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)
Numbness
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But don't be afraid
There's a time for us to make
Sense of all this pain
Sense of all this pain
Mama, mama, mama, mama
Mama don't let loose
Just let the chains loose
Before you really really really really
Really let loose
Of all the faded chains
Numbness on my brain, babe
Yeah, numbness on my brain
Yeah, numbness on my brain
Yeah, numbness on my brain
Picture this life embracing
Living life, reminisce, take your time
No secret for a long while
Here comes mother nature's child
Numbness on the brain
Numbness on the brain
Oh, rain
Yeah, numbness on the brain
Yeah, numbness on the brain
Strange times are coming
Hope, yeah you got your bags all there
Oh, you got your cupboard all stocked up
You got your pride just rare, ready
Numbness on my brain, babe
Yeah, numbness on my brain
Yeah, numbness on my brain
Yeah, numbness on my brain
Oh yeah, oh yeah
So these are my days, my days, my days
So these are my crimes
So these are my crimes
So these are my crimes (numbness on my brain)
I lived and I die
I loved and I fall (numbness on my brain)
I fall and I cry
I laughed and I loved (yeah numbness on my brain)
I loved and I lost
Till the victory is ours (yeah numbness on my brain)
The snakes in the grass
Yeah numbness on my brain
Yeah numbness on my brain
Yeah numbness on my brain
The lyrics of "Numbness" by The Verve reflect a sense of emotional disconnection, with the persona expressing a feeling of numbness on their brain. The opening lines set the tone for the song, reminding the listener to take a deep breath and not be fearful. The persona then expresses a desire to make sense of their pain, suggesting a willingness to confront and overcome feelings of emotional numbness.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase "Numbness on my brain” several times, emphasizing the sense of detachment and disconnection that the persona is experiencing. The second verse of the song has a more melancholic tone, with the persona addressing their mother and urging her to free herself before getting entangled in the chains of life's struggles. The persona then acknowledges the fleeting nature of memories and the futility of holding on to the past, suggesting that embracing life and living in the present is the antidote to numbness and pain.
Overall, "Numbness" is a poignant reflection on the experiences of emotional disconnection and detachment. The song's lyrics offer a sense of hope and encouragement, urging listeners to confront their numbness and embrace life's ups and downs. The repetitive chorus adds to the haunting, dream-like quality of the song, enhancing its emotional resonance.
Line by Line Meaning
Just breathe in the air
Take a moment to relax and take in the world around you
But don't be afraid
Don't let fear control you
There's a time for us to make
Opportunities arise to create a better future
Sense of all this pain
To understand the reasons for the pain we endure
Mama, mama, mama, mama
Addressing the mother figure for guidance and support
Mama don't let loose
Advice to not let go of control
Before you get tied
Before things get out of hand
Just let the chains loose
To release the burdens that hold us back
Before you really really really really
Before it's too late
Really let loose
Completely surrendering oneself
Of all the faded chains
Of all the past traumas that still haunt us
Numbness on my brain, babe
Feeling emotionally numb and overwhelmed
Picture this life embracing
Imagining a life full of positivity and love
Living life, reminisce, take your time
To enjoy life and make memories at one's own pace
No secret for a long while
The truth is revealed after a long time of keeping it hidden
Here comes mother nature's child
Referring to a new beginning, possibly in nature or spirituality
Strange times are coming
An uncertain future lies ahead
Hope, yeah you got your bags all there
Encouragement to be prepared and optimistic for what's to come
Oh, you got your cupboard all stocked up
Being ready for any potential difficulties
You got your pride just rare, ready
Being confident in oneself and prepared for any challenges
So these are my days, my days, my days
Reflecting on one's life and what they have experienced
So these are my crimes
Acknowledging one's faults and mistakes
I lived and I die
Reflecting on one's mortality
I loved and I fall (numbness on my brain)
Being hurt in love and experiencing emotional numbness
I fall and I cry
Feeling emotional pain and expressing it through tears
I laughed and I loved (yeah numbness on my brain)
Feeling joy in love, but also experiencing emotional numbness
I loved and I lost
Experiencing the pain of a lost love
Till the victory is ours (yeah numbness on my brain)
Hoping for a future where we overcome our pain and achieve victory
The snakes in the grass
Referring to hidden dangers or deceit
Yeah numbness on my brain
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed and unable to cope
Yeah numbness on my brain
Continuing to feel emotionally numb and overwhelmed
Yeah numbness on my brain
Repeating the feelings of emotional numbness and overwhelm
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Nick McCabe, Peter Anthony Salisbury, Richard Paul Ashcroft, Simon Robin David Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johncuda
This entire album is so good
@melinahewson
Dios mio. AMO este tema. Muchisimo. Esa voz. Esa melodía. ESTA BANDAAAA.
My God, I LOVE this song. A lot. That voice, that melody. THIS BAAAAAND!!!
@jobesanko1825
I really cannot begin to explain the emotion in this track. The emotion is literally the title. They turned the word numbness into a raw emotion. Also, does anybody know the scale this track is played in? I've been trying to figure this out for a while now but can't quite get there. Even if you had to guess
@TheEpicImpaler
Favorite album of 2008.
@london_roubenl
The real artists 100 percent.
@SuperJuvent
masterpiece !!
@cynthiaruggirello9950
I don't think there is one song the Verve does that I don't like. I just listen to them all day. Them and Tommy Marz Band!
@laurens.2131
This song is the story of my life
@teresatrejo8737
Sublime 💕❤️
@thomasjcox
love it