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
Sunlight
Richard Hawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where everything surrounds me, in suffocating sand
Oh the end, the end, sunlight without end
I've seen it in your eyes, I've seen it in your eyes
I've seen it in your eyes, never say goodbye, again
Again
The lyrics of Richard Hawley's song "Sunlight" are deeply introspective and emotive. The opening line, "Could this be the end, of sunlight's sacred friend," alludes to the fragility of life and the potential loss of something we take for granted such as sunlight, which is referred to as a sacred friend. The metaphorical theme of the song is continued in the line "Where everything surrounds me, in suffocating sand," which describes the feeling of becoming trapped and suffocated by life's struggles.
The repetition of "the end, the end, sunlight without end" emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and how endings lead to new beginnings. This line is also a tribute to the nature of sunlight, which seems to never truly die but rather create a new day. The line "I've seen it in your eyes, I've seen it in your eyes" seems to suggest that the artist has seen the fragility of life and our eventual mortality in the eyes of another person. The final line, "never say goodbye, again," offers a hopeful tone, perhaps suggesting that even though endings are inevitable, there is still a chance for new beginnings.
Overall, the lyrics of this song evoke a profound sense of reflection and melancholy, highlighting the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Could this be the end, of sunlight's sacred friend
Is this the end of the friendship between sunlight and me?
Where everything surrounds me, in suffocating sand
I feel trapped, like everything around me is stifling and overwhelming.
Oh the end, the end, sunlight without end
The end feels never-ending, like the sun won't rise again.
I've seen it in your eyes, I've seen it in your eyes
I can tell by looking in your eyes.
I've seen it in your eyes, never say goodbye, again
I can tell you never want to say goodbye again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD WILLIS HAWLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pete Gas London
something like -
I'll ask the life, Lighter beside me
There's no question why, She's the first, the last and always
With grace she walks, Through my open door
Her perfume reaches, In before her
She brings the sunlight, She makes the world right
And as my love Slowly undresses
She brings a new need, The need to caress her
Oh and her eyes, They hypnotise me
The feel of her skin, Now there beside me
She brings the sunlight She makes the world right
And as my heart,Now calm beside hers
The sweat runs dry, Mine and hers always
We'll have a child,To show life's true meaning
The child runs light,And so forever sees us
She brings the sunlight, She makes the world right
She brings the sun, She brings the sun, She brings the sun..light..
-Richard Hawley (not Ashcroft) lol
Paul Boyne
I just love it, the voice, guitar the beat , just wish it had of lasted another 20 minutes, another album of Richards I'm going to have to get ,
martin alfonso iglesias
that first time you hear the first solo, unforgettable.
VimFuego72
Listened to this album 4 times today whilst painting and decorating. Loads of influences in there rolled into one magnificent piece of artwork.
Yorsen
great sound, great voice, one the greatest writters of our times.. Jarvis Cocker wishes to write songs like this
Peter Cena
Best song and album of 2012.
Hawley executes a British style of rock I wish was more prominent here in the states.
Roy Royston
Blistering song. Raucous, soulful, powerful. I discovered it because of Three Kings. Fits the intro perfectly.
victor58010
Wow!! Simply stunning, what a fantastic atmospheric song, I am spinning in this beautiful texture.
Ben S
I could listen to this forever. Completely beautiful
Petar Trivunovic
Mr Hawley is the Real Deal. He plays the guitar with a swagger and can you imagine if he ever decided to make a rock n roll album!? It would soar up into the sky like a rocket before making walls crumble!!
Danny Stewart
Well, yeah you're right, except Richard has always made rock'n'roll records, just...different kinds of rock'n'roll.