The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” is itself a bittersweet experience. It’s a beautiful song with some sad sentiments in it such as “You’re a slave to money then you die”. The story behind the song is also rather bittersweet as it was the Verve’s only big hit here in the states and all the royalties had to go to the Rolling Stones former manager because the Verve sampled a portion of “The Last Time” without legal permission first. The manager got the royalties from the Nike ad campaign that used the song as well. The Rolling Stones signed away most of their rights early in their career which is why the manager reaped the rewards even decades later.
Still, sampling or not, this is a great song by the Verve. The music video is unique to say the least. The lead singer walks down a London street without much regard for the people or things he bumps into. I’m not exactly sure what it all means but it’s certainly different. (Note: look below for another video that inspired this one)
In a beautiful bit of poetic justice, the lead singer and writer Richard Ashcroft was invited by Coldplay’s frontman to perform his “Bittersweet Symphony” with Coldplay at the massive Live 8 benefit concert. The ovation Ashcroft received was amazing and it obviously moved him. Also, Coldplay’s Chris Martin said this in his introduction of Ashcroft, “this is probably the best song ever written and the best singer in the world, Mr. Richard Ashcroft”. Wow. That was extremely high praise considering the source because it came from the brilliant songwriter of songs like “Clocks” and “Viva La Vida”. Here’s the phenomenal live performance Ashcroft gave with Coldplay as his backup band in front of a massive audience.
‘Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this 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’t change
I can’t change, I can’t change
But I’m here in my mind
I am here in my mind
But I’m a million different people
from one day to the next
I can’t change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no,no,no,no,no,no(fading away)
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 airways 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 mind
I am here in my mind
And I’m a million different people
from one day to the next
I can’t change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
I can’t change
I can’t change it
‘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
You know I can’t change, I can’t change
I can’t change, I can’t change
But I’m here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I’m a million different people
from one day to the next
I can’t change my mind
No, no, no, no, no
I can’t change my mind
no, no, no, no, no,
I can’t change
Can’t change my body,
no, no, no
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
Ever been down
That you’ve ever been down
That you’ve ever been down
The video was inspired by the video that director David Lynch did for Massive Attack’s “Unfinished Symphony” which was done in one long take through the rough streets of LA.