He got his first taste of the blues when as a young teenager he would stand outside of a club on the southside of Chicago and listen to B.B. "Big Voice" Odum sing with Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues. Eventually, he was allowed to sit in with the band and as the old saying goes, "The rest was history."
At nineteen years old he joined the legendary "Little Milton Band". After playing with Milton for two years, he joined Albert King's Blues Band.
After playing with Albert, he returned to the local scene in Chicago and began to play with many blues bands in the area too numerous to mention.
But, it was his association with the late Johnny Christian that really changed things for him. "Big James" says, "Little Milton gave me my start, but Johnny really turned me loose. He was such a great singer and a major influence on me that I will always be grateful to him.
In 1996, along with fellow sidekick, Charlie Kimble on saxophone "Big James" joined the Buddy Guy's Blues Band. They performed all over the world with the master bluesman, with the highlight being the "House of Blues Barnburner Tour" and a performance on the "Tonight Show" featuring Jay Leno. Also in 1996, The Chicago Playboys rocked the main stage of the Chicago Blues Festival featuring the dazzling Nellie Travis and Phil Guy. Big James has also shared a stage with such performers as; Eric Clapton, George Clinton, & Parliament Funkadelic, Public Announcement, Dan Ackroyd, Larry Coryell & Lou Rawls.
Now lead by "Big James" on trombone and lead vocals, The Chicago Playboys are performing at many of the well known blues clubs in the Chicago area such as: The House of Blues, Buddy Guy's Legends, Famous Dave's in Chicago-Minneapolis & Champagne, Koko Taylors, B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted, Chord on Blues in St. Charles, The Slice of Chicago in Palatine, Porter's Oyster Bar in Crystal Lake and The Up & Under Club in Milwaukee,WI. The horn section has alson been active in the recording studio having recorded several albums with Johnny Christian, Lee "Shot" Williams, John Primer, L.V. Banks, Vance Kelly and on Chico Banks first solo project entitled "Candy Lickin' Man", on Evidence records. "Big James" is featured on lead vocals and trombone on a sizzling arrangement of Magic Sam's "All of Your Love."
"Big James" has recorded 2 solo projects on the independent Jamot Music Label. The first entitled "Funkin' Blues" received rave reviews from musicians, critics and the general public from all around the globe. The newest release entitled "If It Wasn't 4 Da Blues" is proving to follow suit! Be on the lookout for this young and exciting bluesman.
Help
Big James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shake it loose and let it fall
Layin' soft upon my skin
Like the shadows on the wall
Come and lay down by my side
Till the early mornin' light
All I'm takin' is your time
I don't care who's right or wrong
I don't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
Lord tonight I need a friend
Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
The lyrics of "Help" by Big James & the Chicago Playboys evoke a sense of longing and vulnerability. The opening lines, "Take the ribbon from your hair, Shake it loose and let it fall," suggest a desire to let go of inhibitions and be free. The imagery of the ribbon falling softly upon the singer's skin, like the shadows on the wall, adds a sensual and intimate tone to the song.
The chorus, "Come and lay down by my side, Till the early morning light, All I'm takin' is your time, Help me make it through the night," speaks to a deep yearning for companionship and emotional support. The singer is reaching out for someone to be with him through the darkness, seeking solace in their presence. There is a vulnerability and honesty in admitting that all he needs is their time to help him make it through the night.
The following verses touch upon themes of acceptance and living in the present. The lines, "I don't care who's right or wrong, I don't try to understand, Let the devil take tomorrow, Lord tonight I need a friend," convey a willingness to let go of the past and future, focusing only on the present moment. The singer is willing to surrender to the uncertainties of life and finds comfort in having someone by his side, even if just for one night.
Overall, "Help" explores the universal human longing for connection, comfort, and understanding in times of darkness and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the ribbon from your hair
Remove any constraints or expectations imposed by society
Shake it loose and let it fall
Let go of any inhibitions or reservations
Layin' soft upon my skin
Creating a sense of intimacy and connection
Like the shadows on the wall
Symbolizing the fleeting and ephemeral nature of life
Come and lay down by my side
Seeking companionship and closeness
Till the early mornin' light
Until the new day begins
All I'm takin' is your time
Requesting only for the presence and attention of the listener
Help me make it through the night
Asking for support and comfort to overcome difficulties
I don't care who's right or wrong
Not concerned with assigning blame or finding fault
I don't try to understand
Not attempting to comprehend or analyze the situation
Let the devil take tomorrow
Allowing the uncertainty of the future to be dealt with later
Lord tonight I need a friend
Expressing vulnerability and the desire for emotional support
Yesterday is dead and gone
The past is over and cannot be changed
And tomorrow's out of sight
The future is unknown and cannot be controlled
And it's sad to be alone
Feeling the despair and sadness of solitude
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kris Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@spade9164
I had a dream, about Cleo and James, but this time it ain't some happy thing I'm seeing. After watching that clip where Spaecboy trolls NoPixel roleplayers about James death. This one took place where Cleo and James are on the journey together, doing James Randall things, but with this ending, it's different. When James crashed into something and gets into that dead position. Suddenly, Spaceboy made a move by, literally have it real for Cleo to react about his death. Cleo came up laughing at him and such, Spaceboy did this.
Cleo gets the car close and out herself crouching down to James laughing.
"Hahaha, f- you James"
Spaceboy then did
*no sign of life
At first, Cleo was just laughing still and didn't care much and tried to kick his body.
"Yeah old man, wake tf up I know you're still alive"
*no signs of life
"I'm not gonna get trolled again James, you're not gonna do this to me"
*no signs of life
"James...?"
Slowly, Cleo, in character, started to get deeply worried to him. She crouched and tried to RP shake his body in hopes to wake him up.
"James??? Are you there???? You're not actually dead right??? Right???"
*no signs of life
EMS arrived, asking what happened and all, but Cleo doesn't say anything and aggressively shook James's body. The EMS told her to get back in order to check the vitals.
*no signs of life
Even the EMS is trying it's best to rez him up. But with no used at all, their only hopes is reviving him back in the hospital. Cleo was crying deeply to James, in the back of the Ambulance, screaming at James's name over and over, along saying that he needs to wake up, and said his fav stuff to convinced him to wake up.
*no signs of life
As it continues, during that dream, ive only heard her cries only.
Edit July 6th 2022
Oh wait, I remembered the last part what Cleo said to him, and damn, that hits hard for me in my dream. She says while her voice started to go small
"Please... James... Wake up.... Don't leave me...."
@kazreaper1785
Spaceboy is the funniest person on the Nopixel server, and James Randall is the funniest character on Nopixel. In my opinion of course
@Koozul
Funniest part is everyone knows him and reacts with fear. Not only that but despite fearing him, they let him drive everytime.
@baconthedude
@@Koozul well yea. I mean, he has 82 years of experience
@Vscustomprinting
Of course
@silasstoustrup3172
😅😅😊😊😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
@seabastian7996
god damn. the "im not dealing with you tonight" and SB to himself "oh yes you are" as he chasing him down on foot was the golden moment of this video for me.
@solomonleosmith
there absolutely needs to be a television series where some elderly man just creates chaos at every turn he takes without having the slightest clue about his surroundings
@IGoByBeastbb
ummm have you ever heard of mr. Magoo
@kobra2384
@@IGoByBeastbb Damn I used to watch that
@user-ge7vd4in6y
@@IGoByBeastbbor angry grandpa I think it is called