The verve - bittersweet symphony - Lyrics Meaning

An alternative rock song released in 1997 it was the band's first single to be released, it hit top of the charts 2nd in UK and hitting charts worldwide.

The title 'Bittersweet Symphony' refers to the hardships we all face through life, the times where we're both doing good and bad taking all the unfortunate and fortunate things in life.

The narrator implies often expression in hope for citing music as an important factor in this 'I let the melody shine let it cleanse my mind I feel free now" although the 'bitter' aspect is always sung straight afterwards 'but the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now'.

He realizes he could change for the better now and live life meaningful, if it were just him to him to change he would but the circumstances in life has trapped him limiting his choices, his job, his bills, and his family.

He won't accept it because it's the only life he will have, he's on the verge of breaking and can't take living life without meaning, at his most desperate time he begins to pray for help, he feels it's possible to break free of his mundane life but after his prayer god does not answer and he is back to being trapped.

He has no idea what to do and finds himself just as discouraged and helpless as before. There must be more to life than this ("Vanity, vanity: all is vanity and striving after the wind").