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)
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryna make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
Have you ever been down?
Well, I've never prayed but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singin' to me now
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
I can't change it, you know
I can't change it, no
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Tryna make ends meet, tryna find somebody then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no
It's just sex and violence, melody and silence
It's just sex and violence, melody and silence
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” is a complex exploration of the struggles of life and the human experience. The lyrics tell of the difficulty of making ends meet, being a slave to money, and the futility of trying to change one’s mold, but also highlight the possibilities of change and personal growth. The song opens with the repeated line, “’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, that’s life,” which sets the tone for the rest of the song. Life is bittersweet, with both good and bad experiences intertwined. The use of symphony suggests that the complexities of life resemble the complexities of an orchestral work.
The song’s focus on the mundanity of living and the idea of being trapped spiritually are addressed in the lines, “No change, I can change, but I’m here in my mold.” The singer feels stuck, with no ability to alter their present situation. The repeated refrain of, “I can change, I can change,” emphasises the singer's yearning to change their circumstances. The singer acknowledges being a million different people from one day to the next but unable to change their mold, signifying their internal conflicts.
The song’s message is ultimately one of hope, however. The acknowledgment of life’s difficult aspects doesn't stop the singer from seeking change and growth. Despite the challenges of life, the possibility of change and striving towards something new continue to inspire the singer to take the only road they've ever been down. The song's final lines, "It’s just sex and violence, melody, and silence/ I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down," suggest that although the journey may be difficult and drenched in dichotomies, it's worth taking.
Line by Line Meaning
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Life is a mixture of happy and sad experiences, just like a symphony.
Tryna make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die
Trying to survive and fulfill one's basic needs can lead to a life of monetary slavery, and in the end, everyone dies.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
I'll show you the only path I know - the one that leads to where all the paths converge.
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
I know I could change, but I'm comfortable in the role I play. Although I am different from time to time, I also can't break my own mold, no matter how much I try.
Well, I've never prayed but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singin' to me now
I am not a religious person, but tonight, I feel so hurt, and I seek comfort. Music can heal me and make me feel free, but today, there's no music to relieve my pain.
I can't change, oh, no
I can't change, oh
No matter how hard I try, I can't change who I am.
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Tryna make ends meet, tryna find somebody then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
Life is challenging and can be both happy and painful, as one struggles to meet their needs and find companionship. I'll take you down my only path that leads to where all paths merge.
It's just sex and violence, melody and silence
It's just sex and violence, melody and silence
Life is just a blend of sexuality and aggression, music and stillness.
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
I've been down many times, have you been too?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Richard Ashcroft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Soli_Deo_Gloria_.
What is the chief end of man ?
Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
There is a reason why somthing rather than nothing and it is predicated on the uncaused non contingent first cause of all contingency...
God
Seek Christ Jesus the Redeemer
The cosmological argument
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CulBuMCLg0
The contingency argument
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FPCzEP0oD7I
Fine tuning of the universe
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EE76nwimuT0&t=9s
The ontological argument
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xBmAKCvWl74
The moral argument
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OxiAikEk2vU
@edisonpacheco9777
Lyrics:
Cause it's a bittersweet symphony this life
Trying to make ends meet, you're a slave to the money then you die.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah.
No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change,
but I'm here in my mold, I am here in my mold.
But I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Well I never pray,
But tonight I'm on my knees, yeah.
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah.
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now.
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now.
No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change,
But I'm here in my mold, I am here in my mold.
And I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Cause it's a bittersweet symphony this life.
Trying to make ends meet, trying to find some money then you die.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah.
No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change,
but I'm here in my mold, I am here in my mold.
But I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
It justs sex and violence melody and silence
It justs sex and violence melody and silence (I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down)
It's just sex and violence melody and silence
It's just sex and violence melody and silence
It's just sex and violence melody and silence (I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down)
(It's just sex and violence melody and silence)Been down
(Ever been down)
(Ever been down)
(Ever been down)
(Ever been down)
(Ever been down)
@maxlarocca78
This is a brilliant song. It is about the feeling of being trapped and powerless to change your behavior or your life due to circumstances beyond your control. It is about the sense of desperation you feel as your life passes before your eyes and you struggle unsuccessfully to control and shape it. It is about the perpetual conflict between the path you want to follow and the path you are compelled to follow.
Walking down a busy London street is a metaphor for how he feels about his life. He walks down the street and is almost hit by a passing car, runs into people, walks over a car hood that is in his path, etc. As a result everyone is annoyed — even angry with him. When a young woman confronts him physically he calmly and resolutely moves forward along his path without a trace of animosity or anger. People are critical and disdainful of the path he is walking — insisting he should be able to avoid these obstacles— to choose a better, safer and more conscientious path to walk. But he feels completely powerless to change his speed and direction. His path is mandated and not chosen by him.
