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
Tonight
Richard Hawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got it really bad
Maybe I'll go out walking, don't feel like staying home
Might take the car up to the hills, and watch the city lights below
Yes tonight, ah tonight, oh tonight
I got it really bad
Maybe I should call her, ah but then she'll know
Just want to drive out into the night, and see where that road goes
Ah tonight, oh tonight, yes tonight
I'm feeling low
Ah the restlessness that's in me, don't do me any good
I know I really should stay home tonight, but I don't think that I could
Not tonight, not tonight, no not tonight
I got it really bad
Not tonight, not tonight, you won't find me tonight
I got it really bad
The lyrics to Richard Hawley's song "Tonight" speak to the universal feeling of restlessness and longing. The singer is experiencing a strong urge to escape his current situation, but isn't quite sure how to go about it. He considers going for a walk or driving up to the hills to clear his head, but ultimately decides against it, fearing that it won't be enough to quell the restlessness inside him. He also considers reaching out to someone he cares about, but ultimately decides against that as well, not wanting to burden them with his own emotional turmoil.
Throughout the song, the singer repeats the phrase "I got it really bad," emphasizing the depth of his feelings and the sense of urgency he is experiencing. These lyrics are accompanied by a swirling, hypnotic melody, perfectly capturing the sense of restlessness and the desire for escape that the singer is feeling.
Overall, the lyrics to "Tonight" are a powerful exploration of the human experience of longing and restlessness. They are a testament to the enduring quality of Hawley's songwriting and his ability to create music that speaks to the universal human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh tonight, oh tonight, oh tonight
Expressing a heightened sense of urgency or importance to the events of the night
I got it really bad
Feeling intense emotions of longing or dissatisfaction
Maybe I'll go out walking, don't feel like staying home
Contemplating the idea of physical movement as a means of distracting oneself from negative thoughts
Might take the car up to the hills, and watch the city lights below
Thinking of a picturesque escape from the everyday routine
Yes tonight, ah tonight, oh tonight
Reinforcing the notion of an urgent need to act on one's desires
Maybe I should call her, ah but then she'll know
Considering the consequences of potential actions, including the risk of vulnerability
Just want to drive out into the night, and see where that road goes
Embracing a sense of adventure and spontaneity to confront feelings of stagnancy
Ah tonight, oh tonight, yes tonight
Reiterating the immediacy of the situation
I'm feeling low
Acknowledging a sense of sadness or disconnection from oneself or others
Ah the restlessness that's in me, don't do me any good
Admitting the negative effects of feeling unfulfilled or unsatisfied
I know I really should stay home tonight, but I don't think that I could
Recognizing the dangers of impulsivity, but struggling with the inability to resist
Not tonight, not tonight, no not tonight
A final affirmation of the decision not to act on impulse
You won't find me tonight
Withdrawing from social or personal engagements to confront one's emotions
I got it really bad
Reiterating the intensity of emotions being felt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD WILLIS HAWLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind