The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony (Glastonbury 2008) 

I was working a really shitty job when I went to Glastonbury for the first time. 12 hour days, 7 days a week. I knew they couldn't force me to work weekends, so I took this weekend off so I could go. But I knew I'd have to skip the Verve to be back in time for work on Monday. My friend texted me asking if me if I was excited to see the Verve. I told him I couldn't go because of work. He sent me the best text I've ever received in my life: "Fuck the job. I love the Verve." So when this song came on I messaged him saying, "Yeah, fuck the job. I love the Verve." I ended up missing two days of work before I quit that awful job. A couple months later I started an awesome job at Codemasters. That's the story of how the Verve got me out of the worst job I've ever had.

Can anyone get tired of this masterpiece??? The lyrics are a bit depressing but that's LIFE!!!!!!

So good, I played it twice.

Semplicemente the best❤

excellent band and great song !!!

My favorite version! Thank you!

When Ashcroft takes his glasses up, he looks reeeeally stone 😅😆

El mejor

AWESOME HIT! FANTASTIC🎉🎉

Still sparkling wine in 2024

Romance inner unlock

Hall of fame

sera siempre exitoso1111111111111111

2022- 11- 19 No existe un buen concierto en vivo sin banda, y no existe un buen concierto en vivo sin público”

What is it with British concert fans and the flags. Immortal song

The intro always gives me absolute chills, one of the most emotional songs ever

The guitar noise and distortion during the intro are fantastic

One of the best performances of a song ever.

This is my dad's song. Grew up in poor coal mining town . Slaved in a hot semi truck , got cancer, and dead at 52. But I was proud to have him as my dad.

A song that every singer songwriter wishes they wrote

You can tell he really likes performing this masterpiece live

Who's listening to this masterpiece 2024

Richard is more than a rockstar, he's a poet

The stones were weak men for taking money from this tune. Appreciate your effect on popular culture and move on (like Tom Petty did with grace)

Liam Gallagher said in an interview (at the height of Oasis fame) that Richard Ashcroft is the coolest guy alive. If that isn't a shining recommendation I don't know what is.

For me, it's the gut wrenching tension/energy between the fatalism and somehow upbeat and power of the music that makes this the soundtrack of so many lives - it says keep on keeping on despite the pressure

"I'd like to thank Emily Eavis for inviting us to play Glastonbury. I think her dad didn't think we were gonna be as good as Keane or someone like that. God bless to Keane though. Love and peace to all bands. It's a struggle, life's a struggle. And Monday morning may be a struggle for a lot of you in a job that you despise, working for a boss that you despise. Slave to money then we die. God bless you."

Hey kids, see how there aren't any cell phones being held up and yet people are still having the time of their lives and making real memories? Pay close attention...

My husband & I (ages 70 & 65) were in Glastonbury in October 2023. Unfortunately we missed the wildness. I utterly LOVE Verve & especially this song! Old American lady.

Congratulations to Richard getting the rights back to his own song.

The more i listen this song, the more i hate the rolling stones.

If you're still listening to this Masterpiece, you have a good taste in music. 💞👌😊👍

Credit to the drummer 🥁 & Bassist. Unwavering steady beat 😮

What a fucking glorious performance. It feels like the conclusion.

The guitar sound by Nick McCabe is something special.

Why is it evertime I hear this song I feel like it's just for me? So crazy to see people like myself connect with it. This is why music is so amazing!

'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 singin' 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, oh, no I can't change, oh 'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life Tryna make ends meet, tryna find somebody 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 I can't change my mold No, no, no, no, no, I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no It's just sex and violence, melody and silence It's just sex and violence, melody and silence 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 Have you ever been down? Have you ever been down? Have you ever been down?

this song will live forever.

Masterpiece, along with the entirety of Urban Hymns

Richard Ashcroft at Glastonbury. Dreams do come true.

Gotta' hand it to the world class BBC Engineers who captured and post produced this video so impeccably, and totally nailed it on the sound! 😃😃😃

This song and Cruel intentions are one of the best things ever happened in 90's

So many British bands, are absolutely EPIC. Nobody can touch them.

