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
The Sun Refused To Shine
Richard Hawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fake tender smile blinded
Many a doubtful eye
It's almost to much to bear
Give a careless rose
A thorn for her to needle all her life
The sun refused to shine
Oh, the one you chose was wrong
He will only brush away
And paint your dreams all blue
I know it won't be long
A bridal flower crushed
'Neath his unloving shoe
The sun refused to shine
Oh, the sun refused to shine
You hold the lies you sold yourself
Still you clutch an ancient relic
A holy fragment of the truth
There's a burning need for the wealth
Of a settled life to calm
The spirit of unsettled youth
The sun refused to shine
The sun refused to shine
The sun refused to shine
The sun refused to shine
Yes, the sun refused to shine
In The Sun Refused To Shine by Richard Hawley, the guests at a wedding are full of doubt about the bride's choice of partner, and they can see her fake smile as she tries to ignore her doubts. The lyrics express the idea that she is giving up too much for a man who is not worthy of her, and that her life will be filled with pain because of it. The image of a careless rose with a thorn for her to needle all her life, reflects the idea that the bride is accepting a painful existence as a result of her misguided choice.
The chorus, where the sun refuses to shine, is a metaphor for the bleak future that lies ahead for the bride. It suggests that the universe is not on her side, and that a dark cloud is hanging over her. There is a sense of inevitability and hopelessness, as if the decision has already been made and there is no turning back. The second verse emphasizes the wrongness of the man she has chosen, and how he will crush her spirit and her dreams. He is depicted as callous and unloving, with an unfeeling nature that will ultimately destroy her.
The third verse reveals the bride's inner conflict: she knows deep down that she has made the wrong choice, but she is clinging to the idea that she can make it work. She is holding onto a lie, and clinging to an ancient relic, trying to convince herself that her decision was the right one. The need for a settled life to calm the spirit of unsettled youth is a nod to the idea that the bride may be feeling restless and unsure of herself, and is using marriage as a way to put down roots and find some stability.
Overall, The Sun Refused To Shine is a haunting, melancholy song that captures the sadness and pain of a woman making a terrible mistake. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of making the right choices in life, and the devastating consequences that can result if we don't.
Line by Line Meaning
And all the guests were guessing there
At an event, everyone was speculating and wondering
Fake tender smile blinded
A fake, insincere smile that obscured the truth
Many a doubtful eye
Many people were distrustful and suspicious
It's almost too much to bear
The situation is almost unbearable and overwhelming
Give a careless rose
Offering something beautiful but ultimately harmful
A thorn for her to needle all her life
Something damaging that will cause pain and trouble for a long time
The sun refused to shine
Metaphorically representing the absence of joy, light, and positivity
Oh, the sun refused to shine
Reinforcing the despair and bleakness of the situation
Oh, the one you chose was wrong
The person chosen was not the right one for the artist, and probably caused harm and regret
He will only brush away
He will dismiss, ignore or belittle the lady's concerns and feelings
And paint your dreams all blue
The person will turn something beautiful and hopeful into something sad and hopeless
I know it won't be long
The negative consequences will come to fruition soon
A bridal flower crushed
A symbol of love and hope that is brutally destroyed
'Neath his unloving shoe
Under someone's indifferent and cruel treatment
You hold the lies you sold yourself
You know the lies you believe or use to deceive yourself
Still you clutch an ancient relic
Despite the truth, you hold onto something outdated, worthless, or false
A holy fragment of the truth
A small piece of what is true or important that is held with reverence or importance
There's a burning need for the wealth
A strong desire for material resources that provide safety, comfort, or status
Of a settled life to calm
The security and stability of a peaceful and prosperous existence
The spirit of unsettled youth
The restlessness, curiosity, and hope of the younger generation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD WILLIS HAWLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind