PW: "i need absolute quiet for this number"! with great meaningful lyrics of this incredible song, paul wanted his audience to listen well. He's truly smart & deep for his age..
"...the mighty sparrow" genius. This song drifts through the cobwebs of your mind with an endless, restless, bittersweet charm all it's own. Much like a tiny sparrow in a tree; you can always hear it; but rarely see it.
I doubt the phrase is that simple as Paul tended to choose his words carefully. I've wondered at this for many years but never gotten around to more than idly speculating. Something in my sub-conscious keeps returning, but I've not researched it, that "the mighty sparrow" may refer to a revolutionary character such as Vladimir Lenin or even Che Guevara and I wonder who (if anyone), from history, might have perhaps once borne the nickname of "little sparrow", or similar.
@@SebDangerfield-yu7cm I don't know if Paul Weller is religious, and it in no way diminishes my love for the song. The sparrow is mentioned several times in Biblical passages, though. I can't envision a Communist or a Marxist befitting that title. It's just me. Glad to know you enjoy the song too.
@@michaelfranklin4276 Thanks. I didn't know about those references in the bible, you refer to. You may well be right but, given Paul's politically "Left" leanings, I doubt he cares too much for any theology (or didn't, back then). I do know we are are told that Chairman Mao ordered the eradication of sparrows which he blamed for low grain harvests and millions were ignorantly trapped and slaughtered, or had their nests destroyed, which resulted in yet lower crop yields, as those birds which formerly spread seeds across the land were no longer around to do so. Truth was, the original poor harvests were due to a farmer and labourer reluctance to work, only to have the results of such stolen from them by the Communist Party "for the greater good". Now WHERE (and why) have we heard stuff like that spouted, recently? LOL/NOT-LOL As for the song, it's probably my favourite Weller composition, followed by the piano version of "My Ever Changing Moods" although there's almost too many Jam and Style Council tracks I adore, to recount. Glad so many other folk, such as you, like this track, also.
You put that brilliantly - exactly what I thought from the first time I heard this song. Somehow I missed it until just a couple years ago. "My Ever Changing Moods" is one of my 20-all time faves, this from a huge music fanatic. There's something about his hooks and that voice. Brilliant.
He wrote this from his heart about his class. He didn't want the audience His class to undermine what he was trying to say. How do I know ,I spent 4 fuckin hours on a train with him. Terrible passenger ,grumpy bastard ha ha but so so witty at times .
I remember I recorded this concert on VHS when it was shown on TV, probably BBC. Great concert as a whole. I think he dismissed the whole Mod thing around this period, which of course he later embraced again.
Mate..you are so wrong...throughout the whole gig all you could hear is people chanting we are the mods !! They were not prepared to listen to proper music & what Weller had yo say...if you watch money go round from this gig...weller says...this song means more than any tribe or cult !! People just didnt get it & still dont !!!...
Sadly, his opening statement shows that his head was growing up his own backside & surrounding himself with yes men. Yet while in The Jam refused to play English Rose live.🤔
yes on par think about it what other country lost a third of its population because of the behaviour of another ? while these people were starving to death 30 to 50 ships left Ireland every DAY with food produce bound for Britain many historians rightly refer to it as a genocide . By the way im not anti British i just think they should be ashamed of there behaviour not just in Ireland but in every country they robbed .
just love this song and the delivery.. amazing chords, great attitude.. Weller at his best
PW: "i need absolute quiet for this number"! with great meaningful lyrics of this incredible song, paul wanted his audience to listen well. He's truly smart & deep for his age..
Pure genius. So pleased to have seen PW live. Nothing compares.
one of his finest moments...& there have been many
keep the faith
One of my fave S.C. songs. Or should I just say 'Wellers'?.Great live version. That mic really suits his voice...
The best start to a song. Smart and still, unfortunately, relevant decades later.
To not remember would be unfortunate
Calvin Chase But do people care to remember....!
PERFECT WELLER
Probably my favourite artist, I still think he's underrated. Love this song, give me the 80's anyday over the crap of today.
It's that bad today, even the crap would be good
A Weller masterpiece👌
So cool. Social commentary par excellence!
One of its masterpieces.
Short , Sharp , Brilliant !
80's class war, thatcherism and try playin those chords and singing at the same time
Big thing. Iconic peace in mind and heart .
"...the mighty sparrow" genius. This song drifts through the cobwebs of your mind with an endless, restless, bittersweet charm all it's own. Much like a tiny sparrow in a tree; you can always hear it; but rarely see it.
I doubt the phrase is that simple as Paul tended to choose his words carefully. I've wondered at this for many years but never gotten around to more than idly speculating. Something in my sub-conscious keeps returning, but I've not researched it, that "the mighty sparrow" may refer to a revolutionary character such as Vladimir Lenin or even Che Guevara and I wonder who (if anyone), from history, might have perhaps once borne the nickname of "little sparrow", or similar.