I guarantee … this will be the best song you’ve heard today

One of the greatest songs ever written

Imagine having THAT voice, and also being an amazing songwriter. So good

This must rank as one of the greatest performances ever at Glastonbury. EPIC

‘To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all’ - Oscar Wilde

Listening to this timeless classic on Valentine's day February, 14th 2024!

I understand this song so much more now that I'm older. I feel like a hamster on a neverending wheel.

'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 singin' 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, oh, no I can't change, oh 'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life Tryna make ends meet, tryna find somebody 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 I can't change my mold No, no, no, no, no, I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no It's just sex and violence, melody and silence It's just sex and violence, melody and silence 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 Have you ever been down? Have you ever been down? Have you ever been down?

Gotta be said 5:50 onwards took this to an entirely different level for me, McCabe's guitar and RA throwing in the Love is Noise lyrics. Absolutely unreal. Would genuinely give everything to have witnessed this live, greatest song ever written no question about it

Ashcroft still sings as if he's young. His voice and he in himself haven't aged a day. The Verve are fantastic! I know we are talking 15 years ago now for this Glasto performance, but my point still stands. He doesn't sound any different, which we are eternally grateful for. Hopefully Richard will live forever - like Oasis once said.

British bands are the best in the world. I'm Italian and I lived in UK for the all 90s good bless all the British talents.👍🤗

This song has always and will always be childhood for me and many other people out there, everytime I listen to this it brings me back to a simpler time with no worry in the world and it's pure nostalgia!

Guitarist Nick McCabe at 4:49 just deciding to go stratospheric because he can.

Richard Ashcroft along with Ian Astbury and Liam Gallagher are the Titans of Modern British Rock ❤

Hit like if you are agree. You are travelling in a train in an endless journey and you don't want this song to stop.

” try to make ends meet , you slave to money then you die ” So true

The Verve's set is one of the great Glastonbury performances. Pity the guys couldn't keep the band going - they were a great unit when they were together

The guitar sounds in this are fucking incredible. I defy anyone to play me a better piece of music.

One word: A MASTERPIECE!

Thank you BBC for posting this good quality version. This is sooooo great.

I'm almost 78 & I've loved this song from my 1st viewing of the video Ashcroft walking down a street. Great song.❤

This is the most relatable song of all time. It will still be relevant to generations after us.

I wanna every person at Earth have enough of money for life. Amen. I wish it to everyone: you can buy food, clothes, home, traveling. 🤞🌐🤞🌏🙏 Amen.

Probably the best live version of this music. And to me of best musics live ever performed live....

You don't want to let this song finish.

I like how he performs this song live with alot of passion.

An authentic rock star's performance and a reminder of the poetic "long walk" video clip, we never forget!

The Brits are so musically talented I'm Quebecois and I've always respected the Brits with their music

Absolutely MASTERPIECE

One of the best songs ever written

I was there. I was 14 years old right at the front, it was unbelievable.

One of the very best songs of the 90s. Anthemic.

Literally flawless. Best melody, best lyrics EVER

No debate, best Glastonbury performance ever

Shudderingly powerful performance by all. This song means a lot to me

If I had a time machine, I would have been there in 2008 and enjoyed every second. Fabulous!

like who is listening in middle of nowhere

I listen to this song everyday. Such a beautiful symphony

Nick McCabe is a genius, end of.

Literally gives me chills and goosebumps every time!!!! LOVE IT!!!

Puffffff como llora esa guitarra electrica ❤😮😮🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Sin palabras...

I'm gonna get this show on a download and get on my hammock close my eyes press play and have an free out of body experience- much love and thanks Richard and the boys

Message, melody... One of the best songs ever.

The voice of him singing it live takes it to another level. 😲😲❤‍🔥❤‍🔥

This will always mean more to the British people than Taylor and Kayne.

If you are sucidal play this before you die.

A timeless masterpiece and one of the best songs ever written.

The Verve make Oasis look like the crabby babies they were ... This song is my fav anthem of the experience being born in our moulds and that struggle

Multicultural ❤ vibes, this song will always be ahead of it’s time.

I don’t think there’s enough superlatives to describe Sir Richard Ashcroft, genius.

One of the all time greatest songs. Song is a multilayered symphony.

thank you BBC for this masterpiece.

Too good, will we ever have artists like this again?

By far the best live version of this song.

He sounds so good live

Take me back to the good old daysssss

kick and snare is so perfect