history by the verve

[dirk]

the song history by the verve is taken from lines of a famous poem, what is it and who is it by?

[Aquariel]

It's taken from William Blake's "London".  Although it's not a direct copy of Blake's words, there is a strong similarity between the two!

[tlb]

yeh from william blakes london. been annotating it to death at college and our teacher keeps ravin about it - he also happens to be a verve fan

[Jackanory]

London - a poem by William Blake  

 
I wander thro' each charter'd street,
Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,
In every Infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.

How the Chimney-sweeper's cry
Every black'ning Church appalls;
And the hapless Soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls.

But most thro' midnight streets I hear
How the youthful Harlot's curse
Blasts the new born Infant's tear,
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.

  
 

[Jackanory]

. . . and here are The Verve History lyrics:

 
I wander lonely streets
Behind where the old Thames does flow
And in every face I meet
Reminds me of what I have run from

In every man, in every hand
In every kiss, you understand
That livng is for other men
I hope you two will understand

I've got to tell you my tale
Of how I loved and how I failed
I hope you understand

I've got to tell you my tale
Of how I loved and how I failed
I hope you understand
These feelings should not be in the man

In every child, in every eye
In every sky, above my head
I hope that I know
So come with me in bed
Because it's you and me, we're history
There ain't nothing left to say
When I will get you alone

Maybe we could find a room
Where we could see what we should do
Maybe you konw it's true
Living with me is like keeping a fool

In every man, in every hand
In every kiss, you understand
That living is for other men
I hope you know that I am me so come on
I'm thinking about history
And I'm living for history
And I think you know about me
Cause I am

And one and one is two
But three is company
When you're thinking about the things you do
And you're thinking about the things you do
I want to tell you my tale
How I fell in love and jumped out on my bail
I hope ypu understand there's more in a smile than in a hand
In every sky, in every kiss
There's something that I migght have missed

Why am I going to
A place that now belongs to you
But you were weak and so was I
Let's pick it up, let's even try
To live today, so why not smile
Don't dream away your life coz it is mine
Is that a crime (repeat) this life is mine
The bed ain't made but it's filled full of hope
I've got a skin full of dope
I've got a skin full of dope