Richard Hawley (born Richard Willis Hawley, 17 January 1967, Sheffield, Uni… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Hawley (born Richard Willis Hawley, 17 January 1967, Sheffield, United Kingdom) is a critically-acclaimed guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. Hawley initially found success as a member of Britpop band Longpigs in the 1990's, and formerly Treebound Story. When a drug-filled torpor after an extensive tour of America brought the band to the brink of extinction in 1997, Hawley was asked to play with Pulp by his close friend and Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker. "They saved my life," Hawley later recalled, "I was going mental with drink and drugs." The subsequent world tour in support of Pulp's album This Is Hardcore left Hawley emotionally and physically drained on his return to his home city. During this time, he even considered leaving the music industry altogether.

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

Precious Sight
Richard Hawley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Smallwood, a joiner, takes carpenter out for a meal
As soon as we dock see the captain to get a better deal
My darkness in mind is concealed
I'm in here alone and unreal
But not anymore
Not anymore

Up above and outside we looked towards the stern of the ship

Weighed up the anchor and then I decided to slip
Land well in middle and row
I'm tired of deceiving my soul
But not anymore
Not anymore

Won't be at this station too long
Took too many journeys alone
But not anymore
Not anymore

I leap the boat clear without paying my bills, I just left here
Precious sight in my eyes as I take the last dive, I shed no tears
I'm taking a guess
This life is a mess

But not anymore
Not anymore

Overall Meaning

The lines of the song Precious Sight by Richard Hawley might have different interpretations depending on who is listening to it. But in a general sense, the song seems to be about a person who is tired of living a life full of lies and deception. The first verse seems to be describing an interaction between two people, Smallwood, and a carpenter. Smallwood, a joiner, invites the carpenter out for a meal, and as soon as they dock, they see the captain to get a better deal, possibly indicating a sort of business transaction. While this is happening, the singer seems to be lost in thought, describing the darkness in their mind, and feeling alone and unreal. But this changes with the line "Not anymore." This could suggest that the singer is ready to leave their old life behind and embrace a new way of living.

As the song plays on, the singer seems to be observing their surroundings as they look towards the stern of the ship. They weigh the anchor and decide to slip away. The lyrics "I'm tired of deceiving my soul" suggest a sense of weariness that the singer feels about the life they have been living. The lines "Won't be at this station too long, Took too many journeys alone" could suggest a sense of transience that the singer feels about their life. They have been alone for too long, and they are ready to move on and try something new.

The final verse of the song is about the singer leaving their old life behind. They "leap the boat clear without paying my bills," indicating that they are ready to start anew, without worrying about the debts and obligations of their previous life. The phrase "precious sight in my eyes" could suggest that the singer is seeing things differently, with a new perspective, and they are taking the "last dive," not in a physical sense, but in a metaphorical sense. They are taking a chance and letting go of their old life.

Line by Line Meaning

Smallwood, a joiner, takes carpenter out for a meal
Smallwood, a joiner, invites a carpenter to dine with him

As soon as we dock see the captain to get a better deal
As soon as we arrive, let's go see the captain to negotiate a better price

My darkness in mind is concealed
I hide my troubled thoughts and feelings

I'm in here alone and unreal
I feel isolated and disconnected from reality

But not anymore
But now things are changing

Up above and outside we looked towards the stern of the ship
We went to the deck to look at the back of the ship

Weighed up the anchor and then I decided to slip
After considering my options, I chose to leave

Land well in middle and row
I aim to safely reach the middle of the ocean and start rowing

I'm tired of deceiving my soul
I am exhausted from lying to myself

Won't be at this station too long
I won't stay in this place for much longer

Took too many journeys alone
I have gone on too many solitary trips