it’s a bittersweet symphony this life/
Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to the money then you die.
“Bittersweet Symphony” is about a man who wants to be a better version of himself–and knows he can be—but the grind of everyday life prevents him from being his best self. For example, imagine the band that The Verve could have been if they had the financial freedom to create instead of haggling with The Stones.
The song also asks serious questions about fate. We are stuck “in our mold” and we “know” that we could get out of it with just a little luck or divine intervention, but can we really? And of course, there are our base needs that seem to be always driving us. Ultimately, I think Ashcroft would believe that we can change, but I think he makes an equally compelling case against it.
There are very few songs that have the sense of rhythm that “Bittersweet Symphony” does. Originally, I suspected it might be a difference in time signature, but it isn’t that—it’s standard. Part of it is the violins. A lot of it is the hypnotic, trance-like melody with very consistent drum beat.
The story behind The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony” is tragic. The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” is one of the best songs of the 90s. When it came out, everybody, regardless of their taste in music recognized it as something special and unique. Unique! Then The Rolling Stones sued them because they said it lifted a bar from a cover version of their song The Last Time.
So, for twenty years The Rolling Stones got paid because they have better lawyers and bigger pockets. They sued and received co-writing credit. Around 2019 they relinquished all future royalties to the song but didn’t disavow their song-writing credit and past royalties (of course). Fuck The Stones.
Bittersweet Symphony Lyrics
Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony this life
Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to the 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’t change, I can’t change, I can’t 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
Well I never pray,
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’t change, I can’t change, I can’t 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, no, no
Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony this life.
Trying to make ends meet, trying 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.
No change, I can’t change, I can’t change, I can’t 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
I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
It justs sex and violence melody and silence
It justs sex and violence melody and silence (I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down)
It’s just sex and violence melody and silence
It’s just sex and violence melody and silence
It’s just sex and violence melody and silence (I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down)
(It’s just sex and violence melody and silence)Been down
written by Richard Ashcroft