Partly Cloudy
I am just digging into ALL of your songs Richard & so enlightened...You are a beautiful man!
Lia L
Richard ashcroft es lo mejor !