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.
This It How It Feels
Richard Ashcroft Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah oooh
Yeah oooh
Yeah oooh
I do not own you
Don't wanna control you
Oh, you're my vision
I'll paint a picture
You'll be the victor
There's no illusion
I'm here to choose it
This is how it feels, when
Love it gets too real, yeah
Oh, I got no ransom
I had my chance man
This is how it feels when
Love it gets so real, yeah
Are you still a holding
Onto what we had?
Yeah oooh
Yeah oooh
Yeah oooh
Yeah oooh
Oh she went straight for my veins
And now I'm back home again
And I'm waiting for
The sun to come again
She went down straight through my veins
Now I'm back home again
I've been waiting for
The sun to come again, yeah
I can't control you
Don't wanna own you
'Cause you're my vision
How foolish I've been
You were the witness
To all my darkest days
I said I'm sorry but it
Can't take that pain away
This is how it feels, when
Love it gets too real, yeah
Oh, I got no ransom
I had my chance man
This is how it feels when
Love it gets so real, yeah
Are you still a holding
Onto what we had?
Yeah oooh
Yeah oooh
Yeah oooh
Yeah oooh
She went down straight through my vein
Now I'm back home again
And I'll be waiting for
The sun to shine again
She went straight for my veins
And now I am back home again
I'll be praying for
The sun to come again
Ahh straight for my veins
Now I am back home again
Oh I've been praying for
The sun to come again
She went straight for my veins
Now I am back home again
Oh I've been praying for
The sun to come again
Oooh
Ooo ooo ooo, ooo ooo ooo
Oh straight through my veins
I'm back home again
I'll be waiting for
The sun to come again
Ooo ooo, ooo ooo, ooo ooo, ooo ooo
The lyrics of Richard Ashcroft's "This is How It Feels" are a reflection on the feelings of love and heartbreak. The verse "I do not own you, don't wanna control you" highlights the theme of not having the power to control someone's else's feelings. The next line "Oh, you're my vision, How foolish I've been" brings in a sense of realization that the person wasn't seeing things clearly at some point. Ashcroft then goes on to paint a picture of the future, saying "I'll paint a picture, You'll be the victor, There's no illusion, I'm here to choose it" which shows that he hopes to build an equal partnership where they are both able to choose their future.
The chorus repeats the lines "This is how it feels, when love it gets too real, yeah" which puts focus on the emotions that come along with love, and how it can be too much to bear at times. The line "I had my chance man" shows that Ashcroft realizes he may have taken the relationship for granted and wishes he could have another chance. He then asks the question in the chorus, "Are you still a holding onto what we had?" which implies that he regrets losing the relationship but is unsure if his partner feels the same.
Finally, the repeated lines "She went straight through my veins, now I'm back home again, and I'll be waiting for the sun to come again" emphasizes the sense of longing and hope for the future, all while acknowledging the pain that comes with heartbreak.
Overall, "This is How It Feels" is a powerful and introspective song that touches on love, heartbreak, regret, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah oooh
Expression of emotion
I do not own you
I do not have the right to possess you
Don't wanna control you
I don't want to dictate your decisions
Oh, you're my vision
You are the center of my focus
How foolish I've been
I have made mistakes
I'll paint a picture
I will create an idealistic image
You'll be the victor
You will be the one who wins
There's no illusion
What I'm saying is real
I'm here to choose it
I am making a decision
This is how it feels when Love it gets too real, yeah
This is how it feels when love becomes overwhelming
Oh, I got no ransom
I have nothing to offer in exchange for your love
I had my chance man
I had an opportunity
Are you still a holding O nto what we had?
Are you still holding on to our past?
Oh she went straight for my veins And now I'm back home again And I'm waiting for The sun to come again
She made a powerful impact on me and now I'm waiting for happiness to return
I can't control you
I am unable to control you
Don't wanna own you
I don't want to possess you
Cause you're my vision
I see you as my purpose
You were the witness
You were present during my most difficult moments
To all my darkest days
During my most painful experiences
I said I'm sorry but it Can't take that pain away
I have asked for forgiveness but it cannot undo the hurt
She went down straight through my veins Now I'm back home again I've been waiting for The sun to come again, yeah
She affected me profoundly and now I'm waiting for happiness to return
Ahh straight for my veins Now I am back home again Oh I've been praying for The sun to come again
Her effect on me was powerful and now I'm hoping for happiness to return
Lyrics © KOBALT MUSIC PUBLISHING LIMITED,
Written by: Richard Ashcroft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind