Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to space rock and shoegazer music, by the mid-1990s the band had released several EPs and two acclaimed records. They also endured name and lineup changes, breakups, health problems, drug abuse and various lawsuits. The band's commercial breakthrough was Urban Hymns and its single Bitter Sweet Symphony, which became a massive worldwide hit.
Soon after this commercial peak, the band quit amid creative struggles within, and Ashcroft went onto a successful solo career. Tong briefly joined Blur as a replacement for Graham Coxon. It is rumored that Simon Jones did a studio album with Ari Pap of the Floor Monks called 'Aint Nothing To It' and was never released because they both had bigger projects going on at the time. Close family and friends assure us its a fabulous indie/rock/alternate album and they really wish it would have been released.
The Verve were chosen to close the 2008 Glastonbury festival which they did with a set based on the classic 1997 album 'Urban Hymns'.
Discography:
A Storm in Heaven • 21 June 1993 • #27 (UK)
A Northern Soul • 3 July 1995 • #13 (UK)
Urban Hymns • 29 September 1997 • #1 (UK) #23 (US)
Forth • 25 August 2008 • #1 (UK) #23 (US)
Appalachian Springs
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was wondering if we've got that real soul
You know the thing you cannot trade or ever own
Does anybody know where we're really gonna go?
I was wondering if we've got that real soul
You know the thing we cannot trade or ever own
The solitude, my sacred mood
The sacred mood
Appalachian Springs
All my things
Took a step to the left
Took a step to the right
I saw myself and I wasn't quite right
Does anybody know where we're really gonna go?
I was looking for answers in a soul
In the feelings that a man can't control
I let the fire burn bright in the dead of night
Disappointed she'd get I told a lie
I said that I would never be on their side
I took a step to the left
Took a step to the right
And I saw myself and it wasn't quite right
Took a step to the left
I took a step to the right
I keep it together, yeah?
And I was waiting for my number come
Like a bingo calling, singing in the sun
You said 'our number's 69', I said 'ok'
The solitude
My sacred mood
Appalachian Springs
All my things
Took a step to the left
Took a step to the right
Yeah, I keep it together
You know I'm not lying
Took a step to the left, yeah
I took a step to the right
I'm gonna keep it together
C'mon
Yeah c'mon
Ah c'mon
Does anybody know where we're really gonna go?
I was wondering if we've got that real soul
You know the thing you cannot trade or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Good luck, I'm coming home
Feel so young
I don't know where I've gone
I took a step to the left
I took a step to the right
And I saw myself and it wasn't quite right
Yeah, a slip into the dreams
Slippin' out, slippin' in and out of dreams
The lyrics of The Verve's Appalachian Springs reflect a philosophical search for the meaning of life and the human soul. The singer begins by asking if anyone truly knows where they are going in life and if they possess a real soul that cannot be bought or owned. He later reflects on the sacred atmosphere of Appalachian Springs, which provides an environment of solitude that allows him to reflect on his life and decisions. However, despite his best intentions, he acknowledges that he has not always made the right choices, evidenced by his admission that he has told a lie and disappointed others.
The singer takes steps to the left and right, perhaps symbolizing his search for answers, and sees himself in a way that he isn't quite happy with. The song mentions waiting for his "number to come" like in a game of bingo, before acknowledging the transience of life with the lyrics "I don't know where I've gone." The repetition of the phrase "or ever own" underscores the idea that true happiness and fulfilment can never be purchased or possessed by anyone. Ultimately, the song leaves unanswered the question of where we're really going, but through its introspective, poetic lyrics, it invites the listener to ponder this eternal question.
Line by Line Meaning
Does anybody know where we're really gonna go?
