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.
Keys to the World
Richard Ashcroft Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh from the age of five
And no one loves you,
Cares if you lived or you died
Here we go again
In your room your idle pleasures
The sinking sands fell through the net
Here we go again
In your room your idle pleasures
The sinking sands
Perhaps I could make it better
I've got the keys the world yea
Oh mixed up world
I've got the keys the world yea
Oh suicidal world
Whatcha gonna do when we get them?
(When we get them) ?
Confrontations, you expect them
Oh from someone you never loved
And there's no point in fighting,
The truth is they'll never return
Here we go again
In your room your idle pleasures
The sinking sands, you fell through the net
No one to catch you
Here we go again
In your room your idle pleasures
The sinking sands
Perhaps I could make it better
I've got the keys the world yea
Oh mixed up world
I've got the keys the world yea
Whatcha gonna do when we get them?
I've got the keys the world yea
Oh suicidal world
Whatcha gonna do when we get them?
(Takes my logic, 'cause of what will be will be,
Take ya down, let me begin, it's like a slow
Train moving out of your head)
In the first verse of Richard Ashcroft's song Keys To The World, the singer highlights the struggles of growing up in a world where institutions are a significant part of one's life. From the age of five, individuals start attending school or daycare institutions and are expected to conform and follow the systems and structures of such institutions. The singer argues that despite experiencing such institutions for years, one can still feel unloved and uncared for by society, with no one truly interested in one's well-being. The second verse reiterates the same theme, where the singer talks about an individual's idle pleasures and sinking sands, indicating a loss of interest and a feeling of being stuck in a repetitive cycle of life.
The chorus of the song is where the title and the central message of the song come together. The singer claims to hold the keys to the world, amidst a "mixed-up world" and "suicidal world." The singer acknowledges the presence of a dark and complex world, with issues like depression, suicide, and hopelessness. However, the singer seems to offer a solution to the issues by claiming to hold the keys to the world. It is up to the listener to interpret what these keys signify in the context of the song.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the struggles of life, where institutions and societal expectations can leave an individual feeling powerless and unloved. However, the singer appears to offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting that there's a way out of the darkness, a key that can unlock the door to a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Institutions, you run through them
Life consists of institutions that a person experiences from the age of five
Oh from the age of five
These institutions have been impacting us since we were 5 years old
And no one loves you, Cares if you lived or you died
In these institutions, there may be a lack of care or love for the individual, causing them to feel unimportant
Here we go again
The cycle continues
In your room your idle pleasures
We often seek pleasure within our own space
The sinking sands fell through the net, No one to catch them
Sometimes, our actions lead to repercussions, but no one is there to help us
Perhaps I could make it better
In hindsight, one may believe they could have done something to change things
I've got the keys the world yea, Oh mixed up world
The singer has the perspective to see that the world is complex and confusing
I've got the keys the world yea, Oh suicidal world
The world can often bring about feelings of despair that lead to suicidal thoughts
Whatcha gonna do when we get them? (When we get them) ?
This line can be interpreted as a challenge to the listener to consider what they would do if they held the keys to the world
Confrontations, you expect them, Oh from someone you never loved
Sometimes, we anticipate negative interactions with people who we do not have a positive relationship with
And there's no point in fighting, The truth is they'll never return
These confrontations are generally futile as the relationship cannot be mended
(Takes my logic, 'cause of what will be will be, Take ya down, let me begin, it's like a slow Train moving out of your head)
This line could be interpreted as a loss of control, with thoughts moving like a train out of the person's head
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L Karma
Institutions, you went through them
Ohhhhh from the age of five
And no one loves you
Cared if you lived or you die
Here we go again
In your room your idol pleasures
The sinking sands
Fell through the net no one to catch them
Here we go again
In your room your idol pleasures
The sinking sands
Perhaps I could make it better
I've got the keys the world yea
Oh mixed up world
I've got the keys the world yea
Oh suicidal world
I've got the keys the world yea
Ohhh suicidal world
I've got the keys the world yea
Whatcha gonna do when we get them?
(When we get them) ?
Confrontations, you expect them
Oh from someone you never loved
And there's no point in fighting,
The truth is they'll never return
Here we go again
In your room your idol pleasures
The sinking sands
You fell through the net no one to catch you
Here we go again
In your room your idol pleasures
The sinking sands
Perhaps I could make it better
I've got the keys the world yea
Oh mixed up world
I've got the keys the world yea
Whatcha gonna do when we get them?
I've got the keys the world yea
Oh suicidal world
I've got the keys the world yea
Whatcha gonna do when we get them?
(When we get them) ?
(When we get them) ?
JulesKel1
This will never get old. Timeless classic!
Doctor Jawline
This song is so good on so many levels! Glad i stumbled upon him 14 years ago when this album came out!
Rita4693
This man have a perfect voice!!!!! is unique!!!Richard Ascroft is a great artist . he sings with his heart and soul.THIS IS GOOD MUSIC!!!!
karl peart
saw him live in 2007 this song was epic sends shivers down my spine everytime i hear it
neil mann
The most talented singer, song writer and musician in Britain is the anything this man cannot do.
JulesKel1
What an EPIC song. I will always love this. He's right when he says 'Mixed up World'.
Sheri Neff
Such a beautifully talented musician
Jhasiel Cervantes
pure class!!!!! he is a genius ......
Veton Asllani
i have no words to describe how great he is
Andrew Griffiths
Legend that’s all I can say!!love him