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
Alone
Richard Hawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you know, you're someone in my place
And you make me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
There could doves floating out in space
Alone, by this bridge staring across the lake
So alone and unreal
Yeah, it makes me feel alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah, it makes me feel alone
I hold an echo of your face
And you know, I shouldn't be in this place
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah, it makes me feel alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
The lyrics of Richard Hawley's song "Alone" convey a sense of isolation and loneliness that the singer feels in their life. The opening line, "Do you know exactly how I feel," suggests that the singer is seeking validation and understanding from someone else. They feel that this person, who is "someone in my place," might share their feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The lyrics also contain some imagery that reinforces this sense of isolation. The line, "There could doves floating out in space," suggests a vast, empty expanse where even birds have no company. The imagery of the singer standing "by this bridge staring across the lake" underscores the feeling of being disconnected from the world around them.
The repeated lines "And it makes me feel/ So alone and unreal/ Yeah, it makes me feel alone" underscore the depth of the singer's emotions. They are not just feeling lonely, they are feeling unreal, as if their entire existence is somehow disconnected from the rest of the world.
Overall, the lyrics of "Alone" communicate a sense of profound loneliness and disconnection that many people can likely relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know exactly how I feel
Asking if the listener understands the emotional depth of the singer's isolation
And you know, you're someone in my place
Acknowledging that the listener can relate, and may also feel alone
And you make me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
The listener's presence highlights the singer's feelings of loneliness and disconnection
There could doves floating out in space
Alone, by this bridge staring across the lake
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah, it makes me feel alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
The singer imagines even nature being alone, emphasizing the depth of their isolation
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah, it makes me feel alone
Reiterating the impact the listener's presence has on the singer's feelings of loneliness
I hold an echo of your face
And you know, I shouldn't be in this place
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah, it makes me feel alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
The singer acknowledges that they shouldn't be feeling this way, but are unable to escape the loneliness they feel, no matter how hard they try
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Richard Hawley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@istiklalsahin2403
Alone – Richard Hawley
Do you know exactly how I feel
And you know, you're someone in my place
And you make me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
There could doves floating out in space
Alone, by this bridge staring across the lake
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
I hold an echo of your face
And you know, I shouldn't be in this place
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
@ianwoollard9008
Richard i heard your interview last week on Radio Suffolk whilst out in the car with my 82yr old Mother. We normally listen to LBC Radio at that time of night but our favourite LBC Radio Host wasn't on so by off chance i decided to listen to FM Radio instead & we heard this interview with yourself & Steven Foster & this above song was the first song we heard. OMG what can i say Mate apart from it is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. It's such a simple song too but i can't stop playing it. I'm sure i will Flog it to Death eventually :-) but i haven't got fed up of it yet after a week.
We had never heard of you before SERIOUSLY & it isn't very often that a song comes along that i adore but Mother Loves it too which is rare! God Bless you Mate.
It really blows me away how people can put words & music together like you can however i have No Time Whatsoever for these talent shows who give these 2 a penny wannabe's fame overnight who only last 5 minutes. Those sort haven't got the skill to make something of their own have they! I used to get Cheesed Off with Top of the Pops towards the end because most of them used to mime & was absolutely useless playing LIVE.
Richard if you remember that song by 'Elbow' (One day like this)? He performed that once with the BBC Concert Orchestra. I wish you had that opportunity Mate. That is the only thing i like about the BBC by the way.
I hope you become a millionaire Mate for this.
Ian W.
@RobsonField
Richard Hawley's music gives me the strength to keep going when life's at its worst.
Cheers Mr H. X
@itscomunicacao1096
Que coisa linda, manda mais como essa!!! Brasil.
@outbacktom
First heard of Richard when I had to work in an Art gallery for work experience. 16 years old and fell in love straight away...20 now and still can’t get enough. Friends aren’t the biggest fan of me blasting “art gallery” music in the car lol! How good
@mauriciolopez7234
Estoy solo si mi día no tiene esta gran canción acompañando mis días, mi vida. Gracias Richard hawley por existir
@istiklalsahin2403
Alone – Richard Hawley
Do you know exactly how I feel
And you know, you're someone in my place
And you make me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
There could doves floating out in space
Alone, by this bridge staring across the lake
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
I hold an echo of your face
And you know, I shouldn't be in this place
And it makes me feel
So alone and unreal
Yeah it makes me feel alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
@sofiaroka4905
Love it 🌸💗🌸
@richardhawleyofficial7408
hello. i want to say thank you for your love support like and comment in my life and my entire career.
@MrArieArieArie
I bought the album just because of this song alone. I really did.
@ianwoollard9008
Richard i heard your interview last week on Radio Suffolk whilst out in the car with my 82yr old Mother. We normally listen to LBC Radio at that time of night but our favourite LBC Radio Host wasn't on so by off chance i decided to listen to FM Radio instead & we heard this interview with yourself & Steven Foster & this above song was the first song we heard. OMG what can i say Mate apart from it is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. It's such a simple song too but i can't stop playing it. I'm sure i will Flog it to Death eventually :-) but i haven't got fed up of it yet after a week.
We had never heard of you before SERIOUSLY & it isn't very often that a song comes along that i adore but Mother Loves it too which is rare! God Bless you Mate.
It really blows me away how people can put words & music together like you can however i have No Time Whatsoever for these talent shows who give these 2 a penny wannabe's fame overnight who only last 5 minutes. Those sort haven't got the skill to make something of their own have they! I used to get Cheesed Off with Top of the Pops towards the end because most of them used to mime & was absolutely useless playing LIVE.
Richard if you remember that song by 'Elbow' (One day like this)? He performed that once with the BBC Concert Orchestra. I wish you had that opportunity Mate. That is the only thing i like about the BBC by the way.
I hope you become a millionaire Mate for this.
Ian W.
@brettpeter7040
I highly recommend checking out Coles Corner and Truelove's Gutter. They've been in constant rotation for me since they came out 10-15 years ago.