Asks for the universal destination of the soul
I was wondering if we've got that real soul
Questions whether we possess the true essence of ourselves
You know the thing we cannot trade or ever own
The elusive quality that sets us apart and cannot be bought or sold
The solitude, my sacred mood
The singer's holy isolation
Appalachian Springs
A condition of mind and soul embodying natural purity, like a new day that springs from the Appalachian Mountains
All my things
Everything that I own
Took a step to the left
Shift in perspective
Took a step to the right
Alternative view
I saw myself and I wasn't quite right
Realization of one's own imperfections
In the feelings that a man can't control
The emotions that we cannot direct or restrain
I let the fire burn bright in the dead of night
I let my passion consume me, regardless of the circumstances
Disappointed she'd get I told a lie
Regretful admission of dishonesty
I said that I would never be on their side
Refusal to be swayed by popular opinion
And I was waiting for my number come
Hopeful expectation for good fortune
Like a bingo calling, singing in the sun
The joyous sound of chance
You said 'our number's 69', I said 'ok'
Casual agreement to fate
Good luck, I'm coming home
Positive wishes before returning to oneself
Feel so young
Rediscovery of a childlike spirit
I don't know where I've gone
Lack of awareness concerning one's own journey
Yeah, a slip into the dreams
A momentary departure into the subconscious
Slippin' out, slippin' in and out of dreams
Floating between reality and fantasy
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD ASHCROFT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Panagiotis Pastos
Does anybody know where we're really gonna go?
I was wondering if we've got that real soul
You know the thing you cannot trade or ever own
Does anybody know where we're really gonna go?
I was wondering if we've got that real soul
You know the thing we cannot trade or ever own
The solitude, my sacred mood
The sacred mood
Appalachian Springs
All my things
Took a step to the left
Took a step to the right
I saw myself and I wasn't quite right
Does anybody know where we're really gonna go?
I was looking for answers in a soul
In the feelings that a man can't control
I let the fire burn bright in the dead of night
Disappointed she'd get I told a lie
I said that I would never be on their side
I took a step to the left
Took a step to the right
And I saw myself and it wasn't quite right
Took a step to the left
I took a step to the right
I keep it together, yeah?
And I was waiting for my number come
Like a bingo calling, singing in the sun
You said 'our number's 69', I said 'ok'
The solitude
My sacred mood
Appalachian Springs
All my things
Took a step to the left
Took a step to the right
Yeah, I keep it together
You know I'm not lying
Took a step to the left, yeah
I took a step to the right
I'm gonna keep it together
C'mon
Yeah c'mon
Ah c'mon
Does anybody know where we're really gonna go?
I was wondering if we've got that real soul
You know the thing you cannot trade or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Or ever own
Good luck, I'm coming home
Feel so young
I don't know where I've gone
I took a step to the left
I took a step to the right
And I saw myself and it wasn't quite right
Yeah, a slip into the dreams
Slippin' out, slippin' in and out of dreams
Paris Angell
A masterpiece... a song so profound comes along very rarely. This is a gem and richard ashcroft is talent personified.
minners71
You know the verve are a band there is more than just Richard?
christine constantinou
My absolute favourite song of all time . How could this not be recognised as the greatest song ever written . Thank you for creating this beautiful song that touches my soul .
Sunbaked Perhaps
Ulquiorra Cifer no idea what you said, however I hope it was good stuff.
Winston Guitar
There's no one playing this kind of music - not just jam-music, but music that crescendos and really goes someplace, builds into something grand and life-changing. There's a couple instrumental bands like Explosions In The Sky and the little-known The Engineers, but decades later, The Verve still can claim this territory as their own.
Liam George
For sure the verve are probably one of the most underrated bands ever. Nothing sounds quite like them
pbr6430
Listening with good quality headphones, you can sort of detect a gradual crescendo starting at the beginning of the song and culminating near the end. Lots of layering and harmony are added gradually. Fantastic song, and as always from the Verve, thoughtful lyrics. One of my three favorite bands of all time.
Danny
@pbr6430 Agreed, if I could ask, what's your remaining two favourite bands?
Jesús Flores Ibarra
Great!
judgedpainter
Sometimes, a song will stop you in your tracks and all you can say is WOW!...this is one of such songs.