@@billythedog-309 I assume you are saying it has nothing to do with addiction, since what you wrote didn't make sense. Yes, this song was written about a family member in the hospital and about pain and chemotherapy medications not working anymore. But it also by how it's written can be construed as about addiction.
This was their masterpiece. The song is actually about his dad who was dying from cancer, and the drugs he was on to supposedly help him - stopped working, and he started deteriorating. The "drugs don't work" line can also be flipped, depending on how you see it. It definitely makes sense either way. A lot of people thought it was about drug addiction when they first hear the song.
This is a beautiful song about his father. He was dying of cancer and the drugs weren't working. It's also a reference to the undesired effect of drugs being taken to block out the pain of losing his father. It's an absolutely heartbreaking record. But do you know what? If you hear a different angle with the lyrics and it helps you through your pain then that's down to the genus of the song writing. Nothing hits the deepest darkest corners of the soul like music does ❤️
The Verve released this album out of nowhere, it just blew everyone away... it's all that was played in pubs up and down the land for about 2 years afterwards. Genius.
I know he wrote this song for his father, but it has been such a great anthem for people facing hitting bottom with drug addiction. It really brings you back to a place of facing the pain of a hard truth.
JB you’ve left me absolutely speechless, I love this song anyway as I’m from the uk and the verve fall into my category of music, but watching your face and the look of anguish and pain shown in ur eyes drew a tear to my eye. I feel numb. Stay strong and safe man
Now this is a REAL reaction. Music is meant to take you somewhere emotionally, and to see you feel the music then tell your story and why the song affected you brought tears to my eyes. Keep strong my man and keep up what you are doing!
It was about a mother dying of cancer and the drugs didnt work and he was with her till the end.....imagine him sitting beside her bed and listen to the words again with that in mind.
This song hits me diffent as my dad died of drugs 💉 makes me wanna cry 😢 😭 R.i.p Tony Antony Broadbere ❤🙏🌍 Jb i saw my dad once a year because he had a heroin and drink addition he died 1 week before my 21st birthday it still hurt now and its been 7 years. Love you jb repsect for this :) x
I just discovered this song (25 years late r.) and had a similar reaction as you did -- only I cried a quart of tears. Covid, cancer, blood clots, my sister's alcoholism death .... this song provided catharsis. And, congrats on taking control of your life. You can have anything you want if you believe you deserve it -- and you do!
I know this is way late, but this song makes me cry every time I hear it. It's the song that I connect to losing my dad to Alzheimer's disease. It's a hard listen.
This song cuts me deep..I haven't seen my daughter since 1997, she will turn 27 this year and I have missed her whole life..I became dependant on alcohol as my "drug" through the later 90's and early 2000's, they didn't work obviously but I always believed I'd see her face again..All she had to do is let me know and I'd sing in her ear again..maybe only in heaven one day..Its also my favorite song to sing at karaoke lol Emotions run high for me hearing this..Thanks for the reaction, Andrew
Lost my Dad to cancer, he would lie on his side as the doctors pumped him with drugs which eventually stopped working. If heaven calls I want to come too and see his face again.
James, the reason you get so many replies and likes is because you always show your humanity when reacting to music. You have an all too rare quality in people. There should be many more like you man.
I can't believe it but I've only just found out that this song isn't about the kind of drugs we think he means. He was singing this about his father in law who was dying of cancer. It's the MEDICAL drugs that don't work and are just making him worse - Chemo! >,_,< Suddenly all those lyrics fell into place and I started crying.
Amazing song. It was originally banned from any radio play as the subject was misinterpreted. Until it came out that it was about his mum dying of cancer and not his dad as he had already passed away from a blood clot when Richard was only 11 years old.
This came out around when I was around twelve years old shortly after my dad had been diagnosed with a rare brain tumour. The drugs, brain surgery and all the desperate things he tried to have more time didn't work. He died when I was 13 so I listened up this a lot. It's caused me to be very depressed over the last twenty or so years with the futility of life including a six month psychiatric ward stay. I still love the song though, the lyrics are beautiful although you'd not want them to apply to you.
