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)
Monte Carlo
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dream, dream
Damaged, do you see through the scream
Damaged, but I know I will survive
Damaged, but I guess I'll move on
Dream, dream
Just keeping it, keeping it on, on, on
Just keeping it, keeping it on, on, on
Just keeping it, keeping it on, on, on
Just keep it, keep it, keep it on, just keeping it, keep anything
Dream, dream
Live this life before your soul's a small grain, in the sky
Damaged, do you see through the scream
Damaged, but I know I will survive
Damaged, but I guess I'll move on
Too many people, too many dreams now, too many dreams now
I'm gonna come back now, I've gotta come back now
Dream, dream, drea, yeah, dream
Live your life before your soul's a small grain in the sky
Dream, dream
Live your life before your soul's a small grain in the sky
The Verve's song "Monte Carlo" is an introspective and contemplative piece that explores the theme of personal hardship and survival. The opening lines of the song, "Damaged, do you see through the scream," reflect the pain and struggle that the singer has experienced. Despite the damage and trauma, the singer acknowledges their survival and their ability to move forward. The repetition of the word "damaged" emphasizes the weight of their struggles, but the chorus's words, "Dream, dream, live this life before your soul's a small grain in the sky," offer a glimmer of hope.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of keeping things going, even when it's tough. The repeated refrain, "just keeping it on, on, on," represents perseverance and determination, even when the odds might seem overwhelming. The lyrics, "too many people, too many dreams now, too many dreams now, I'm gonna come back now, I've gotta come back now," can be interpreted in a couple of ways, but perhaps it refers to the overwhelming noise and chaos of the world, and how the singer must come back to reality and their inner strength in order to persist.
Overall, "Monte Carlo" is a poignant and contemplative song that speaks to the struggles of personal growth, survival, and persistence.
Line by Line Meaning
Dream, dream
The song repeats the words 'dream, dream' to emphasize the importance of dreaming and the power of imagination.
Damaged, do you see through the scream
The singer has been hurt and is trying to heal. 'Do you see through the scream' means that despite the pain, the singer is still trying to communicate and connect with others.
Damaged, but I know I will survive
The singer acknowledges the hurt they've experienced but remains confident in their ability to recover and keep going.
Damaged, but I guess I'll move on
Even though things haven't been easy, the singer is ready to let go of the past and move on to the future.
Live this life before your soul's a small grain, in the sky
The song urges us to make the most of our time on Earth, as our souls will one day depart. 'A small grain in the sky' implies a sense of insignificance or fading away.
Just keeping it, keeping it on, on, on
The repetition of 'keeping it on' suggests determination and persistence in the face of adversity.
Just keep it, keep it, keep it on, just keeping it, keep anything
Similar to the previous line, this repetition reinforces the idea of moving forward and persevering, even if it means keeping just about anything going.
Too many people, too many dreams now, too many dreams now
There are countless people with countless dreams, and it can be overwhelming to sort through them all.
I'm gonna come back now, I've gotta come back now
The singer is determined to return, to come back stronger and better than before.
Dream, dream, drea, yeah, dream
The repetition of 'dream, dream' at the end reinforces the importance of dreaming and imagination as a way to overcome obstacles and cope with life's difficulties.
Live your life before your soul's a small grain in the sky
The song repeats this important line twice to ensure that listeners absorb the message to live fully and make the most of their time on Earth.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICK MCCABE, PETER SALISBURY, RICHARD ASHCROFT, SIMON JONES, SIMON TONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vitor de Andrade Szmaragd
God bless Verve's B-Sides and unreleased material. Such a fabulous band.
Dixon Cox
superb song . Would be great to hear this one live
avalanchelily
Such a great song! I had heard a demo of it years ago and always hoped they would release it. The demo was strictly instrumental though- and better- but this is still really good.
rakesh rishyakaran
its a shame some still consider them to be a one-hit wonder
ahmad kamil mat hussin
sound of nick mccabe, such a dope!
Dr. Tejada
great song !!!!
Patricia Young
Fantastic song :-)
wladimir illich lenin
what a brilliant song. this track rocks like fuck.
Ben Sellick
mint tune...
Sergio Araya
Geniales!