Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals", the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock". Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around, was released in August 1997 and charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph", "More Life in a Tramps Vest" and "A Thousand Trees". The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief", "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number one: "Dakota" (2005). Having sold around 10 million copies worldwide by 2016, Stereophonics are one of the most successful Welsh rock acts. Upon their release of Pull the Pin, they achieved five consecutive UK number one albums.
The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V Festival in 2002, the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009, Oxegen in 2010, Tramlines Festival and TRNSMT in 2018, and Latitude in 2019. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonics
Studio albums
Word Gets Around (1997)
Performance and Cocktails (1999)
Just Enough Education to Perform (2001)
You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (2005)
Pull the Pin (2007)
Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)
Graffiti on the Train (2013)
Keep the Village Alive (2015)
Scream Above the Sounds (2017)
Kind (2019)
Oochya! (2022)
Lying in the Sun
Stereophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The same things as anyone
Wish I could lie down there
With my feet, high in the air
I'd have a drink in my hand
Read words from a newspaper stand
Wish I could lie in the sun
Same things as anyone
Same things as anyone
But you burn me up you paint my skin
In bad designs that ain't even in
My skin's crawling up the wall
Into the ocean I'd love to fall
I hear the sounds but they ain't the same
As feeling them with you two feet away
There's always more worse off than me
Suppose I'm lucky I can even see
All the people that I'd like to be
Passing me by everyday in the street
Same things as anyone
Same things as anyone
But you burn me up you paint my skin
In bad designs that ain't even in
I got good lungs, got a good heart
My mind is fit, and my feet can walk
And here I am in the shade on the street
Asking people for money to eat
What did I ever do to deserve this?
Did I kill a child or something worse?
Same things as anyone
What's the reason maybe make you feel
How much more fortunate you are than me
The lyrics of Stereophonics' "Lying in the Sun" is an introspective tale of longing for pleasures that everyone else seems to enjoy but ultimately hampered by personal struggles. The opening lines express a wish to simply bask in the sun, doing the same things that anyone else would do: reading the newspaper, sipping a drink, and having a good time. However, the singer is unable to embrace this simple joy because of something that is burning him up from within. The song then takes a melancholic turn as the singer acknowledges his helplessness and weakness as his skin crawls up the wall and he yearns to jump into the ocean. He hears the sound of people enjoying the sun but without someone to share it with, even these simple pleasures become unattainable.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "same things as anyone" over and over again, highlighting the universality of wanting to experience the simple pleasures in life. Nevertheless, the song dwells on the fact that the singer is disillusioned with these desires because he feels unable to achieve them. He recognizes that his situation is not the worst, and he passes by people every day who are in a worse position than him. Even though he may have good lungs, a good heart, and a fit mind, he is still unable to enjoy the pleasures that life has to offer, and the song ends with the lines: "What did I ever do to deserve this? / Did I kill a child or something worse?" suggesting the singer's belief that there might be something inherently wrong with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Wish I could lie in the sun
I crave the simple pleasure of basking in the sun's warmth
The same things as anyone
I am no different from anyone else in this regard
Wish I could lie down there
To relax and unwind is all I desire
With my feet, high in the air
I long to feel carefree and weightless
I'd have a drink in my hand
I can picture myself sipping on a refreshing beverage
Read words from a newspaper stand
With nothing else to do, reading the news seems like a pleasant option
Wish I could fly like everyone
I envy the freedom that others seem to enjoy
But you burn me up you paint my skin
You make me angry and ruin my happiness
In bad designs that ain't even in
You are falsely accusing me of things I have not done
My skin's crawling up the wall
Your actions make me feel extremely uncomfortable and nervous
Into the ocean I'd love to fall
I wish I could escape this situation and just disappear
I hear the sounds but they ain't the same
I can hear what's happening, but it does not match up with what I expected
As feeling them with you two feet away
It's different experiencing things first-hand with a companion by my side
There's always more worse off than me
I realize that there are others who are less fortunate than myself
Suppose I'm lucky I can even see
I have the privilege of sight, which is something not everyone has
All the people that I'd like to be
I aspire to become like certain individuals I admire
Passing me by everyday in the street
The people I wish to emulate are living their lives around me every day
But you burn me up you paint my skin
Once again, your actions are ruining my happiness and causing me frustration
In bad designs that ain't even in
You are falsely accusing me of wrongdoing
I got good lungs, got a good heart
I am fortunate to have good health
My mind is fit, and my feet can walk
I am able-bodied and have the ability to move and think freely
And here I am in the shade on the street
Despite my advantages, I find myself struggling in difficult circumstances
Asking people for money to eat
I have been reduced to begging for basic necessities
What did I ever do to deserve this?
I question why I have been subjected to these hardships
Did I kill a child or something worse?
I am at a loss as to why such terrible things are happening to me
What's the reason maybe make you feel
Could there be a reason why you are treating me this way?
How much more fortunate you are than me
I hope that by seeing how much better off you are, you might show me some kindness
Same things as anyone
Ultimately, I am just like everyone else, trying to survive and find happiness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kelly Jones, Richard Mark Jones, Stuart Cable
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kyle Tombleson
This album evokes many great memories. Such a summer album. i was 14 when this came out. Cannot believe it has been a decade. Where has this type of music gone???
Bruno Huerta Mantilla
Now almost 20 years
Alexandre K.
i started listening stereophonics in the 90s and still doing it in 2017 <3 <3
Alexandre K.
my favorite band all times <3 <3
Macadam Cowboy
I love your comment :)
pvtrichter88
such a powerful voice just in the raw feeling it evokes !! I remember a time when i was travelling gone for walkabout as they say encountered some great kindness some nastiness as well but I didn't die I learned and kept on going I've always wanted to be able to express myself as well in music SO keep listening! CHEERS!!
michael clark
lovely words eloquently put x
Georgie Porgie
1 of the best songs ever!
lee halfpeny
love this song so much
Rosie Misoko
Amo su voz