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
Nothing Like a Friend
Richard Hawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And in the end, the things that hold you in
Are gossamer thin, disappeared with the wind
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it′s gossamer thin
Ah, but then again,
There's nothing like a friend
Who can drive you ′round the bend,
We'll be lovers 'til the end
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it′s gossamer thin
And in the end, there′s nothing like a friend
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it's gossamer thin
And in the end, there′s nothing like a friend
The lyrics to Richard Hawley's "Nothing Like A Friend" are reflective in nature, with the singer contemplating over the fragility of life and relationships. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song - referring to the things that hold us, they are as delicate and fleeting as gossamer, a delicate spider silk that is easily torn away when touched. The things that we thought were permanent, like friendships or love, can disappear as quickly as the wind.
The song's chorus then celebrates the importance of friends in our lives, drawing a stark contrast to the fragility of everything else. Hawley acknowledges that friends can drive us crazy but they are still there for us until the very end. The mention of the bitter wind taking them from their hometown refers to the displacement they have felt and how the past and home can become distant entities, almost just like memories.
Overall, "Nothing Like A Friend" is a poignant reminder of the value of human connections, as well as a lament for how vulnerable and fleeting they can be.
Line by Line Meaning
And in the end, the things that hold you in
The forces that keep us grounded and stable eventually fade away
Are gossamer thin, disappeared with the wind
These forces are fragile and fleeting, easily blown away by change
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Do our past experiences and memories still hold significance in the present?
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
Life's unexpected challenges can lead us down different paths and take us away from what's familiar
Ah, but then again,
On the other hand,
There's nothing like a friend
The comfort and support of a true friend cannot be replaced
Who can drive you ′round the bend,
Friends can push us to our limits, for better or for worse
We'll be lovers 'til the end
The bond of true friendship can last a lifetime and beyond
And in the end, there′s nothing like a friend
The idea of camaraderie and trust resonates deeply within us, especially during difficult times
Writer(s): Richard Willis Hawley
Contributed by Jordyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carlos Sánchez ۞
"Nothing Like A Friend"
And in the end, the things that hold you in
Are gossamer thin, disappeared with the wind
Will these city streets remember us?
We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it's gossamer thin
Ah, but then again,
There's nothing like a friend
Who can drive you 'round the bend,
We'll be lovers 'til the end
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it's gossamer thin
And in the end, there's nothing like a friend
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it's gossamer thin
And in the end, there's nothing like a friend...
João Manuel Veloso Bárbara
Nada como um Amigo. Aquele que ninguém pergunta onde está. É nosso! Só e apenas nosso!
Quando o nosso vidro se quebra, somos nós que sabemos como colocar os pedaços no sítio que lhes pertence.
Companhia alguma se compara à de um Amigo!
Richard Hawley, para mim, já é muito mais que isso. Sei que sou eu o ouvinte mas e o o que me chega atrvés do seu trabalho? Longos e dos melhores momentos!
Há maneiras de ser-mos Amigos, não deixemos de o ser...
MÚSICA!...
Nothing like a Friend. The one that nobody asks where he is. It is ours! It's just ours!
When our glass breaks, it is we who know how to put the pieces in the place that belongs to them.
Company is comparable to that of a Friend!
Richard Hawley, to me, is much more than that. I know that I am the listener but what comes to me through your work? Long and the best moments!
There are ways to be friends, let's not be ...
MUSIC!...
Thouhedul Islam Himel
Nothing Like A Friend lyrics | Richard Hawley
And in the end, the things that hold you in
Are gossamer thin, disappeared with the wind
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it's gossamer thin
Ah, but then again,
There's nothing like a friend
Who can drive you 'round the bend,
We'll be lovers 'til the end
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it's gossamer thin
And in the end, there's nothing like a friend
Will these city streets remember us? We walked them long ago
Blown apart by a bitter wind that took us far from home
And in the end, it's gossamer thin
And in the end, there's nothing like a friend
Songwriters: Richard Willis Hawley
JOAQUIM OLIVA I SALA
2015 : " I quan arribi el final
Tot el que tindré
Serà tot allò que no haurà desaparegut amb el vent
Recordes els carrers d’aquesta ciutat ?
Que tantes vegades vam recórrer junts
Ara ha deixat de bufar
Aquell vent amarg que em portà lluny de casa
I torno
Perquè sé que, al final, no hi ha res com un amic "
Leon Altmark
Great, authentic new breed crooner. Not a clone of legends, truly a modern original. Voice is magnificent. Production is not over or under done, it's perfect. His restrain is magical. Lyrics are current with nod to his brit hometown. Please don't change.
Ondra Pátek
Copy that !
Mike Batt
A genius amongst very mediocre artists of his time.......His lyrics are wonderful and personal, and his voice is just awesome.........his melodies are beautiful.....
csopr
Mike Batt Put perfectly.👍🏻
Svein Ramberg
I agree with you, Mike! He is fantastic composer !!! Thanks God for him !!!! Best wishes from Norway!!!
Michael Lappin
So happy to have him around. Great melodies, lovely voice and superb voice.
Martin Powell
You not wrong there 😊👍😊👍
Amanda Leopold
This song breaks my heart and brings back such sweet and bitter memories...a time in my life that will never be replicated.
Romeu Pereira
Feel the same
anna hero bol croatia
@Romeu Pereira me too...