The vocals, lyrics and strings on this track are heartbreaking. But it's Nick McCabe's harrowing electric guitar wails that plunge it right down into hopeless despair.
This song makes me think of My Sister Roz (AKA Fozzybear) who we sadly lost in 2015 due to complications related to her Diabetes. The local health trust kept giving her synthetic Human insulin which her body just rejected, this despite big red letters on her medical note stating "Do NOT prescribe Human Insulin, Bovine/Porcine only" Despite this they refused to allow her to use her own insulin and always gave her the synthetic human variant without her or our knowledge.. She found out about this and started a claim as she'd suffered massive problems in every visit to hospital for over 20 years, any overnight stay lead to weeks or months there as her blood sugar would tank or be through the roof... She was awarded £250,000 in compensation but never got the chance to spend it as she passed away before the funds cleared into her bank... This song was a favorite of hers, she even stole my copy of the album which I didn't get back till her passing, I still have that same CD to this day... It HURTS to listen to but also has a special place in my heart for the memories of her inexhaustible spirit and joy of life it brings back, particularly this song, Sonnet, One day, Space and time, Catching the butterfly and Bittersweet symphony... Miss you Fozzybear.... Always will... In the words of Stephen, the mad Irishman from Braveheart "I'll see you after..." sigh....
I'm a 70's/80's dude but extremely proud that my son covered this Verve song and love's this era as much as I do. Crazy think is there was at least 5 distinct genres of music in this time...Soul, Psychedelic, Rock, Disco, Punk, New Wave and Metal. So much choice and music rich. Thanks for sharing your touching story man, well done!
I have total respect for anyone who can kick suck a terrible addiction and change their life for the better , especially to be able to open up and talk about that dark past
The song is glorious and also so sad - it resonates because the song applies to a lot of us and can mean different things to different people and their circumstances -music is what helps us feel somehoiw bonded in the worst of times - even a connection with strangers when your family isn't there and doesn't get your pain - someone will and does.
I'm sometimes a bit sceptical of some these reaction channels. Everything always amazing and never a bad word. That said. I believe this man's words to be from the heart.
This song has a true meaning for a lot of people out there who has or had a problem ive experimented with drugs but i got hooked on painkillers but ive only been clean and sober for a year
You're honest, humble, and self aware, but you don't make a big deal about it or the negativity, it's always about the music and how you connect to it, which is why enjoy watching you, i feel like i'm introducing music that i love to a good open minded friend.
Same here. I don’t have a single friend that would willingly listen to this much music with such a wide genre and not only give every song a fair hearing but keep an open mind and judge it in its musical merits. Long may Jay go on...
That song has a message in for all who have and had pain and loss in thair lives You James are an inspiration you have been incredibly strong. God bless you always 🌹
It's good to hear how open this guy is, and it's great to see that he's come through some dark times. I feel a lot of what he said and I can relate to it...... Good, honest reaction....
randomly saw one of your reactions then saw a bunch more and subscribed! You're a beautiful soul, honest, genuine, and sensitive to the beauty of music
I take this song differently. I’ve never taken a drug in my life. But the drugs that don’t work are past relationships. And “if you want to show. Just let me know. And I’ll sing in your ears again” hits hard. Anyways it’s a banger
Some 20 odd years ago I went with a bunch of mates to see Ashcroft. Halfway through his set he said apropos of nothing, "to all you who have thought about killing yourselves, please don't! you are beautiful! life is beautiful! I tried to kill myself the other day and I am so happy I didn't." Some of the crowd jeered and thought he was just seeking some attention but me and another mate just looked at each other and said, "holy shit, he actually means that".
watching you react and feel the way you did is what motivates us as songwriters...people gotta be reminded they're not alone in their struggles. big thanks!
Love you man... Only watched about 10 of your vids and you remind me so much of myself with your attitude... I can see your a great guy although you have been through shit in your life and that's what makes you and me a good person... Don't ever change bro!
