Former members of the band include guitarist John Baker (1989-1991), vocalist Baz Ketley (1989) and keyboardist Rob Collins (1989-1996), who died in a car accident during recording of their fifth album.
The band are credited for their expansive sound, ambiguous lyrics of frontman Tim Burgess and for their participation in the Britpop movement, when their most acclaimed albums were released
Watching You
The Charlatans UK Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Learning to have every faith
In all of the things that you do
How much I've lied
Tears have been cried
Loving you
Hoping to finally nail this
Lazy bones
Where are all our friends
Where are all our friends
Going down again
Watching you
Finally finding the feeling I know there's
Too much to do
Hiccups and pride
Tears I cried
A feelin' all of it's own
Look at all our friends
Goin' down again
Goin' down again
I can hardly get no feelin' at all
Like a baby first starting to crawl
When I'm with you
I only want to see you smile
All I need is a satisfied mind
It's a long road
Don't cry, put your head on my shoulder
Take a long time to re-cover
I took a long time
And now I found you
Took a long time
I found you
In "Watching You" by The Charlatans UK, the singer is expressing their admiration and love for someone they are watching. They have learned to have faith in all the things this person does, though they have also lied and cried tears over them. The singer hopes to finally nail down the feeling they have for the person they love and need only their word to do so. Even though they are lazy and may have lost friends, they are still with the person they are watching and are feeling a unique feeling with them.
The song's chorus laments that many of their friends seem to be "going down again" but they don't feel anything at all. They feel like a baby just starting to crawl and only want to see their love interest smile. They only desire to have a satisfied mind and be with the person they are watching. The singer reassures the person they are watching to not cry and to "put [their] head on [their] shoulder" as they take a long time to recover. After taking a long time, they have finally found the person they were meant to be with.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching you
Observing you closely and keenly
Learning to have every faith
Developing trust in you and your abilities
In all of the things that you do
Confident in your actions and gestures
How much I've lied
Conveys the remorse and guilt for past falsehoods
Tears have been cried
Anguish and regret have been experienced
Loving you
Affection and compassion towards you
Hoping to finally nail this
Attempting to succeed in a certain task or project
All I need is your word
Trust in you to fulfill promises or commitments
Lazy bones
Admonishment for being lethargic or inactive
Where are all our friends
Where have our companions disappeared to
Going down again
A lack of success or progress, facing another defeat
Finally finding the feeling I know there's
Experiencing an emotion that was previously evasive or unknown
Too much to do
Overwhelmed with work or tasks
Hiccups and pride
Challenges and vanity
Tears I cried
Expressing regret or sorrow through weeping
A feelin' all of it's own
A unique and indescribable sensation.
Look at all our friends
Observing the absence of companions
Goin' down again
Experiencing yet another failure or setback
I can hardly get no feelin' at all
Feeling numb or apathetic towards life
Like a baby first starting to crawl
Starting fresh and inexperienced, like a newborn learning to move
When I'm with you
Implying comfort and safety when in your presence
I only want to see you smile
Desiring to make you happy
All I need is a satisfied mind
Seeking contentment and peace of mind
It's a long road
Life is a lengthy and challenging journey
Don't cry, put your head on my shoulder
Offering comfort and support during a time of sadness
Take a long time to re-cover
Allowing adequate time for healing and recovery
I took a long time
Acknowledging the time it took to find you
And now I found you
Finally discovering and connecting with you
Took a long time
Emphasizing the lengthy process it took
I found you
The ultimate goal of the long and difficult journey
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY PAUL ROGERS, JON BROOKES, JONATHAN THOMAS BROOKES, MARK VINCENT COLLINS, MARTIN VICTOR BLUNT, TIMOTHY BURGESS, TIMOTHY ALLAN BURGESS, TONY RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wisienkakochacie
this LP sounds like a classic and I really mean it. Put it next to "Beggars Banquet" or "Music from Big Pink" - this is where it belongs to. So criminally underrated.
Miss Vivienne
Love every track on this album 💋
KEELEY
Amazing. One of the best songs of the past 15 years by any band
Yaverlandia
There's a reason this band has stood the test of time. Exceptional.
Justin T
Amazing closing song from an amazing album Tim Burgess is a great front man and I have had the pleasure of seeing them 4 times and the list of songs they have is very impressive sad that they lost Jon and Rob along thr way but they keep going delivering great music album after album
Jochen Altenhuber
A true masterpiece.
Anfstunes
When this tune kicks into overdrive it raises the hairs on my neck. Magic.
Nathan Grindon
This song is love and hope and joy.
Martin Ryan
epic.. a song to remind me that I don't need to be crap.. ambition and desire. Starts within.
Janssen Steenberg Mijntje
Best Charlatans song!