Ashcroft married Kate Radley from the band Spiritualized in 1995 - she's likely the inspiration for lines like:
"I hope you feel like I feel
Someone to stand beside me"
In his songs, Ashcroft has often expressed a desire for intimate understanding, with Radley in mind. It's what he calls a "positive love ambition."
"Urban Hymns" was conceived as a Richard Ashcroft solo album, as The Verve had broken up. As it moved forward, Ashcroft enlisted help from this former bandmates, and it ended up becoming a Verve album and re-forming the band. The album became one of the biggest in the history of their native UK, but in America, only the single "Bitter Sweet Symphony" had much impact. The band broke up again in 1999, got back together to release another album in 2008, then split up again soon after.
Weeping Willow
The Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We hide our eyes and our lungs aching
Nothing's strange
It was in our hands from six to ten
It slipped right out again
There'll be no better time
There'll be no better way
Save me
Yeah, save me
Yeah, save me
I hope you see like I see
I hope you see what I see, yeah yeah
I hope you feel like I feel
And the world don't stop
There is no time for cracking up
Believe me, friend
'Cause when freedom comes
I'll be long gone
You know it has to end
There'll be no better time
There'll be no better way
There'll be no better day to save me
Yeah, save me
Yeah, save me
Yeah, save me
I hope you see like I see, yeah yeah
I hope you feel what I feel, yeah yeah
Someone to stand beside me
(Beside me, beside me)
(Beside me, beside me)
(Beside me, beside me)
(Beside me, beside me)
(Beside me, beside me)
(Beside me, beside me)
(Beside me, beside me)
Weeping willow
The pills under my pillow
Weeping willow
The pills under your pillow
Weeping willow
The gun under under your pillow
Weeping willow
Weeping willow
(Beside me, beside me)
(Beside me, beside me)
The Verve's song Weeping Willow is a hauntingly beautiful lullaby that explores themes of addiction, regret, and the desperation for human connection. The opening lines, "When morning breaks, we hide our eyes, and our lungs aching" evoke images of someone who has been up all night, hiding from the light, and nursing the pain of the self-harm they have inflicted upon themselves. The next line, "Nothing's strange, it was in our hands from six to ten, it slipped right out again," suggests that this pattern of abuse is something that the singer and their companion are all too familiar with, and that no matter how hard they try, they cannot break free from it.
The chorus of the song is a plea for help, "There'll be no better time, there'll be no better way, there'll be no better day to save me, save me." The repetition of these lines emphasizes the urgency of the singer's need for salvation, and the repetition of "yeah, save me" reinforces that they need somebody to help them escape the cycle of destruction they find themselves in. The lines "I hope you see like I see, I hope you feel like I feel" suggest that the singer is addressing someone specific, likely their companion in addiction, and that they hope this person understands and shares their desire for change.
The final lines of the song, "Weeping willow, the pills under my pillow, weeping willow, the pills under your pillow, weeping willow, the gun under your pillow, weeping willow, weeping willow," show the devastating consequences of drug addiction and the inability to ask for help. The use of a tree metaphor for the title of the song hints at the singer's helplessness, as a willow tree's long, drooping branches bend and sway with the wind, submitting to whatever fate may come its way.
Line by Line Meaning
When morning breaks
As the day begins
We hide our eyes and our lungs aching
We try to ignore the pain in our bodies and our need for rest
Nothing's strange
This is all normal
It was in our hands from six to ten
During these hours we had some control over the situation
It slipped right out again
But that control has been lost
There'll be no better time
This is as good as it gets
There'll be no better way
We have to make do with what's available
There'll be no better day to save me
This is the last chance to rescue me
I hope you see like I see
I want you to understand my perspective
I hope you see what I see, yeah yeah
I hope you share my vision for the future
I hope you feel like I feel
I want you to empathize with me
And the world don't stop
Life goes on regardless of our struggles
There is no time for cracking up
We can't afford to give in to despair
Believe me, friend
Trust me, I know what I'm talking about
'Cause when freedom comes
When we eventually escape our situation
I'll be long gone
I won't be around to share in that freedom
You know it has to end
This can't go on indefinitely
Someone to stand beside me
I need a companion in my struggles
(Beside me, beside me)
Someone who is constantly present and supportive
Weeping willow
A symbol of grief and sadness
The pills under my pillow
A reference to a possible suicide attempt
The pills under your pillow
A reference to a possible addiction
The gun under your pillow
A reference to being prepared for violent self-defense
Weeping willow
A symbol of grief and sadness
Weeping willow
A symbol of grief and sadness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard Paul Ashcroft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@IngyDentist
When morning breaks
We hide our eyes and our love's aching
Nothing's strange
It was in our hands from 6 to 10
It slipped right out again
There'll be no better time
There'll be no better way
There'll be no better day to save me
Save me
Yeah, save me
I hope you see like I see
I hope you see what I see
I hope you feel like I feel
And the world don't stop
There is no time for cracking up
Believe me friend
Cause when freedom comes
I'll be long gone
You know it has to end
There'll be no better time
There'll be no better way
There'll be no better day to save me
Save me
Yeah, save me
Yeah, save me
I hope you see what I see
I hope you feel like I feel
Someone to stand beside me
Beside me
Beside me
Beside me
Beside me
Weeping willow
The pills under my pillow
Weeping willow
Pills under my pillow
Weeping willow
The Gun under your pillow
Weeping willow
Beside me
Beside me
Beside me
Beside me
@ynwa3476
This album is nothing short of genius.
@coolkidtv6276
Agreed
@jesusthxgd7260
11 out of 10.
@liamgeorge4182
Incredible and ynwa
@jimsteen911
100%
@conorsmith8551
Tisss mate. Belter. MOT
@rossheathorn121
This album came out when I was 19 homeless and on heroin. Long long long long time ago. To those who know. Just play it again again and again x
@adamturner1563
I hope you are doing good now my brother! The past is for fuel now my boy. I'm proud of you! You are a Warrior! Stronger than all! ☝🏼💙
@matrags
It's amazing how a song can take you back to a certain time and place. One of the greatest albums of the 90's imo.
@akhillong4068
I think the 90's was the last great decade of the West. It feels like we've been declining in every which way possible since. This was a magical time !