It was an encounter at Hawley's Sheffield home that led the longtime collaborator out of the shadows. Impressed by a home demo of his songs, both Pulp's Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey urged Hawley to head into the studio and begin work on his first solo release. 2000's eponymous mini album encouraged Hawley to return to the studio once more. In 2001 Late Night Final, named after the cry of vendors selling the Sheffield Star evening newspaper on the streets of the city, was released to positive reviews from the press, if unspectacular sales. Two years later Hawley released Lowedges, another Sheffield reference, this time to the curiously named suburb of the city that had so entranced the young Hawley when he had seen it on the destination board of a bus. NME called Lowedges the "first great album of 2003" and it topped an end of year poll held by Virgin Radio.
In 2004 Hawley signed to Mute Records, a division of the giant EMI. Legal wrangling delayed Cole's Corner, Hawley's fourth release, until September 2005. Again Hawley mines the theme of his beloved home city, this time referencing the location where courting lovers meet. Cole's Corner eventually gained a nomination for the acclaimed Mercury Prize in 2006.
Hawley's work as a session musician and producer remains in high demand. After contributing towards her eponymous 2004 release, Hawley also supported Nancy Sinatra on her European tour in 2005. In the past, Hawley has also worked with artists as diverse as New York's A Girl Called Eddy, All Saints (he played the guitar solo on their cover of "Under the Bridge"), Nellee Hooper's soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet and with Jarvis Cocker's Relaxed Muscle project.
Aside from his solo and session work, Hawley occasionally tours with The Feral Cats, a side project that enables him to explore his interest in rockabilly music.
Possibly due to his aforementioned rockabilly interest, Hawley once auditioned for the role as guitarist in the rockabilly-inclined Morrissey's band.
Fiercely proud of his working class upbringing, Hawley recently described himself as "jurassic labour" in response to a question about the New Labour project. He lives in Sheffield, with his wife and children and is an avid Sheffield Wednesday supporter.
In 2007 Hawley released a new studio album, Lady's Bridge (the title refers to a bridge Hawley regulary crosses in his native Sheffield) again to much critical acclaim.
Hawley's album Truelove's Gutter was released in September 2009 and followed that October by a UK nationwide tour. The album was nominated for, and won the Mojo record of the year.
Following the success of his award-winning, hugely acclaimed 2009 album 'Truelove's Gutter', Richard Hawley will release his sixth studio album, 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' - his first for new label Parlophone - on 7th May.
Recorded at Sheffield's Yellow Arch Studio in 2011, 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' marks a seismic shift in direction for Hawley. The album is a euphoric, sonic assault on the senses, channelling elements of psychedelia, space rock and ragas with heavy riffs and raw, visceral guitar solos - as well as more familiar, tender moments - which will surprise Hawley's fans and peers alike.
www.richardhawley.co.uk
The Waters Of My Time
Richard Hawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't be there I won't get older
I must wait here holed up in my time
Don't search for me in fields of green
I'm not there I won't be seen
I'm wading through the waters of my time
I'm wading through the waters of my time
Don't look for me in lands of gold
I won't be there I won't get old
I'll hover like a frozen bird in time
Don't reach for me the stars are cold
My race is run my stories told
I'm wading through the waters of my time
Don't search for me in lands of gold
I won't be there I can't get old
Don't hope for me the stars have died
I've slipped into the past
Cause I'm wading through the waters of my time
Yes I'm wading through the waters of my time
Don't search for me in lands of gold
I won't be there I can't get old
Don't hope for me the stars have died
I've slipped into the past
Cause I'm wading through the waters of my time
Yes I'm wading through the waters of my time
Mmm mmm
Yes I'm wading through the waters of my time
The lyrics of The Waters of My Time suggest a theme of inevitability and acceptance of aging, the passing of time, and ultimately our own mortality. The singer still feels a desire to move forward, to reach for something outside of themselves, but they reflect on the fact that those things are gone, and they must learn to exist in this present moment. The repeated refrain of "wading through the waters of my time" implies that the singer feels weighed down by the weight of memories and the accumulation of the years, and that the idea of "moving on" becomes more and more difficult as time passes.
The idea of "searching" or "hoping" is futile for the singer, as everything that they could have hoped for or searched for has already passed, leaving them to simply exist in the present. There is a sense of inevitability in the way the lyrics are worded, as if the singer has already accepted their fate and is only reflecting on what has already come to pass. The use of natural imagery, such as fields of clover and lands of gold, adds to the nostalgic and wistful tone of the song, suggesting a longing for a simpler time that has already passed.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't look for me in fields of clover
Do not try to find me in places of luck or fortune
I won't be there I won't get older
I will not be present there, nor will I age or mature
I must wait here holed up in my time
I am required to wait in this moment, as if trapped in time
Don't search for me in fields of green
Do not seek me in places of nature or wealth
I'm not there I won't be seen
I am not present there, and I won't appear visible
I'm wading through the waters of my time
I am navigating through my own timeline, learning from my experiences
Don't look for me in lands of gold
Do not attempt to find me in places of prosperity or luxury
I won't be there I won't get old
I am no longer present there, nor will I age
I'll hover like a frozen bird in time
I will remain still, like a bird caught in time
Don't reach for me the stars are cold
Do not try to connect with me, as the stars are apathetic and distant
My race is run my stories told
My journey is complete and my stories have been shared
Don't hope for me the stars have died
Do not hold expectations for me, as the stars have lost their luster and faded away
I've slipped into the past
I have entered a previous point in time
Cause I'm wading through the waters of my time
Because I am still traversing through the experiences of my own history
Yes I'm wading through the waters of my time
Indeed, I am still exploring my own timeline
Mmm mmm
Interjection acknowledging that there is nothing more to be explained
Yes I'm wading through the waters of my time
Once again, stating that I am still in the process of exploring my own experiences
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Richard Willis Hawley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind