The Verve lead singer Richard Ashcroft wrote this song, which in the UK was the fourth single from their third album, Urban Hymns. The group was rather combustible, breaking up both before and after the album, which started off as an Ashcroft solo effort. Like most of his songs, it's very personal and rather cryptic.
In a Songfacts interview with Richard Ashcroft, he said that the "red box of memories" was real and tangible. "We even took a picture of it," he said. "In England it came on an Urban Hymns deluxe thing at some point and I remember photographing the actual box for the sleeve."
As for what's in the box or the identity of his friend who looks through it with him, he's not talking. "That's where the mystery has to stop for now, Scooby Doo!" he said. "You meddling kids, we would have got away with that red box of memories!"
Ashcroft learned over the years that listeners have vastly different interpretations of his lyrics, which he doesn't want to disrupt by sharing their true inspirations.
In America, this wasn't released as a single and isn't well known. Their only hit in that country was another Urban Hymns track, "Bitter Sweet Symphony," which got a boost from a Nike commercial and a video that got lots of airplay on MTV. It was only used in the commercial because a tussle over a sample in the song forced Ashcroft to relinquish the publishing rights.
Sonnet
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking through her red box of memories
Faded I'm sure
But love seems to stick in her veins you know
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
My lord
Why can't you see
That nature has its way of warning me
Eyes open wide
Looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
My lord
Sinking faster than a boat without a hull
My lord
Dreaming about the day when I can see you there
My side
By my side
Here we go again and my head is gone, my lord
I stop to say hello
'Cause I think you should know, by now
By now
By now
By now
By now
By now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
The Verve's song "Sonnet" seems to be about the complicated nature of love. The first verse expresses the idea of looking through old memories and how love seems to stick around even after the memories have faded. This could mean that even though the relationship has ended, the love remains.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Yes, there's love if you want it, don't sound like no sonnet, my lord." This line suggests that love is not always the beautifully crafted thing that poetry and sonnets make it out to be. It is not always perfect and can have many ups and downs. The singer seems to be saying that love is messy, and not always easy, but it is there if you want it.
The second verse talks about the singer's intuition, and how nature is warning them about something. The line "Eyes open wide, looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye" could mean that the singer is looking for signs from the universe about their love life. The final lines of the song express the singer's desire for their loved one to be by their side.
Line by Line Meaning
My friend and me
Looking through her red box of memories
Faded I'm sure
But love seems to stick in her veins you know
My friend and I are reminiscing through her old, faded memories, but even though they're faded, love still lingers in her heart.
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
My lord
Love is available to those who seek it, but it doesn't always come in a traditional, poetic form.
Why can't you see
That nature has its way of warning me
Eyes open wide
Looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye
I can see the signs that nature is giving me, and they make me emotional and introspective.
Sinking faster than a boat without a hull
My lord
Dreaming about the day when I can see you there
My side
By my side
I feel like I'm sinking and lost without you, and I dream of the day when we can be together again.
Here we go again and my head is gone, my lord
I stop to say hello
'Cause I think you should know, by now
By now
By now
By now
By now
By now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
My thoughts are consumed with you, and I'm saying hello to let you know that my feelings haven't changed and I still long to be with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Richard Ashcroft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Resident-biohazard
My friend and me
Looking through her red box of memories
Faded I'm sure
But love seems to stick in her veins you know
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
My lord
Why can't you see
That nature has its way of warning me
Eyes open wide
Looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
My lord
Sinking faster than a boat without a hull
My lord
Dreaming about the day when I can see you there
My side
By my side
Here we go again and my head is gone, my lord
I stop to say hello
'Cause I think you should know, by now
By now
By now
By now
By now
By now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
@Pride317
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
My friend and me
Looking through her
Red box of memories
Faded I'm sure
But love seems to stick
In her veins you know
[Chorus]
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
My lord
[Verse 2]
Why can't you see
That nature has it's way
Of warning me
Eyes open wide
Looking at the heavens
With a tear in my eye
[Chorus]
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
My lord
[Verse 3]
Sinking faster than a boat
Without a hull
My lord
Dreaming about the day
When I can see you there
My side
By my side
[Outro]
Here we go again and
My head is gone, my lord
I stop to say hello
Cause I think you should know, by now
By now
Oh, by now
By now
By now
By now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
@ta2985
One Day on Netflix reminded me that I love this song.
@gonzalosantillan5024
@@444maitesi me pasó igual.
@rosanap976
Thats how i ended up here
@lakes836
It sure did! It did to me too and lots of other 90s they called 'Britpop'? Lol!
@jamesdorman6872
Me too, this song passed me by a bit in the nineties, but it’s so good.,
@IndexAditya
me too uni days
@user-gp8wd6qs7c
One Day Netflix series might have the best soundtrack of any series I have watched in decades! Fantastic. This is a masterpiece
@jamesmason8436
They missed a few opportunities and included a few duds but, generally, they've nailed it. Really rich source of music, the '80s and '90s, so much to choose from.
@utemosher6102
Totally loved the soundtrack. The second I heard Franck Knuckles "Your love" in the first scene I knew this is gonna be good. Music..... the closest thing to a timemachine.
@JaneDoe-te3uw
Agree