Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
In your white lace and your wedding bells
You look the picture of contented new wealth
But from the onlooking fool who believed your lies
I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows, yeah
When the wheel of fortune broke, you fell to me
Out of grey skies to change my misery
The vacant spot, your beating heart took its place
Now I watch smoke leave my lips and fill an empty room
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
Now autumn's breeze blows summer's leaves through my life
Twisted and broken-down, no days with sunlight
The dying spark, you left your mark on me
The promise of your kiss, but with someone else
For the bitterest pill is mine to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel anymore ill
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
You look the picture of contented new wealth
But from the onlooking fool who believed your lies
I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows, yeah
When the wheel of fortune broke, you fell to me
Out of grey skies to change my misery
The vacant spot, your beating heart took its place
Now I watch smoke leave my lips and fill an empty room
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
Now autumn's breeze blows summer's leaves through my life
Twisted and broken-down, no days with sunlight
The dying spark, you left your mark on me
The promise of your kiss, but with someone else
For the bitterest pill is mine to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel anymore ill
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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smithersjones, exactly. this was supposed to be a joke to mock other big selling artists. he basically proved that he could be that if he wanted to... and i must say the melody is really kind of beautiful. just because he wrote it as a joke doesn't mean he didnt try to make it sound good... im having trouble explaining my thoughts, but im sure you probably get what i mean. i personally think this song is great. not too jam-like, but none the less, a great tune. :]
Great, great track from one of my favourite bands. The late 70s/early 80s was such a good time for music. That's not even my era, I'm 19! Those 'sad coloured mocking shadows' paint such a haunting picture to show the narrators depressed state of mind. Great stuff!
Thsi song was written as a joke to prove that the sort of songs being written by ABC, Duran Duran etc were a piece of cake to write. Which is what Weller did. And it got to No.2 in the UK chart. If it had gotten to No.1, it would've been the longest song title to get to No.1 ever.
I've also heard that these lyrics were deliberately over the top.
the song is a joke, I need the sick bucket, the jam with strings the writing was on the wall the moment this was released.
sivilla... what?
But it's still a great song - regardless of its deliberate over the top-ness?
butterflykiss84, I am 20 and I agree that this is a great song regardless of its over the topness!!!! The Jam are one of my favourite bands, and I don't care if some people hate Paul Weller for things he is done in the past because no one can deny he is a lyrical genius and completely brilliant at what he does!! :-)
just dont like the song I was a massive fan of the jam until weller decided enough was enough and decided to replace power chords with power strings.
He always said this was supposed to be ironic, especially lines like "Now autumn's breeze blows summer's leaves through my life" but he said that the press still didn't get it and saw it as part of Weller's introspective phase!