Faded Rock Reviews
Why “Little by Little” is Oasis’ Best Song
— Maybe?
Being a student in the UK between 1992–1996, it was impossible — I mean impossible — not to hear Oasis. Every pub, club, or party I went to, played Oasis.
I preferred Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Guns ‘N Roses. But Oasis were fun, and their songs were catchy. You can say what you want about Noel Gallagher, but he can write songs, that’s for sure.
He’s written some classics. But for me, Little by Little is up there with the best.
Little by Little
Released in 2002 on the album Heathen Chemistry, I remember the song going around in my head for weeks while everyone was saying Oasis were finished.
I couldn’t understand why. It was one of the best songs they’d written. So good, in fact, that it’s still one of Noel’s favourites.
I heard it a few weeks ago on the radio and remembered why I liked the song so much.
One, Noel sings it. Secondly, it actually sounds like an Oasis song, as opposed to a T-Rex song. And three, it’s got a double chorus, which I love.
Verse
It starts off with an acoustic Em-A chord sequence that reminds me of CSNY or the Beach Boys. Or parts of Pink Floyd’s Meddle album.
We, the people, fight for our existence We don’t claim to be perfect but we’re free We dream our dreams alone with no resistance Fading like the stars we wish to be
It’s a pretty slow and whimsical start, and an impatient listener might turn it off. But Gallagher isn’t stupid. He knows people are getting bored. So he slams in the D major chord, and we go into the 1st chorus.
1st Chorus
You know I didn’t mean What I just said But my God woke up on the wrong side of his bed And it just don’t matter now
2nd Chorus
Bang! The full band comes crashing in, and we’re away into classic, uplifting Oasis chorus/anthem territory.
‘Cos little by little We gave you everything you ever dreamed of Little by little The wheels of your life have slowly fallen off Little by little You have to give it all in all your life And all the time, I just ask myself why you’re really here
It’s good stuff, and the only Oasis song that sends shivers down my spine.
Meaning
Does it have one? Does it matter? Probably not.
It’s almost certainly about Liam, his ex-wife, the state of the band, and the world. All rolled into one song.
The video is pretty interesting, though. Actor Robert Carlyle plays a beggar who is half singing the song, except he’s smaller than everyone else. On the other side of the road is Noel, who’s busking the song in a doorway.
Halfway through the song, Carlyle trips up, and is helped to his feet by an angelic, white-clad Liam, who has miraculously appeared in the street watching Noel sing the song he was meant to be singing — maybe?
Towards the end, Carlyle, now a giant, walks off into the countryside like Gulliver on his travels.
This is a live version performed by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, which is great — as it’s slightly faster.
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