paul weller mp3

musicology #430

noExcuses #7

(Spring, Summer, Autumn – Style Council)

Final cut of the noExcuses and i’m feeling it. Thanks for the ride and the memories they have predominantly been sweet and most importantly have delivered two living dreams.

Todays slice is courtesy of the Style Council whose musicology has always cut through my existence like a hot knife through butter.

I will learn, I will grow,
And for my pain, my strength shall show,
For as surely as Spring will come,
Bringing freshness to order’s dance,
Until the ices melt away,
Then we will live again,
I will try, I will succeed,
To train my sights upon the deep,
And wait for Summer’s bloom to come,
Bringing warmth to the frozen hearts,
Until the skies are filled with love,
Then we will live again,

I will search, I will find,
And grow again the parts that died,
Like the changes that Autumn brings,
We need the courage to go ahead,
And not cling on to the past,
Then we can live again

musicology #426

noExcuses #3

(Brand New Start – Paul Weller)

must have already laid this one down along the way but today it’s in honour of the two most beautiful and inspirational parts of my whole..one of which, (who is 11 years old), said to me the other night

“don’t worry dad, a new start is much better than a bad one”

how’s that for wisdom..choked me and I cried !! took me two days to absorb it but it was while listening to this cut yesterday that the full force hit me like a runaway train and then, (less than an hour later), just to make sure that I didn’t miss the opportunity one of the the other parts of my heart and soul (independently), checked in to ask for MY help..

Bravery and courage come in many forms but children are purity personified and when they knock I am, and will always be, there with door, arms and heart WIDE open.

Just like to add my deep thanks to Paul Weller for also being a huge inspiration and trusted guide on the journey.

“I’m gonna clear out my head,
I’m gonna get myself straight,
I know it’s never too late,
To make a brand new start,

I’m gonna kick down the door,
I’m gonna get myself in,
I’m gonna fix up the yard,
And not fall back again,

I’m gonna CLEAN up my earth,
And build a heaven ON the ground,
Not something distant and unfound,
But something real to me,
But something real to me,

All that I can I can be,
All that I am I CAN see,
All that is mine is in my hands,
So to my self I call

There’s somewhere else I should be,
There’s someone else I CAN see,
There’s something more I can find,
IT’S ONLY UP TO ME

I’m gonna clean up my earth,
And build a heaven ON the ground,
Not something distant and unfound,
But something real to me,
But something real to me,

I’m gonna clear out my head,
I’m gonna get myself straight,
I KNOW it’s never too late,
To make a brand new start,
To make a brand new start,
To make a brand new start.

musicology #424

noExcuses #1

(Paul Weller – Cold Moments)

Tried countless times over the last few weeks to get back in themusicologist saddle and every time something changes, (such is life), so what is themusicologist going to DO about it. Stop thinking and start throwing em down, day to day without thought or reflection..cuts that are rocking my soul. musicology style, without pages of the incessant internal dialogue that flows in, out and through this current fucked up mess of the life that I take FULL responsibility…..and with authenticity offer NO EXCUSES for

First up it’s a cut from one my long time trusted guides Paul Weller, who has been there for themusicologist since the late 70’s around the time I entered what is sometimes referred to as the ninth year transition. Borrowed from his No 1 album from last year 22 Dreams..also featuring among others the all round talents of Steve Craddock and the drumming expertise of Steve White.

Listen keenly to the RIDE and if you refuse, (for whatever reason), then step the fuck off this musicology train and perhaps get back on board somewhere down the line. I have no intentions other than to share the way I feel which is always in flux and has no meaning other than in the here and now.

musicology #420

BirthdaySpecial

(Paul Weller – Moon On Your Pyjamas)

Inspired by our daughter, (who is 14 today), I am approaching ‘the saddle’ with the intention of getting back in it and even though themusicologist has been silent these last 23 days the music has flowed non stop..in fact without it the probability is that my heart and soul would certainly have imploded. Far too intense and personal to communicate using words, (and even music), but without the dialogue between my heart, my soul, my thoughts and the universal language, (music), as guide reaching the other side would be impossible. Having bounced from the foot of the mountain to the peak on MANY, MANY occasions over the last four weeks and fought a host of demons from the darkest depths I feel authentic peace, empathy, compassion and understanding descending from ‘above the clouds’ which is the title, (for those who have either never heard or maybe forgotten listen here), of one cut that has TWICE helped me to find my feet on the way. Waxed lyrical many times about Paul Weller’s music so I’ll say no more other than thank you Constance from the bottom of my heart.

Baby girl..this one’s ALL yours.

