The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony Lyrics
One Hit Wonders
The Verve
Bittersweet Symphony Lyrics
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony that's life
Trying 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 mould
I am here in my mould
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
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 mould
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
I can't change it you know, I can't change it
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's 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
You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
You've gotta change my mould, no, no, no
(It's just sex and violence, melody and silence)
(Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence)
(Gotta can't change my violence, melody and silence)
(I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down)
(Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence)
(I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down)
(Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence)
Been down
Ever been down
(Can't change my violence, melody and silence)
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
[Thanks to Larry1 for correcting these lyrics]
Trying 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 mould
I am here in my mould
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
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 mould
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
I can't change it you know, I can't change it
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's 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
You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
You've gotta change my mould, no, no, no
(It's just sex and violence, melody and silence)
(Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence)
(Gotta can't change my violence, melody and silence)
(I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down)
(Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence)
(I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down)
(Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence)
Been down
Ever been down
(Can't change my violence, melody and silence)
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
[Thanks to Larry1 for correcting these lyrics]
Writer: JAGGER, MICK / RICHARDS, KEITH / ASHCROFT, RICHARD
Copyright: Lyrics © ABKCO Music Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © ABKCO Music Inc.
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Bittersweet Symphony Info:
• The song samples an obscure orchestral version of
The Last Time,
a 1965 song by the
Rolling Stones.
• This was recorded before they got permission from the Stones to use it, so the Verve had to sign away most of the royalties from this in order to release it. The publishing rights went to Allen Klein, The Rolling Stones' former manager.
• Nike used this in commercials. Klein got the royalties from those as well.
• The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards got composer credits along with Richard Ashcroft. Upset that he lost the royalties, Ashcroft said this was "The best song Jagger and Richards have written in 20 years."
• The video was inspired by the video for Massive Attack's 1991 song Unfinished Sympathy, which showed the singer walking down a street in a similar manner.
• This was recorded before they got permission from the Stones to use it, so the Verve had to sign away most of the royalties from this in order to release it. The publishing rights went to Allen Klein, The Rolling Stones' former manager.
• Nike used this in commercials. Klein got the royalties from those as well.
• The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards got composer credits along with Richard Ashcroft. Upset that he lost the royalties, Ashcroft said this was "The best song Jagger and Richards have written in 20 years."
• The video was inspired by the video for Massive Attack's 1991 song Unfinished Sympathy, which showed the singer walking down a street in a similar manner.
Released: March 10th, 1998