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
Coming Home
Richard Hawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna see my lady, think she'll understand, my lord
Walkin to the river, take my rocking chair
Let that feeling overtake me, drift away from here, my lord
I think I'm coming home to you, my lord
I think I'm coming home, my lord
Got a situation, blowin' in my head
Got a short time to stay here, long time to stay dead, my lord
Goin' to the station, it's time for me to go
Don't think that I will miss you, when that whistle blows, my lord
I think I'm coming home to you, my lord
I think I'm coming home, my lord
I think I'm coming home, my lord
Don't know if it's the force, or the situation
But something just bother's me
Don't know if I can make it
Somewhere else
Goin' to the river, take my old chair
Let that feeling overtake me, drift away from here, my lord
Drift away from here, my lord
Drift away from here, my lord
Drift away from here, my lord.
The song "Coming Home" by Richard Hawley centers around the singer's internal conflict and his desire to return to his loved one. The lyrics depict the singer's journey to the station to catch a train, which he hopes will take him back to his partner. He feels that he has a "situation" in his head, which is possibly a decision he needs to make or a problem he needs to solve. He is also aware of his mortality, saying he has a "short time to stay here" and a "long time to stay dead." Despite this, he believes that he is coming home to his loved one, and that it is a place of safety and belonging.
The lyrics are filled with religious imagery, as the repeated use of "my lord" implies a deep sense of faith and hope in something greater than oneself. The rocking chair and river also have a calming, spiritual quality, suggesting that the singer is seeking solace and peace in nature or the divine. He is unsure, however, whether he can make it somewhere else, and his uncertainty is reflected in the repetition of "drift away from here, my lord."
Overall, "Coming Home" is a song about longing, uncertainty, and hope. The singer is torn between conflicting desires and feelings, but ultimately believes that his journey will lead him back home to where he belongs.
Line by Line Meaning
Going to the station, ticket in my hand
I am headed to the train station with my ticket to board a train and begin a journey.
Gonna see my lady, think she'll understand, my lord
I am hopeful that when I see my lady, she will comprehend the circumstances and feelings that led me to leave and seek understanding.
Walkin to the river, take my rocking chair
As I amble toward the river, I intend to relax in my seat and be at peace with my thoughts.
Let that feeling overtake me, drift away from here, my lord
I plan to become one with what I am experiencing and let it guide me away from where I am presently located.
I think I'm coming home to you, my lord
I believe that ultimately I will return to where I belong, to a place of familiarity and comfort.
Got a situation, blowin' in my head
There is an issue or circumstance on my mind that I cannot ignore and it's causing me a great deal of distress.
Got a short time to stay here, long time to stay dead, my lord
I am aware that my time on this earth is limited, and there is still so much left to experience before I pass away.
Goin' to the station, it's time for me to go
It is time for me to depart from where I am and journey to a new location via the train station.
Don't think that I will miss you, when that whistle blows, my lord
When the train whistle sounds, I do not anticipate any feelings of longing or remorse for my previous location.
Don't know if it's the force, or the situation
I am uncertain what is causing the intense feeling or circumstance that I am encountering.
But something just bother's me
There is an unknown discomfort or disturbance that I am unable to identify or alleviate.
Don't know if I can make it somewhere else
I am unsure if I can confront whatever lies ahead of me.
Goin' to the river, take my old chair
I am making my way to the river and will sit in my familiar chair.
Let that feeling overtake me, drift away from here, my lord
I plan to surrender to the emotion and let it take me to a new location, free from my present circumstances.
Drift away from here, my lord
I endeavor to move away from where I am now, towards a place where I will feel more at peace.
Drift away from here, my lord
I want to be carried away from where I currently am, perhaps to a more relaxed and charming place.
Drift away from here, my lord.
I am seeking to allow my troubles to float away with the current of the river and to be carried to a new locale with renewed hope for the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHINMAYA DUNSTER, NILADRI KUMAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind