Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space rock, by the mid-1990s they had released several EPs and two acclaimed records. They endured both name and line-up changes, break-ups, health problems, drug abuse and various lawsuits, and have been referred to as "one of the tightest knit, yet ultimately volatile bands in history".
The band's commercial breakthrough came with the 1997 album Urban Hymns and its lead single "Bitter Sweet Symphony", which became a massive worldwide hit. Soon after this commercial peak, the band broke up in April 1999, citing internal conflicts. By then, The Verve had become one of the most influential English alternative rock acts in years.
The band's original four members reunited in June 2007. They embarked on a tour later that year, and released the album Forth in August 2008. A year later, it was announced that the band had split up for the third time in their career.
Virtual World
Verve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one knows my name
I'm not in demand
Signs are right
The signs are here
Who needs virtual world
When I can see it now
No one goes no one cares
No one seen it anywhere
She's breathing life into lonely dead stars
Have you ever seen it
I ain't seen nothing at all
Come see the water break my fall
No one knows no one comes
Have you ever seen the book
The one on my help
The one entitled self-death, self-death
How to earn a million pounds
I can see it now oh the hearse
She's breathing down in a hole in my head
In the dirty half light where
Time means nothing at all
I'm calling out to some one
Anyone who'll have me?
Does anyone need me?
Does anyone know how to cry?
What happens when I go?
What happens when it snows?
I bet you could if you wanted to end
The opening lines of this song paint a picture of isolation and insignificance. The singer is standing by the water, but it passes through their hand as though they are not truly there. They feel unnoticed and unimportant in the world around them, and there is a sense of resignation in these lines. The singer seems to have given up on being seen and recognized by others.
But then, the song takes a turn. The signs are here, and the singer can see the virtual world without needing it. This could be interpreted in a few ways - perhaps the singer is suggesting that they are able to find meaning and purpose in the real world, or perhaps they are simply saying that they don't need an artificial escape from reality. Whatever the case may be, there is a sense of newfound clarity and awareness in this section of the song.
The final lines of the song are a plea for connection and understanding. The singer is calling out for someone - anyone - to acknowledge them and validate their existence. They are looking for someone to recognize their pain and share it with them. This song seems to be grappling with questions of self-worth and purpose in a world where it is all too easy to feel lost and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
See the water break my hand
I am feeling the power of the water as it hits my hand.
No one knows my name
I am unknown and unrecognized in this world.
I'm not in demand
I am not needed or wanted by anyone.
Signs are right
There are indications that all is well.
The signs are here
The evidence is present and visible.
Who needs virtual world
Why bother with a fake world when the real world is here?
When I can see it now
I can experience and witness the real world in this moment.
No one goes no one cares
No one is present or concerned about what is happening.
No one seen it anywhere
No one has observed or experienced it before.
She's breathing life into lonely dead stars
Someone is reviving and revitalizing abandoned and lifeless entities.
Have you ever seen it
Have you ever witnessed this before?
I ain't seen nothing at all
I have not seen anything significant or noteworthy.
Come see the water break my fall
Observe the water catch my fall and prevent my injury.
No one knows, no one comes
No one is aware of my situation or coming to assist me.
Have you ever seen the book
Have you ever come across this book?
The one on my help
The book that will aid me in my journey.
The one entitled self-death, self-death
The book that promotes and guides individuals towards their own demise.
How to earn a million pounds
The book that teaches the secrets of making a vast amount of money.
I can see it now, oh the hearse
I can visualize my own funeral procession and burial.
She's breathing down in a hole in my head
Someone is whispering and vocalizing inside my mind.
In the dirty half light where
In the dim and dingy lighting conditions that reduce visibility.
Time means nothing at all
The concept and measurement of time is irrelevant and insignificant in this context.
I'm calling out to some one
I am reaching out and making a plea for help to anyone who can hear me.
Anyone who'll have me?
Is there anyone out there willing to assist and support me?
Does anyone need me?
Is there anyone in the world who values and requires my presence?
Does anyone know how to cry?
Does anyone possess the ability and willingness to express and share their emotions?
What happens when I go?
What will occur when I am no longer present?
What happens when it snows?
What is the consequence and outcome when it snows?
I bet you could if you wanted to end
I am certain that you have the power and capability to terminate this situation if you desired.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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