Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
Kooks
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In our lover's story
If you stay
You won't be sorry
'cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
We bought a lot of things
To keep you warm and dry
A funny old crib
On which the paint won't dry
I bought you
A pair of shoes
A trumpet you can blow
And a book of rules
Of what to say to people
When they pick on you
'cause if you stay with us
You're gonna be pretty kooky too
Won't you stay
In our lover's story
If you stay
You won't be sorry
'cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing
If you ever have to
Go to school
Remember how they messed up
This old fool
Don't pick fights
With the bullies or the cads
I'm not much cop at fighting
Other people's dads
And if the homework
Brings you down
Then we'll throw it on the fire
And take the car down town
Won't you stay
In our lover's story
If you stay
You won't be sorry
'cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing
Won't you stay
In our lover's story
If you stay you
Won't be sorry
'cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing
The lyrics to Robbie Williams' song "Kooks" focus on a couple who is welcoming a child into their lives. They promise to support and love the child, even if they turn out to be a bit unconventional ("kooky"). The parents encourage their child to be themselves and not worry about what others might think or say. They also offer advice on how to deal with bullies and how to handle the stresses of school.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "take a chance with a couple of kooks hung up on romancing." This suggests that the couple may not have a traditional perspective on romantic love, but they embrace it nonetheless. The song ends with another reminder that the child will always be welcome in the family's "lover's story."
Overall, the lyrics of "Kooks" emphasize the importance of love, acceptance, and individuality. Parents cannot control who their children become, but they can offer support and encouragement to help them become the best versions of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Will you stay
Asking the listener if they are willing to remain in this tale
In our lover's story
The tale being about two lovers and their adventures
If you stay
If the listener chooses to remain in the story
You won't be sorry
They will not regret the decision to stay
'cause we believe in you
The lovers have faith in the listener
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
The lovers encourage the listener to take risks and become independent
With a couple of kooks
The lovers recognize themselves as different and eccentric
Hung up on romancing
Their love is over the top and in a class of its own
We bought a lot of things
The lovers are preparing for the listener's arrival
To keep you warm and dry
The objects they bought are practical
A funny old crib
The crib is unique, maybe even a little odd
On which the paint won't dry
The crib is not in perfect condition, but it still has a lot of character
I bought you
The singer is addressing the listener directly
A pair of shoes
The listeners are receiving items to help them in their life
A trumpet you can blow
The singers are giving the listener an outlet, a way to express themselves
And a book of rules
The listener is receiving advice on how to deal with people
Of what to say to people
The book of rules provides guidance on social interactions
When they pick on you
The rules will help them stand up to bullies
'cause if you stay with us
The lovers are emphasizing the benefits of staying with them
You're gonna be pretty kooky too
They acknowledge their own eccentricity and predict that this will have an effect on the listener
If you ever have to
The lovers are preparing the listener for potential difficulties they may face
Go to school
The listener will have to navigate the school system
Remember how they messed up
The singer is reflecting on their own experiences
This old fool
The artist admits to their own mistakes
Don't pick fights
The lovers are warning the listener not to become confrontational
With the bullies or the cads
Bullies and troublemakers are to be avoided
I'm not much cop at fighting
The singer acknowledges that they are not physically capable of defending the listener
Other people's dads
The artist is referring to fathers of other children
And if the homework
The lovers are reassuring the listener that they will help them deal with schoolwork
Brings you down
If schoolwork becomes overwhelming
Then we'll throw it on the fire
The singer is advocating for a cathartic release of schoolwork-related stress
And take the car down town
The lovers are offering a distraction from schoolwork, such as a fun trip downtown
Won't you stay
The lovers continue to appeal to the listener to stay with them
In our lover's story
They emphasize that the story is one of love, a feeling that everyone should experience
If you stay you
The lovers are trying to prove that their love and nurturing ways will positively affect the listener
Won't be sorry
The listener will not have regrets
'cause we believe in you
The lovers express faith in the listener once more
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
The singer is encouraging the listener once again to be independent and take risks
With a couple of kooks
Once again, the lovers admit to being eccentric
Hung up on romancing
Their love is all-consuming and passionate, something to be proud of
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Win Some Lose Some
Yet another fantastic Robbie Williams song. Absolutely fantastic.
Philip Kassabian
on Millennium
What a fantastic song by Robbie Williams.
Edy Souza
on Advertising Space
:)
Edy Souza
on Angels
Love! Love!