Verve - Bittersweet Symphony

The Verve negotiated a license to use a five-note sample from an orchestral version of one of the Rolling Stones' lesser hits, "The Last Time," and received clearance from Decca Records. After "Bittersweet Symphony" became a hit single, the group was sued by former Stones manager Allen Klein (who owns the copyrights to the band's pre-1970 songs). He claimed the Verve broke the agreement when they supposedly used a larger portion than was covered in the license, but really he's just a greedy b*****d. You can bet Klein wouldn't have cared less if "Bittersweet Symphony" had bombed.

The Verve layered nearly fifty tracks of instrumentation, including their own string arrangements, to create a distinctly new song. In fact, the song's signature orchestral melody was recorded and arranged by the Verve; the sample from the Stones' track is largely buried under other tracks in the chorus. The band eventually settled out of court and handed over 100 percent of their songwriting royalties because it seemed cheaper than fighting for a legal ruling that might not end in their favour.

Adding insult to injury, Nike were refused permission to use "Bittersweet Symphony" in an advertisment. Nike then aired the ad, after purchasing a licence from Allen Klein.

"The last thing in the world I wanted was for one of my songs to be used in a commercial," the despondent lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft said.

In one final kick in the groin, "Bittersweet Symphony" was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Song category, which honours songwriters. Because the unfavourable settlement transferred the Verve's copyright and songwriting credit to Klein and the Rolling Stones, the Grammy nomination went to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards!

www.theverve.co.uk

Release Date: 16/06/1997

Lyrics

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to 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

Well I never pray
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 airways are clean
And there's nobody singing 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
I can't change
I can't change

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
Try to find some 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 things 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
Can't change my body
No, no, no

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?