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)
Columbo
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like its the only thing to do
Baby don't you worry you're still crying
Your instincts is all you've got in you
Baby don't you worry your still crying
I can see the sadness in your eyes
Baby why you wasting time crying
Gotta find out the reasons why
Baby don't believe it when they see it
Love is just a feeling that you give
You're the universe again that I need
Tell me all your secrets that I'll forgive
Ohhh yeah yeah
Ohhh yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Just watch the lights go down over this town
What makes me down while I swim around
Watch the city boys weep full of cluster
Take it easy but you just keep digging yourself, you're stuck
The Verve's song Columbo seems to talk about a situation where the partner is crying, and the singer is trying to understand why. The lyrics reveal that the singer is concerned about their partner's sadness and wants to help. The first stanza depicts the singer urging their partner not to waste time crying and offering reassurance that their instincts are still intact. The second stanza emphasizes the need for the partner not to believe what they see as love is a feeling that is given. The singer declares that their partner is the universe, something necessary for their existence, and implores them to share their secrets.
The chorus is an emotional plea for the partner to stop crying and through it, the singer expresses the need to find out the reason behind their partner's tears. The final part of the song seems to suggest that the singer views their partner as stuck and unable to progress. They see their partner as constantly digging a hole and getting stuck in it, unable to climb out.
Overall, the lyrics of the song seem to paint a picture of a relationship where one partner is struggling with sadness, and the other is trying to help. The song urges the partner to believe in themselves and let their instincts guide them.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby why you wasting time crying
Why are you choosing to spend your time feeling sad?
Like its the only thing to do
You seem to think that crying is the only option you have.
Baby don't you worry you're still crying
Don't be afraid or concerned that you're still feeling upset.
Your instincts is all you've got in you
At this point, your intuition and gut feelings are your only reliable guides forward.
I can see the sadness in your eyes
I can tell that you're unhappy just by looking into your eyes.
Gotta find out the reasons why
We need to discover the root causes of your sadness so we can address them effectively.
Baby don't believe it when they see it
Don't listen to others who might try to convince you that your feelings aren't valid or real.
Love is just a feeling that you give
Love is something you express and give to others through your actions and emotions.
You're the universe again that I need
You are everything to me, the whole universe wrapped up in one person.
Tell me all your secrets that I'll forgive
Share your deepest and most personal thoughts with me, and I promise to accept and forgive you for them.
Just watch the lights go down over this town
Let's sit and observe the city lights as they dim and fade away.
What makes me down while I swim around
I feel overwhelmed and weighed down as I try to navigate my way through life.
Watch the city boys weep full of cluster
Observe how the men in this city become emotional and upset over trivial matters.
Take it easy but you just keep digging yourself, you're stuck
You need to relax and take things a bit slower, but you find yourself stuck and unable to move forward.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Nick McCabe, Peter Anthony Salisbury, Richard Paul Ashcroft, Simon Robin David Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pierre S
Baby why are you wasting time crying
Like it’s the only thing to do?
Baby don't you worry, yourself crying
Your instinct's all that's guiding you
Baby don't you worry, yourself crying
I could see the sadness in your eyes
Baby why are you wasting time crying
Trying to find out the reasons why?
Baby don't believe them when they say it
Love is just a feeling that you give
You’re the universe and you'll know all I need
Tell me all the secrets that I forget
Ooh-yeah-yeah, oooh-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
All right, ooh yeah, all right
Just watch the lights go down over this town
Watch the Thames weave down, wind it's way round
Watch the city boys leave, full of bluster
Oh where are we now?
Ain't it easy for you as a kid
To get yourself so messed up
We don't know, we don't know (oh yeah)
We don't know, we don't know (oh yeah)
We don't know, we don't know
we don't know, we don't know (a-ha)
Fame, a celebrity culture, flash light, flash light
Fame, a bullet proof bathroom
Inside she's fixing up
Fame, a sealing-up number one
Vacuum, a vacuum
Fame, miracle accent,
Inside, start it up
Shoot it up, shoot it up, shoot it up, shoot your gun
Fame, the vanity mistress
Fame, the mirror of the wet dream
And I look, and I'm feeling that accent
Dying on the inside, I’m dying on the inside
Love's like oxygen
Love's like oxygen
Love's like oxygen
Love's like oxygen
Love's like oxygen...
Blue Bear School of Music
One of their best songs. Sad it didn't get more recognition and even sadder that it was never played live. :(
J Schwarz
Is that not due to the fact that Ashcroft allegedly never attended rehearsals? Isn't that why every set list was the same?
Sky Gazer
I just adore this album.
Philip Platt
Mccabe and Jones at their best. Amazing.
E Yang
Pure, ethereal. No pain, no feelings any more.
Pierre S
Baby why are you wasting time crying
Like it’s the only thing to do?
Baby don't you worry, yourself crying
Your instinct's all that's guiding you
Baby don't you worry, yourself crying
I could see the sadness in your eyes
Baby why are you wasting time crying
Trying to find out the reasons why?
Baby don't believe them when they say it
Love is just a feeling that you give
You’re the universe and you'll know all I need
Tell me all the secrets that I forget
Ooh-yeah-yeah, oooh-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
All right, ooh yeah, all right
Just watch the lights go down over this town
Watch the Thames weave down, wind it's way round
Watch the city boys leave, full of bluster
Oh where are we now?
Ain't it easy for you as a kid
To get yourself so messed up
We don't know, we don't know (oh yeah)
We don't know, we don't know (oh yeah)
We don't know, we don't know
we don't know, we don't know (a-ha)
Fame, a celebrity culture, flash light, flash light
Fame, a bullet proof bathroom
Inside she's fixing up
Fame, a sealing-up number one
Vacuum, a vacuum
Fame, miracle accent,
Inside, start it up
Shoot it up, shoot it up, shoot it up, shoot your gun
Fame, the vanity mistress
Fame, the mirror of the wet dream
And I look, and I'm feeling that accent
Dying on the inside, I’m dying on the inside
Love's like oxygen
Love's like oxygen
Love's like oxygen
Love's like oxygen
Love's like oxygen...
Julio César Puyó Montoya
Thanks!
Javier Gamarra Vilchez
Esta canción es extraordinaria cada vez que la escucha simplemente volaba . Chevre que la encontré hubo un tiempo q ya no estaba en youtube. Creo!
Nevermore
This is ethereal wave / dreampop... Perfect!
Timekeeper
Brilliant album by a unique band