HOPE, I THINK, I KNOW
OASIS
SONGWRITER: NOEL GALLAGHER
COUNTRY: U. K.
ALBUM: BE HERE NOW
LABEL: CREATION RECORDS
GENRE: ROCK/BRITPOP
YEAR: 1997
Be Here Now is the third studio album by
English rock band Oasis,
released on 21 August 1997 by Creation Records.
The album was recorded at multiple recording studios in London, including Abbey Road Studios,
as well as Ridge Farm Studio in Rusper, West Sussex.
According to co-producer Owen Morris, the
recording sessions were marred by arguments between the band members and drug
abuse, and that the band's only motivations were commercial. Although most
tracks retain the anthemic quality of previous releases, the songs on Be Here
Now are longer and contain many guitar overdubs.
Noel Gallagher said this was done to make the album sound as "colossal"
as possible. The album cover features a shot of the band members at Stocks House in
Hertfordshire.
Following the worldwide success of their
first two albums, Definitely Maybe, (1994)
and (What's the
Story) Morning Glory? (1995), the
album was highly anticipated. Oasis' management company, Ignition, were aware of the
dangers of overexposure, and before release sought to control media access to
the album. The campaign included limiting pre-release radio
airplay and forcing journalists to sign gag orders.
The tactics
alienated the press and many industry personnel connected with the band and
fueled large-scale speculation and publicity within the British music scene.
Preceded by the lead single "D'You Know
What I Mean?", Be Here Now was an
instant commercial success, selling faster than its two predecessors, and
became the fastest-selling album in British chart history, and topping the
albums chart in 15 countries. It was the biggest selling album of 1997 in the UK, with 1.47 million
units sold that year. As of 2016, the album has sold eight million copies
worldwide. It has been certified 7× Platinum in the
UK and Platinum in the US, being Oasis' third and final Platinum album in the
country.
While initial reviews for Be Here Now were
overwhelmingly positive, retrospective reviews have been more negative, with
many calling it bloated and over-produced. The band members have had differing
views of the album, with Noel severely criticising it and Liam Gallagher highly praising it, with the latter declaring it his favourite Oasis
album in 2017. Critic Jon Savage would later pinpoint the album as the end of the Britpop movement. In 2016, the album was reissued
with bonus tracks, including a new remix of "D'You Know What I
Mean?".
They're trying hard to put me in my placeAnd that is why I've gotta keep running
The future is mine and it's no disgrace
'Cause in the end the past means nothing
You tell me I'm free
then you tie me down
And from my chains I think it's a pity
What did it cost you to wear my crown?
You don't like me, why don't you admit it?
D'you feel a little
down today?
I bet you ain't got much to say
But you're gonna miss me when I'm not there
You know I don't care, you know I don't care
As we beg and steal
and borrow
Life is hit and miss and this
I hope, I think, I know
If I'll ever hear the names you call
And if I stumble, catch me when I fall
Baby after all,
you'll never forget my name
You'll never forget my
name
You're trying hard to
put me in my place
And that is why I gotta keep running
The future's mine and it's your disgrace
'Cause in the end your past means nothing
I feel a little down
today
And I ain't got much to say
But you're gonna miss me when I'm not there
You know I don't care
You know that I don't care
As we beg and steal
and borrow
Life is hit and miss and this
I hope you think, you know
If you'll ever hear the names I call
And if I stumble, catch me when I fall
Baby after all,
you'll never forget my name
Forget my name
You'll never forget my name
As we beg and steal
and borrow
Life is hit and miss and this
I hope, I think, I know
If I'll ever hear the names you call
When I stumble, catch me when I fall
Baby after all,
you'll never forget my name
Never forget my name
Never forget my name
That's that then.