Was that a shooting star I saw,
It’s rare for me to make a wish at all,
Because I feel that I can only hope,
These dangerous time, we are barely afloat,
And I hope the world will heal itself,
And our worn out souls along with it,
So that you will get the chance to say,
That you have seen a better day,

You’ve got the moon on your pyjamas,
And the stars in your eyes,
Sweet child you’re a dream in disguise,
Angels on silver strings hang from above,
Let love and laughter shine wherever you go,

Through your new eyes I’ve come to see,
How beautiful my life can be,
And I’ll keep this wish this time I think,
And blow it in with a kiss upon your head,

And I hope the world will heal itself,
And our worn out souls along with it,
So that you will get the chance to see,
A Summer’s blue sky behind green trees,

Ohhhh you’ve got the moon on your pyjamas,
And the stars in your eyes,
Sweet child you’re a dream in disguise,
Angels on silver strings hang from above,
Let love and laughter shine wherever you go,

Got the moon on your pyjamas,
And the stars in your eyes,
Ohhh sweet child you’re a dream in disguise,

Moon on your pyjamas,
Stars in your eyes

musicology #393

PostMod/ernist #3

(Paul Weller – I Didn’t Mean To Hurt You)

Today’s cut is from PostMod/ernist supreme and musicologist inspiration who, for me, always creates and delivers ‘value’ (on top of being one of England’s most cherished talents), none other than Paul John Weller with a piece taken from the 1992 album that, (to his critics), signalled his so called return while to his appreciators it was nothing more than a part of his evolution. No prizes for guessing who this one is dedicated to.

I heard them all talking,
I guess you have too,
Adding flickers to the flame,
How I’ve treated you,
Yes I take the blame,
Let me say, that they don’t know,
The fools don’t know, they really don’t know,
That I really didn’t mean to hurt you,

Oh darling, I didn’t mean to hurt you,
Please believe me when I say,
I never meant to hurt you,
Hey I didn’t mean to hurt you girl,

Whatever they tell you,
There’s more I could say,
Lending motion to the wheel,
How you built me up,
When I was falling down, down,
But who knows you just might find,
Just might find that I’m just your kind,
And I really didn’t mean to hurt you,
Oh darlin’ I didn’t mean to hurt you,
Deep down inside I never meant to hurt you,
Oh child..didn’t mean to hurt you girl,

I was looking there for something,
But some things have no meaning,
While I was looking there for something,
Everything went wrong,
Was looking there for something,
But some things have no meaning
While I was looking there for something,
Everything had gone,

Soon as I looked, I lived,
Soon as I lived, I wondered,
Soon as I looked, I lived,
Soon as I lived, I wondered,

‘Cause they don’t know the fools don’t know,
They really don’t know,
That I didn’t mean to hurt you,

Deep down inside I never meant to hurt you,
Yeah..didn’t mean to hurt you girl,
Please believe me when I say,
Didn’t mean to hurt you,
I didn’t mean to hurt you girl,

I was looking there for something,
But some things have no meaning,
While I was looking there for something,
Somethings have no meaning,
While I was looking there for something,
Some things have no meaning,
While I was looking there for something,
Some things have no meaning,

Soon as I looked, I lived,
Soon as I lived, I wondered,
Soon as I looked, I lived,
Soon as I lived, I wondered

musicology #368

SuchIsLife #2

(Paul Weller – Foot Of The Mountain)

Sliding out of the Creator selection into this one from the most influential English musicologist ever to grace my life, none other than Mr Paul Weller whose guidance has been an important part of my learning curve from 1977 onwards. Having featured him consistently over the last two years there’s not much more to add so I’ll just leave it to the man and his music to speak about what for me is one of life’s greatest mysterys…Women.

“Like a dream on the ocean,
Always drifting away,
And I can’t catch up,
She just slips away…on the tide,

Sometimes a great notion,
Can lead you astray,
So weak to devotion,
So strong to desire,

Baby, baby, baby won’t you let me ride,
Take me off on your sail boat ride,
Come on now angels are on your side,
But she slips away oh and never stays,

Like mercury gliding,
A silver teardrop that falls,
And I can’t hold on,
Through my fingers she’s gone,

At the foot of the mountain,
Such a long way to climb,
How will I ever get up there,
But I know I must try,

Baby, baby, baby won’t you let me ride,
Take me off on your sail boat ride,
Come on now angels, are on your side,
But she slips away oh and never stays,

Like a dream on the ocean,
Always drifting away,
And I can’t catch up,
She just skips away..on the tide,
Oh slips away…on the tide,
Oh slips away as she glides “

musicology #107

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #30

(Paul Weller – Above the Clouds)

this final cut from the Paul Weller selection is taken from a concert recorded at Sheperd’s Bush Empire, June 2nd 2002, at which I had the greatest musical experience of my life.

the memory is so fresh I can touch it….my eldest child, (and she was only six), had been in hospital with a life threatening condition since late December and it was killing me.

