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)
Raymond's Shop
Stereophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going down la na na na na
I used to buy my sweets and candy treats at
Raymond's shop
I used to pass there everyday
The time has come to buy a gun and hold up
Raymond's shop
Goin' down la na na
Goin' down la na na na na
It's been two years my minds not clear
I stop at Raymond's shop
It's boarded up he's gone away
The words got out and there's no doubt it came from
Raymond's shop
Looks like our little boys will play
Play away, Ray
Play away, Ray
It's turned about it's back on you
Your famous 15 times by 2
You ask around to find the truth
And all the fingers point at you
You're sick and low, my minds made up
I'm two years down I'm back in luck
I wouldn't save you if you drown
I hope you like you're time gone down
"Raymond's Shop" by Stereophonics is a dark and evocative ballad about the passing of time and the effects of it on both an individual and a community. The song starts with a nostalgic feel as the singer reminisces about passing by Raymond's shop everyday and buying sweets from there. However, it takes a dark turn when he begins to talk about the desire to hold up the shop with a gun, indicating how desperation can drive people to make impulsive decisions.
The tone of the song changes significantly in the second half, with the singer realizing that two years have passed and the shop is boarded up with Raymond having gone away. He connects the disappearance of Raymond with the spread of word that seems to have originated from his shop, leading to fear and suspicion among the locals. The latter part of the song seems to be targeted towards Raymond himself, with the lyrics accusing him of being sick and low, while the singer's mind is made up about letting him suffer.
Overall, the song portrays the impact of time on individuals and communities, as well as how fear and suspicion can create a rift in the society. The singer's emotions, ranging from nostalgia to anger to indifference, are a reflection of how time can change people and their perspectives.
Line by Line Meaning
Going down la na na
The singer is repeating a rhythmic sound which serves no meaning
Going down la na na na na
The singer is repeating the same rhythmic sound to create a musical effect
I used to buy my sweets and candy treats at Raymond's shop
The singer reminisces about his past experiences of buying sweets and candy from Raymond's shop
I used to pass there everyday
The artist used to pass by Raymond's shop every day as a part of his routine
The time has come to buy a gun and hold up Raymond's shop
The artist is planning to rob Raymond's shop using a gun as his weapon
Looks like I will be goin' away
The singer realizes that robbing the shop will result in him being imprisoned, hence he will be 'going away'
It's been two years my minds not clear
The singer has spent two years in prison which has left his mind unclear and unfocused
I stop at Raymond's shop
The artist stops at Raymond's shop to find that it is boarded up
It's boarded up he's gone away
Raymond has closed his shop and gone away from the area
The words got out and there's no doubt it came from Raymond's shop
The artist suspects that Raymond is responsible for spreading rumors and causing trouble in the area
Looks like our little boys will play
The singer implies that the younger generation will now take over the area and 'play' their own games.
Play away, Ray
The artist is sarcastically asking Raymond to continue playing games in the area
It's turned about it's back on you
The singer implies that Raymond has turned his back to the area and left it to the new generation
Your famous 15 times by 2
Raymond's fame and status in the eyes of the community has now been reduced by half
You ask around to find the truth
The singer suggests that Raymond is trying to find out the truth about what happened to his shop
And all the fingers point at you
The community suspects Raymond to be responsible for the rumors and for abandoning the area
You're sick and low, my minds made up
The artist believes that Raymond is unwell and has made up his mind about him
I'm two years down I'm back in luck
The singer has spent two years in prison, but now he feels lucky to be back in the area
I wouldn't save you if you drown
The singer implies that he would not help Raymond in times of need
I hope you like you're time gone down
The artist suggests that Raymond will regret leaving the area as his reputation has been damaged
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KELLY JONES, RICHARD MARK JONES, STUART CABLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind