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)
So It Goes
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roll my die
Change this life
You said this movie was mine
But now you go and change your mind
This is my life
So it goes
You come in on your own in this life
'Cause I don't need no cause
When my feelings fall
You showed me things I didn't want to see
I don't believe that love is free
Sure fine way to treat a man
So it goes
You come in on your own in this life
And you know you leave on your own
Life
This is my Life
So it goes
You come into this life on your own
You know you'll leave on your own
Life
This is my life
So it goes
You come into this life on your own
You know you leave
I'm just a poor little wifeless fella
I'm just a poor little wifeless fella
I'm just a poor little wifeless fella
I'm just a poor little wifeless fella
Another drink and I won't miss her
Another drink and I won't miss her
Another drink and I won't miss her
Another drink and I won't miss her
The lyrics to The Verve's song "So It Goes" appear to be about the ups and downs of life, specifically the idea that we all come into this world alone and leave in the same way. The song seems to be directed towards someone who has changed their mind and left the singer feeling alone and unloved. "Life" is framed as a roll of the dice, something that can be unpredictable and uncontrollable. The singer acknowledges that their feelings are their own and they don't need a reason for them, but also hints at resentment towards the other person for showing them things they didn't want to see and not treating them well. The repeated refrain of "So it goes" seems to convey a sense of resignation or acceptance of life's unpredictability.
The line "I'm just a poor little wifeless fella" is interesting in that it seems to suggest that the singer is specifically referring to a romantic relationship they have lost, even though that isn't clear from the rest of the song. It's possible that this line is a nod to the famous quote from Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" ("So it goes") which is used to acknowledge the inevitability of death, and that the song is more broadly about the idea that we all end up alone in the end. The repetition of "Another drink and I won't miss her" seems to be a coping mechanism, suggesting that the singer is trying to numb the pain of loss with alcohol.
Overall, "So It Goes" is a melancholy reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of endings.
Line by Line Meaning
Life
The concept of existence and living
Roll my die
Taking chances in life
Change this life
Wanting to make adjustments in life
You said this movie was mine
A promise of control over life from a loved one
But now you go and change your mind
A loved one changing their mind about giving control
This is my life
Asserting control over one's life
So it goes
Accepting how life unfolds
You come in on your own in this life
Being born into this world without any say
You know you leave on your own
Dying with only oneself
'Cause I don't need no cause
Not needing a reason
When my feelings fall
Being disappointed when expectations don't align with reality
You showed me things I didn't want to see
A loved one showing a perspective that was difficult to accept
I don't believe that love is free
Love can come at a cost
Sure fine way to treat a man
Sarcastically commenting on the cost of love
Life
The concept of existence and living
This is my Life
Reiterating control over one's life
So it goes
Accepting how life unfolds
You come into this life on your own
Being born into this world without any say
You know you'll leave on your own
Dying with only oneself
Life
The concept of existence and living
This is my life
Asserting control over one's life
So it goes
Accepting how life unfolds
You come into this life on your own
Being born into this world without any say
You know you leave
Dying with only oneself
I'm just a poor little wifeless fella
Expressing loneliness and lack of companionship
Another drink and I won't miss her
Using alcohol to cope with loss
Another drink and I won't miss her
Using alcohol to cope with loss
Another drink and I won't miss her
Using alcohol to cope with loss
Another drink and I won't miss her
Using alcohol to cope with loss
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NICK MC CABE, PETER SALISURY, RICHARD ASHCROFT, SIMON JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind