Richard Ashcroft’s Best Lyrics: The Verve and Solo

Richard Ashcroft is best known as the frontman and principal songwriter of the Wigan rock band The Verve. His career began in 1992 with the release of The Verve’s first single, “All in the Mind.” The band went on to release four studio albums: A Storm In Heaven, A Northern Soul, Urban Hymns, and Forth. Beyond his work with The Verve, Ashcroft has released seven solo studio albums. In 1998, he received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year, following the critical acclaim of Urban Hymns. Ashcroft’s significant contributions have firmly established him as a legend in British music.

Richard Ashcroft © Ben Whitehurst

Below is a selection of Richard Ashcroft’s most notable lyrics from his distinguished career, presented in no particular order:

Lucky Man

“How many corners do I have to turn

How many times do I have to learn

All the love I have is in my mind”

The Drugs Dont Work

“All this talk of getting old

It's getting me down my love

Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown

This time I'm comin' down”

Music Is Power

“Cause Music is a mad drug, unwinding your head

Music is a question, to things unsaid”

Break The Night With Colour

“I don't wanna know your secrets

They lie heavy on my head

Let's break the night with colour

Time for me to move ahead”

Bittersweet Symphony

“Tryna make ends meet

You're a slave to money then you die”

Sonnet

“Why can't you see

That nature has its way of warning me

Eyes open wide

Looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye”

History

“In every man, in every hand

In every kiss, you understand

That living is for other men

I hope you too will understand”

Love Is Noise

“Love is noise, love is pain

Love is these blues that I'm singing again”

Slide Away

“Because you always do that something

Something I'm not sure of

But just for today

Let go and burn away”

This Is Music

“I stand accused just like you

For being born without a silver spoon”

Find Out Which Song Ashcroft Called a “Depressing pile of shit”

Ellis Douglas
Editor, BritRock Heaven