This reminds me of my best friend (since we were 3 years old) . We always did everything together and then in the early nineties we got into raving (UK) and had some wonderful times together. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 and died when she was 36. The last time I saw her in the hospice she told me that the drugs to alleviate her pain no longer worked and asked me to bring her some E but back then you could go to prison for just possession. I wish I had been brave enough. I wasn't there when she died, her brother held her in his arms and he said a single tear rolled down her cheek when she took her last breath. I still think her about her all the time even though it's been such a long time but hopefully one day I will see her face again. I've never had such a great friendship as I did with my friend Jacki
This song is about his father who died of cancer. Not illegal drugs, I played this song at my son’s funeral 21 years ago. Absolutely felt what the song says at that time I lost him.
Goosebumps on top of goosebumps. Total masterpiece. Tears streaming down my face. Keep strong. Life is for living. Hardships in our lives form who we become. Lost my mom last year but I live everyday as though it is my last enjoying everything and making wonderful memories along the way. Take care everyone. Love from the UK x
I lost my mom the same year this song was in the charts, so it holds bad memories for me personally. I've only just started to listen to it. It's funny how music reminds us of certain times in our lives.
Love your channel ❤️ your reactions are so genuine and honest , it's so refreshing to see you are not afraid to show your vulnerabiliry . I love this song so raw and heartfelt 👏
Will always be one of the best songs ever written. 23 years this has been one of my favourites. Thanks for he review mate. I love how music connects the world.
The singer/lyricist Richard Ashcroft has always got the plaudits for The Verve's - Urban Hymns album, perhaps deservedly, but it wouldn't have been half of what it was without the huge atmospheric sounds and flourishes coming from Nick McCabe's guitar to flesh out the sound. One of the best bands of the 90s who sadly fell apart shortly after their biggest release and while they were probably still at the height of their powers.
As soon as I hear this song I start welling up and now the tears are flowing again, just a beautiful song sung with such passion. 😭😭😭😅💖. I lost a relative lost to drugs, and drink ,someone gave them an unknown drug and it killed them, It's still so hard to get over the death of my relative.😢😢😢😧😧😩
The lead singer lives near me and I see him around all the time :) This song came out a few months after my mum died in an accident. Always makes me think of that time.
Appreciate your honesty.....stay real and continue to be who you are....whether you know it or not you are an inspiration and so many people need true people in these trying times..... love love love your reactions as they are real and a blessing to so many....
Hey I recommended this to you my friend in your previous Verve reaction. Pleased you are giving this a listen. :-) Thanks. Listen, I commend you, your strength in your personal battle. All I can say is how much of a true, warm and genuine person you are and it shines through in this video. Love your channel.
Love the song and your reaction. The lead singer had depression and issues with drugs - he also had a sister who died after illness - so the song has two meanings I think. I know the pain of addiction and drugs too (3 years sober) and I have three kids, they’re my main motivation. Thanks for your honesty
This song means so much to me, but I can barely listen to it. It came out about six months after my dad has succumbed to cancer, after a year and a half. First it ate away at his face and he had to have skin grafts and then finally it ate through his windpipe. Towards the end, he stop using his painkillers and being Irish tried to man it out, so I can't imagine how he felt. I still have the memory of discovering his corpse in our front room in the morning with a lone fly waiting to land on his body.
I saw Richard Ashcroft performing this in a small park outside a stadium where Robbie Williams was about to do a sold out show a few days later. It was a Saturday night and Ashcroft was the last performer. However, since young people in the audience didn't know him, they left early and only a handful of 90s kids were left. Ashcroft made a funny remark about that pointing out the irony of the situation. There he was singing about how drugs don't work to a hundred people when Williams is performing on full stadiums around the world. So the drugs have sometimes worked after all :)
Great reveiw mate the verve are legends this was the sound of the 90's era in the uk.. Hats off for the sobreity i too have had my battles. Stay strong. One
