Her solo career began in earnest in 2002, when a demo version of the song "Finally Woken" was played on the LA radio station, KCRW. The track became one of the most listener-requested songs at the station, landing her in their top 5 played artists, and all prior to any record label being attached. As a result, she signed to Dave Matthews' ATO Records label.
Along with electronic producer Guy Sigsworth (BjΓΆrk, Frou Frou), she wrote the song Nothing Fails, which was later reworked by Madonna and appeared on her 2003 album, American Life.
Jem released the moderately successful EP It All Starts Here in autumn 2003, followed by the debut album Finally Woken in March 2004. The first single They became her most successful single to date, peaking at #6 on UK Singles Charts.
Her second album Down to Earth was released on 16 September 2008, preceded by the single It's Amazing.
Jem's music featured on various movies (Closer, Eragon, Sex and the City, Monster-in-Law, The Prince and Me), trailers (Ultraviolet, Closer), ads (Lexus), and TV series (The OC, Six Feet Under, Gossip Girl, Smallville, 90210).
They
Jem Lyrics
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We follow them like fools
Believe them to be true
Don't care to think them through
And I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry it's like this
I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry, we do this
And it's ironic too
'Cause what we tend to do
Is act on what they say
And then it is that way
And I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry it's like this
I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry, we do this
Who are they?
And where are they?
And how can they possibly
Know all this?
Who are they?
And where are they?
And how can they possibly
Know all this?
Do you see what I see?
Why do we live like this?
Is it because it's true
That ignorance is bliss?
Who are they?
And where are they?
And how do they
Know all this?
And I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry it's like this
Do you see what I see?
Why do we live like this?
Is it because it's true
That ignorance is bliss?
And who are they?
And where are they?
And how can they
Know all this?
And I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry we do this
Jem's song "They" starts off with a lament about the rules that we follow blindly without questioning their validity. The lyrics suggest that we have simply accepted and followed these rules without much thought or consideration. The line "And it's ironic too, 'cause what we tend to do is act on what they say, and then it is that way" highlights the cyclical nature of our behavior, where we're trapped in a loop of following blindly without pausing to question if this is really what we want.
The song then goes on to question who exactly "they" are, and how they have become the authority or experts on these rules that we follow. There is an implicit suggestion that their authority may be unfounded, or that they may not have our best interests at heart. This is further emphasized in the line "And how can they possibly know all this?", which suggests that "they" may be some kind of anonymous or faceless group, who hold power over us in some way.
The final lines of the song suggest that we need to question the status quo, and to stop accepting things blindly. The repetition of the lines "Do you see what I see? Why do we live like this? Is it because it's true that ignorance is bliss?" drive home the message that we need to wake up and start thinking for ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Who made up all the rules
Who created the societal norms and standards that we are expected to follow?
We follow them like fools
We blindly adhere to these norms without questioning their validity.
Believe them to be true
We accept these rules as correct and do not challenge them.
Don't care to think them through
We do not think critically about the values and beliefs that we adopt.
And I'm sorry, so sorry
The artist expresses remorse for the state of conformity they observe.
I'm sorry it's like this
The singer is apologetic for the prevalence and persistence of societal norms.
And it's ironic too
The singer notes an irony in how our behavior contradicts our intentions.
'Cause what we tend to do
We tend to act in ways that align with societal rules and conventions.
Is act on what they say
We behave according to societal norms and standards.
And then it is that way
Our behavior reinforces the very norms that we follow and believe to be true.
Who are they?
The singer questions the origins and authority of societal norms.
And where are they?
The artist questions the location and identity of those who create and enforce societal norms.
And how can they possibly
The singer expresses skepticism about the legitimacy of those who establish societal norms.
Know all this?
The singer questions the validity of societal norms and the extent of their authority.
Do you see what I see?
The singer invites others to question and critically examine societal norms.
Why do we live like this?
The artist questions the rationale and purpose behind adherence to societal norms.
Is it because it's true
The artist speculates that societal norms may be considered true because they are widely accepted.
That ignorance is bliss?
The singer highlights the possibility that people may choose to ignore or not question societal norms to avoid discomfort or inconvenience.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jem Griffiths, Gerard B. Jr. Young, Ward Lamar Swingle, Johann Sebastian Bach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind