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Classic Songs
Revisited
THE VERVE
Bitter Sweet Symphony
written by Richard Ashcroft
produced by Martin “Youth” Glover and The Verve
Wow, good ol’ “BSS”... such simple lyrics, and yet such a profound
(if semi-cynical) message... those trademark sweeping strings
generating a majestic royal homeland feel, juxtaposed with that
rough aggro ’90s drum track... and Richard Ashcroft striding
breaklessly down the street, halted by the bumping shoulders of no one in his path. Edge. Want to get ahead in the ’90s? E-D-G-friggin’-silent-E.
Verve came from Wigan, England, having been formed in 1990. (And we mustn’t confuse them with the American band Verve Pipe, known for the ’96 hit “The Freshmen.”) The Verve’s sound was a bit more psychedelic towards the beginning, meandering soon towards the mainstream. They went through a few breakups and reunions, but one thing has never changed: the bitter sweet symphony that is life.
I would consider the song a bit groundbreaking at the time, at least in terms of that aforementioned juxtaposition of sounds... I really enjoy the way this one sounds with my audio “treatment,” the way the strings rhythmically echo into one another and so on. (I enjoy the way they all sound, some just seem a bit more special than others.) Somehow, the song just wouldn’t quite be the same without those strings; it wouldn’t be quite as special or out-standing in the midst of all its peer songs and competition. And though ’90s pop culture’s not exactly my preferred era’s, I grew up and lived half my teens in the ’90s, so I can look back on it now with some nostalgic fondness.
Have notes to add? Let me know!
YT:
1997
Lyrics
’Cause it’s a bitter sweet symphony, that’s life / Tryin’ to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money, then you die / I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down / You know, the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah / No change, I can change, I can change, I can change / But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold / But I’m a million different people from one day to the next / I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no / Have you ever been down / Well, I’ve never prayed, but tonight I’m on my knees, yeah / I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah / I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now / But the airwaves are clean, and there’s nobody singing to me now / No change, I can change, I can change, I can change / But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold / And I’m a million different people from one day to the next / I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no / Have you ever been down / No, I can’t change it, you know, I can’t change it / ’Cause it’s a bitter sweet symphony, that’s life / Tryin’ to make ends meet, tryin’ to find some money, then you die / I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down / You know, the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah / You know, I can change, I can change, I can change, I can change / But I’m here in my mold, I am here in my mold / And I’m a million different people from one day to the next / I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no / I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no / I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no / You’ve gotta change my mold, no, no, no / It’s just sex and violence, melody and silence / Gotta, can’t change my violence, melody and silence /[ad-lib repeat] / I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down / I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down / Been down, ever been down, ever been down / Ever been down, y’ever been down / Have you ever been down / Have you ever been down / Have you ever been down / Have you ever been down/[fade]
first release: Bitter Sweet Symphony (single) (1997/06/16)
second/album release: Urban Hymns (1997/09/29)
audio treated sample
This page was originally made on June 26th, 2021 and last edited on July 23rd, 2021