@@SebDangerfield-yu7cm I don't know if Paul Weller is religious, and it in no way diminishes my love for the song. The sparrow is mentioned several times in Biblical passages, though. I can't envision a Communist or a Marxist befitting that title. It's just me. Glad to know you enjoy the song too.
@@michaelfranklin4276 Thanks. I didn't know about those references in the bible, you refer to.
You may well be right but, given Paul's politically "Left" leanings, I doubt he cares too much for any theology (or didn't, back then).
I do know we are are told that Chairman Mao ordered the eradication of sparrows which he blamed for low grain harvests and millions were ignorantly trapped and slaughtered, or had their nests destroyed, which resulted in yet lower crop yields, as those birds which formerly spread seeds across the land were no longer around to do so.
Truth was, the original poor harvests were due to a farmer and labourer reluctance to work, only to have the results of such stolen from them by the Communist Party "for the greater good".
Now WHERE (and why) have we heard stuff like that spouted, recently? LOL/NOT-LOL
As for the song, it's probably my favourite Weller composition, followed by the piano version of "My Ever Changing Moods" although there's almost too many Jam and Style Council tracks I adore, to recount.
Glad so many other folk, such as you, like this track, also.
weller is deep.......
THE STYLE COUNCIL : it means council and style. Perfect.
Absolute class!! The laws made for and by the rich!!!
Perfect piece of poetry from weller
You put that brilliantly - exactly what I thought from the first time I heard this song. Somehow I missed it until just a couple years ago. "My Ever Changing Moods" is one of my 20-all time faves, this from a huge music fanatic. There's something about his hooks and that voice. Brilliant.
Weller rules Supreme Modfather reigns Oer me
brilliant... it should be the anthem for every citizen...
stunning
Genius
Absolute wordsmith x
Really brilliant👍🏼
You have to be a really talented and intelligent person to come up with this brilliant song. Paul Weller is peerless. And truly gifted.
One of My fave TSC lyrics.
Great forever
So very proper bossa nova...a slow dreamy samba utterly disguising the powerful political stance~
One word, Contrast!
My North Star forever!
wow!
Genius...
♥️
It's gonna be biblical!
Nice cardie.
He wrote this from his heart about his class. He didn't want the audience His class to undermine what he was trying to say. How do I know ,I spent 4 fuckin hours on a train with him. Terrible passenger ,grumpy bastard ha ha but so so witty at times .
I remember I recorded this concert on VHS when it was shown on TV, probably BBC. Great concert as a whole. I think he dismissed the whole Mod thing around this period, which of course he later embraced again.
Weller went even deeper into mod at this time just took it a step further in his mind it was never about fred Perry's and parkas
Ahh, i remember thinking he was such a bellend asking for complete quiet!! I see why he said it now... 25 years later!!!
Mate..you are so wrong...throughout the whole gig all you could hear is people chanting we are the mods !! They were not prepared to listen to proper music & what Weller had yo say...if you watch money go round from this gig...weller says...this song means more than any tribe or cult !! People just didnt get it & still dont !!!...
@@markplumb3088 The laws are made for & by the rich! And will always still be:-(
@taffytop .... To listen and understand ... Yea ?
Very poignant song ,makes me sad x
yeh, so come on you guys!
The laws are made for & by the rich
Soundtrack for Germinal (Zola)
Just make this happen
deadly
"..is on par with..."
Still fuckin cool
stylagi. everything but the girl 1982
sorry i need absolute quiet for this number! WHY?
taffytop Why not
Because fans kept shouting we are the Mods
anyone know the make of guitar Weller's playing here?
An Epiphone. Great guitars.
Sorry i have been corrected. Its a Hofner
Do you know which model? Thanks.
wood
It's an Aria ProII TA-100 - you can identify it by the headstock.
Sadly, his opening statement shows that his head was growing up his own backside & surrounding himself with yes men. Yet while in The Jam refused to play English Rose live.🤔
You seem to be a serial troll in Weller comments section . Still haven't got over the Jam break up LOL .
...no politics..just minute for music...
But politics effects everything you cant gey away from it
if u come from engerland you ave as much debt as ireland and u are just as bollixed
EB GT Tracey Thorn and the Marine girls enough f****** said or stir log and everything but the g
Has turned in 2a 🐓
yes on par think about it what other country lost a third of its population because of the behaviour of another ? while these people were starving to death 30 to 50 ships left Ireland every DAY with food produce bound for Britain many historians rightly refer to it as a genocide . By the way im not anti British i just think they should be ashamed of there behaviour not just in Ireland but in every country they robbed .
I think it was known as the potato famine