Bitter Sweet Symphony (Song)

Symphonic Rock

7:50 (extended version)

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a song by the English rock band the Verve, from their third studio album, *Urban Hymns* (1997). It was produced by Youth and released on 16 June 1997 by Hut Recordings and Virgin Records as the album's lead single.

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is based on a sample from a 1965 version of the Rolling Stones song "The Last Time" by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. The Verve added strings, guitar, percussion and vocals. They obtained rights to use the "Last Time" sample from the copyright holder, Decca Records, but were denied permission from the Rolling Stones' former manager, Allen Klein. Following a lawsuit, the Verve relinquished all royalties and the Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were added to the songwriting credits. In 2019, after Klein's death, Jagger, Richards and Klein's son ceded the rights to the Verve songwriter Richard Ashcroft.

The music video features Ashcroft walking down a busy pavement in Hoxton, London, bumping into passersby. It was played frequently on music channels and was nominated for several awards. The music video was nominated for Video of the Year, Best Group Video, and Best Alternative Video at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, and stayed on the chart for three months. It was released in the US in March 1998 by Virgin Records America, reaching number 12 on the *Billboard* Hot 100. It was named *Rolling Stone* and *NME* Single of the Year and was nominated for Best British Single at the 1998 Brit Awards. In 1999, it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" is considered one of the defining songs of the Britpop era.

## Lyrics

* '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?