By chance a friend I hold very dear had been providing Paul Weller, (and Steve White), with some of the best threads around at that time and asked us, (me and the suc mo massive), if we fancied going to see them in concert at the Empire..as distressed as I was, and not having played much Weller over the preceeding couple of years, we had it and words can’t do it justice.

as the evening unfolded grown men were standing, as if at a cup final, belting out the words to all of the songs, tears in eyes..it was very moving and it was during this performance that the metaphorical sun began to break through the dark clouds of my despair.

music does that..no question and the lyrics to this one burnt into my soul, I’m not ashamed to say that it rocked me and I wouldn’t trade it, even for a seat at the Harlem Square when Mr Soul threw down in 1963, (and that’s saying something),

the verse that did it for me

“as my anger shouts, at my own self doubt, so a sadness creeps into my dreams

when you’re scared of living, but afraid to die,

I get scared of giving, and I must find the faith to beat it..yeah”

of course I have to lay the full lyrics on you and tell you that 3 days after this concert at the age of 33, I ‘found the faith’ and my daughter had the all clear..at the third ‘attempt’.

just leaves me to say thank you to Paul Weller for ‘delivering’ for 30 years

“Autumn blew its leaves at me,
Threatening winter as I walked,
Summer always goes so quick, Barely stopping like my thoughts,
Which dip and spin and change so fast,
I have to wonder, Will I last.

Through the windows of the train,
I caught reflections of a paper cup,
Hanging small in a pale blue sky,
Never knowing which way’s up.

Above the clouds, what’s to be found,
I have to wonder, Will I be around.
As my anger shouts, At my own self doubt,
So a sadness creeps, Into my dreams
When you’re scared of living, But afraid to die
I get scared of giving, And I must find the faith to beat it

I must be me that’s rushing by,
Time just lingers on the wind,
Bristlin’ through my open fears,
I wonder what it’s going to bring.

Above the clouds, what’s to be found,
I have to wonder, Will I be around.

Run and hide, run and hide
I catch the sail at evening’s tide”

musicology #104

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #27

(Paul Weller – The Strange Museum)

part three of the Paul Weller tribute and one from the man as solo artist. as with all the six/six/six artists it’s nigh on impossible to choose six cuts from many. such is the quality of their musicology.

but six it is so it’s two from Paul Wellers time spent in the Jam, two from the Style Council selection and two from the man as solo artist and as such is a challenge and no mistake..I was ‘chewing some fat’ the other day about the Sam Cooke tribute and the ones that I had left out…to be honest what I’m trying not to do is play their most well known slices..in the hope that cats explore/reconvene a musical relationship with the artists featured for themselves…

this next one is taken from his 1992 work entitled Paul Weller with strong support from Steve White whose groove is tighter than the space between a rock and a hard place.

Steve White always deserves a lot of credit, (and full respect), for kicking it as possibly the best drummer to have graced theses shores. ..with Paul Weller from the age of sixteen I do believe?

I have been fortunate to share the pleasure of Steves, (and the man himselfs on another occasion), company a few years back at ‘Moda’s’ where he kindly treated us to a few licks on the bongos while Mick set him up with some threads..

little mention goes out to mr Moda, originally of Bermodsey but later better placed in Blackheath Village, whose eye for style is as good as it gets. never received the acclaim deserved but Moda was a legend for soul stylists ‘down south’ and was responsible for introducing many a style from the 80’s right through to the 00’s…anyone who remembers the Moda 3 tee, (for starters), knows what I’m talking about..

listen tune…

“come on in..admissions free
I won’t refuse those who wanna see,
bring your loved ones, those you hold dear,
bring them all, there’s no restrictions here
but don’t look for blame, as an easy escape
there’s notthing on show, that isn’t your shame
so come on in, it’s a small price to pay
and I won’t refuse, those who’ve lost their way”

song written by Paul Weller & Mick Talbot

musicology #31

mansweek #4

(Paul Weller  – Down In The Seine – Live in Dublin 2001)

this artist/poet/legend has been a guide since 1977 when, as a 9 year old, themusicologist was presented with ‘In The City’. as far as im concerned this cat is second to none.

the amount of times his words, music and actions have been an inspiration are beyond counting and for that I would like to give thanks. as large as Curtis, Marvin, Bobby and Sam.