Any Tom, Dick or Harry will do for Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday challenge this week – so here is ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, written and performed (under the group name The Verve) by Richard Ashcroft.
There was a great deal of controversy about this song when it was first released (in 1997) , as it clearly samples the orchestral version of the Rolling Stones’ ‘The Last Time’. Fortunately this has been resolved. The song – and its official video – are widely considered to be seminal examples of ‘Britpop’.
‘Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, that’s life
Tryna 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 mold
I am here in my mold
But I’m a million different people
From one day to the next
I can’t change my mold
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 mold
I am here in my mold
And I’m a million different people
From one day to the next
I can’t change my mold
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, this life
Tryna make ends meet
Tryna 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 mold
I am here in my mold
And I’m a million different people
From one day to the next
I can’t change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
Written by Richard Ashcroft
the only deadhead in the hameau 
Omg Richard Ashcroft I forgot him too. I love this song, as did my middle son who used to look like a cross between Richard and the Gallagher brothers and did the walk! Once when not listening properly to him I made a fool of myself. My son told me he was off to Manchester, I asked who he was going to see ,he replied Richard Ashcroft, I absentmindedly asked did you go to school with him… He laughed his head off.
Two of The Verve went to school with my brother. They were very popular at our school – as you can imagine!
Nice music although Richard Ashcroft seems like a real dick knocking everybody down on the street.
To be fair, it was set up and apparently he’s quite a nice bloke really.
One of my top songs from the 90’s. When it came out, I couldn’t understand half the lyrics. I love the melody of it and it certainly went with the times.
I like the song but I love love the clip, it’s genius in my opinion; I can watch that for hours, so relaxing!
I like dreamlike quality of the repetitions most but I really like the whole song. Great choice, TODITH.
I just love this song. ❤ Thanks for sharing!!!