He knows emphatically that he could be different — be a better person and live a different, more meaningful life. He knows if it were merely up to him he could change (“I can change, I can change, I can change”), but the circumstances of his life have cast him into a rigid mold that keeps him on a steady trajectory, limiting his choices. It isn’t his lack of ability, intelligence, imagination or flexibility that is holding him back (“I’m a million different people from one day to the next”) but the circumstances of the culture / world into which he was born.
He wants more meaning in his life. But the overriding importance of the pursuit of making a living is always threatening to squeeze out his uniqueness, nullify his aptitudes and mold his path to a formal structure of daily life that he had no part in designing. He wants to be a better person. Yet, he continually finds himself walking down the same familiar self-destructive paths, despite his effort to avoid them. There is never a time when he can break free of this mold because he is stuck in a pattern of behavior until he dies.
He can’t accept this. Because this is the only life he will ever have, he is pressed with frequent internal anguish. He is on the verge of breaking and is walking through life in a fog. He doesn’t generally pray, but he is getting desperate. He gets down on his knees to pray — if only to hear the sound his own voice recognizing the frustration he feels. Any sound of compassion - any recognition of his pain - is better than the silence. He prays sincerely, earnestly and desperately. While he is pleading and making his case, his prayer is like a melody that helps him to feel better. It is a song that clears his mind, grounds him and makes him feel like he can break free of his mold and change his life. But it is a false hope. When he finishes praying there is only silence. God does not answer him. The airwaves are clean without a trace of anything but static. For all his singing, no one is singing to him now. He has no idea what to do and finds himself just as discouraged and helpless as before. There must be more to life than this (“Vanity, vanity: all is vanity and striving after the wind” ).
This experience is a microcosm for the whole of his life — a Bittersweet Symphony. There are periods of clarity, beauty and temporary relief in his life. Yet, it is all encapsulated by an overall theme that is heart rending — like waking suddenly from a warm, peaceful dream to find that you are back in cold, dark room — unchanged and unmoved by your dreams.
He can’t accept the path his life has taken, but he has no choice. He will be in perpetual conflict with his situation. He is immobilized in his mold and has no choice but to continue down this path, accepting all its adverse consequences, until it the path finally comes to an end at the place “where all things meet” - Death.
@theharshtruthoutthere
@@absxxproductions9172 There is nothing cool nor okay, being a mason - soul, these are the biggest liars cause they are deceived the deepest.
Search what i did, BIBLE + FREEMASONRY, and no longer a mason you want to be. Cause then you`ll see how wicked you shall be under the lie of being illuminated. Then you`ll see and hopefully understand also how sick rituals masons do. Baphomet servers wont be in heaven.
No Christian is illuminated nor called to be one. We are simply souls, who have came to repentance, changed our minds and our hearts. Admit that we are sinners beyond being able to help our own selves. Deeply evil, knowing how to do evil rather then good.
We seek´t out the truth, cause the off vibes this realm give us and not being satisfied with lies.
We repented, cause we felt awfully about our own sinful nature, being able to do evil 24/7/365.
Christians is not a illuminated souls, we are just souls who miss home. Missing home that badly the we counted the cost of following CHRIST and to walk on that narrow path into heaven.
The cost of following CHRIST? - giving up our lives here on this earth, as CHRIST did for us. If it come to it, and it shall come to it, we are willing to be beheaded.
So? - Are you that brave (foolish in the eyes of this world) soul or are you a coward who hides in the enemies lines?
Why were schools and working places created? to produce slaves.
Slaves who:
- think nor question not, no matter their age, race, culture background, beliefs.
Masons wanted generations of slaves, and they got their wish.
And, we, the people, lost the right to debate and complain about, humans were once slaves and all the made up problems between black and white skinned humans.
Why? , cause we are still SLAVES.
Slaving away our time - health - life. Slaving it all away to whom? - to the uncaring governments.
Why masons give us the "freedom" to believe whatever we want and live how we want? - to keep us, their slaves, blind and deaf.
@famousshortz
This is one of those rare songs that never gets old and it stays in your memory forever. Simply a masterpiece
@ayasreviewsandtoycolection7148
You should listen to the song titled standing outside a phone booth with change in my pockets. It's an oldie but a goody.
@boston218
@@ayasreviewsandtoycolection7148 👍
@LuvBorderCollies
I think I've listened to it a thousand times and it just doesn't get old. A thousand might be a stretch but hundreds would be slightly conservative.
@big925chilli6
Exactly it just popped back in my head LMAO....
@boston218
@@big925chilli6 how
@_subawu_
The 1 billion view mark was passed 2-15-2024! A true testament to this song and video.
@viannizvnv7222
let's fucking go
@spleeeen4it
there are loads of better songs than this
@axy_cz
@@spleeeen4itnope