Columbo

I have two interpretations of this song.

The first, and more certain, is that it is a warning from The Verve to any beginners or young people about going through a lifetime of being a musician. It's very autobiographical, and the title "Columbo" could mean that just like Christopher Columbus, they've been around the world and explored through all of the good and all of the bad of the lifestyle that they ended up in. They're saying you'll begin with rejection and crying (from a record label or a bad audience), and then question your own ability and have just "your instinct" (musical creativity) to guide you. Then it will be easy to get yourself so messed up, and if you make it you end up on the inside of a vain culture of fame, celebrities, drugs, guns, so on. Your "miracle accent" (gifted singing voice) will die, because you have strained your vocal chords too much, from giving 150-200 concerts per year. And after this journey/career, you'll be very desperate for love, because you did not get any of it in a true form through all of those years. It's amazing how so many big name musicians seem to be our idols and would seem to have a very enjoyable life, but they're not fulfilled from it at all - because they've been on the inside of showbiz and have been sucked into all of its wrongs that us simple fans could never even imagine.

The second - and the mention of the Thames makes me question it, but still - is that this song is a European observation of present day America. As in, Columbo sailed across the Atlantic and that has since turned into our disastrous culture of messed up kids, shallow celebrities, wet dreams for fame, guns and shootings, etc.

I think the answer above has nailed some of the meaning behind this song but there are some parts I would like to offer as a different interpretation. \n\nAs for the title Columbo I think it is a reference to the detective show of the same name and is hinted in the lyrics "Trying to find out the reasons why" and "We don\'t know". \n\nWe believe that fame is the answer to our existential problems and, especially in our youth, we lack the experience and wisdom to anticipate the different pitfalls and struggles faced by those caught up in the exploitative entertainment industry. \n\nTo me the first two verses are posed as a question to a person who finds themselves in such a position. Crying is an emotional response to their rational problem. A problem that is so needlessly complicated that the rational mind cannot find a solution so they have reached emotional overwhelm. "Like it\'s the only thing to do". \n\nThe myths of the culture are drilled into us so much that it doesn\'t occur to many to just walk away from it - their instincts guiding them and signaling that this isn\'t what is right or good for them. "Your instincts all that\'s guiding you" \n\n"Baby don\'t believe it when they say it, love is just a feeling that you give" This, to me, alludes to the lie that love is conditional and has to be earned through works or deeds. In direct contrast to the last line "Love\'s like oxygen" which could either mean that the person needs the admiration of fans to give their lives meaning or that love is free and abundant and can be found everywhere. \n\nThe Thames is obviously the famous river in England. Water takes the course of least resistance when it travels. Rivers wind their way around obstacles unless it is obstructed. It doesn\'t seek a straight path, it like life, is full of winds, turns and falls.