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)
The Longest Day
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some kind of visionary
Laying on your head
We've got you in our hands
Ah, we've been here for so long
Yeah, there's nothing changed
Something rearranged
Ah, feeling fine
Time heals
There ain't no deal
We will fly now
Oh all over, all over, all over
Yeah, you must have seen
It happened in a dream
Some painter of mine
He told me how to shine
Lie back in your head
Thinking that you're dead
Time it is yours
You don't need anybody at all
Don't need no light
Or no call
You don't need anybody at all
All over
And spirit is our only climb
As we climb, we start to unwind
As we climb, you start to unwind
As you climb, you start to unwind
As you climb, you start to unwind
Set your spirit free
Set your spirit free
Set your spirit free
Set your spirit free
You don't need anybody at all
All over, all over, all over
I feel a little pick up
I feel a little pick up
I feel a little pick up
I feel a little pick up
Something in my mind, making me shine
I feel a little pick up
I feel a little better
I feel a little better all the time
I feel a little pick up
I feel a little better
I feel a little pick up in my mind
I feel a little better
I feel a little pick up in my my my mind
And it starts to feel the sunshine
And it starts to feel the sunshine
And soon it goes
Whose spell I don't know
I only wanna try and find me
A little peace of mind, a luxury
Just bathing
Just bathing
Just bathing
Just bathing
Just bathing
Just bathing
Taking it all in
Taking it all in
Taking it all in
Ah, it feels fine
Just trying to find my peace of mind
Just trying to find my peace of mind
Just trying to find a peace of mind
The Verve's song "The Longest Day" is a tribute to the power of one's mind and spirit to overcome life's setbacks. The song's lyrics speak to the idea that even in the darkest moments, it is possible to find peace and inner strength. The opening lines suggest that there is a certain “visionary” quality to the song, setting the stage for the listener to embark on a spiritual journey. The singer references someone who is lying down, perhaps a metaphor for someone who is feeling defeated, but then declares that “we’ve got you in our hands,” implying some level of support from an outside force. The next two stanzas use dreamlike imagery to describe a state of mind where time does not exist and where one is free from the need for external support or guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I know it's supposed to be
The singer is aware of how things are supposed to be
Some kind of visionary
They feel like they should be a visionary
Laying on your head
This could refer to the burden of expectations and responsibilities on the singer's mind
We've got you in our hands
The artist feels trapped or controlled by outside forces
Ah, we've been here for so long
The situation of being controlled or burdened has been going on for some time
Yeah, there's nothing changed
Despite the passage of time, nothing has improved
Something rearranged
Although nothing has changed externally, there has been some kind of shift internally for the singer
Ah, feeling fine
The internal shift has resulted in the artist feeling better
Relaxed that in your mind
The improved state of mind is due to a sense of relaxation or relief
Time heals
Time can help to mend emotional wounds and allow for personal growth
There ain't no deal
There's no easy way out or solution to the singer's problems
We will fly now
The artist is ready to move forward and leave their old situation behind them
Yeah, you must have seen
The singer is addressing the listener, assuming they have had a similar experience
It happened in a dream
The epiphany or realization that the singer had came to them in a dream
Some painter of mine
The singer is relying on an artist or creative type to help guide them
He told me how to shine
This creative type gave the artist advice on how to reach their full potential or find success
Lie back in your head
The artist is advising the listener to relax and clear their mind
Thinking that you're dead
This could mean thinking about death or simply being in a state of complete stillness
Time it is yours
The singer is urging the listener to take control of their own time and use it wisely
You don't need anybody at all
The listener is capable of finding their own way without the help of others
Don't need no light
The listener doesn't need any external sources of guidance or inspiration
Or no call
The listener is not beholden to anyone else's expectations or demands
And spirit is our only climb
The singer believes that the most important part of personal growth is spiritual or internal progress
As we climb, we start to unwind
Personal growth can be a freeing and relaxing experience
Set your spirit free
The singer is encouraging the listener to let go of anything that is holding them back
I feel a little pick up
The singer is experiencing a surge of positive emotion
Something in my mind, making me shine
The source of the singer's positive emotions is internal, coming from their own thoughts and realizations
And it starts to feel the sunshine
The positive emotions feel like a ray of light, illuminating the artist's life
And soon it goes
The feeling of positivity or enlightenment is fleeting
Whose spell I don't know
The source of the positive emotions is unknown to the singer
I only wanna try and find me
The singer is searching for a sense of self or personal identity
A little peace of mind, a luxury
The artist sees peace of mind as a valuable but rare commodity
Just bathing
The artist is relaxing or indulging in a simple pleasure
Taking it all in
The artist is fully present in the moment, enjoying their surroundings and experiences
Ah, it feels fine
The singer is content and at peace
Just trying to find my peace of mind
The artist is still searching for inner peace
Contributed by Allison T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.