Current members of Blue October include Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, keyboards, and vocals), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion), Matt Noveskey (bass guitar) and Will Knaak (guitar).
Popularized by their platinum-certified album Foiled (2006), which features the hit singles “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean,” the group has continued to evolve… shifting from a far more pensive sound to one that is more optimistic and reflective of lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld’s transformation—which will also be the focus of his soon-to-be-released documentary film, I Want It.
Once known for their stormy dynamic and self-destructive tendencies, Blue October couldn’t be more distinct from the band it once was, which is why their latest studio album, I Hope You’re Happy, looks to push the envelope even further with a whole new approach. Justin Furstenfeld is quoted as saying "I think Blue October should never be limited to the instruments we have in the band. I’m always about bringing in whoever can play what’s best for the song in. I’m also a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, and if you were to him all you can have is a guitarist a bassist and a drummer, he’d go “what?!” That’s how I feel. We took all the tools we had gotten from working all these kinds of people over the twenty-year span and made a really good album and we’re super proud of it. It’s nice and colorful and positive and universally themed. It’s something you can really sink your teeth into and not get sick of. You can always discover little new secrets about it along the way."
Their latest album, I Hope You're Happy, was released on August 17, 2018 on the band's own Up/Down Records label and was produced by Justin Furstenfeld and engineer Eric Holtz.
Previous band members have included Liz Mulally, Brant Coulter, Dwayne Casey, Piper Dagnino, Julian Mandrake, CB Hudson and Matthew Ostrander.
Blue October has an official site www.blueoctober.com/.
For the British band, please see Blue October UK
James
Blue October Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close your eyes
Hit the ground
I want you to, to kneel all day
Alone in this desolate cave
So I said
Scream if you want to
Cause no one is around
To scream all day
'Cause there's eleven words that I've rehearsed to say
And I say
How I love to hate you! (repeat)
You're
Not so brave
When I'm the snake
And you're my prey
Let me tell you I'll eat all day
Alone in this desolate cave
So I say
Squeal if you want to
Cause no
No one is around
I want you to
To squeal all day
'Cause there's eleven words that I've rehearsed to say
And I say
How I love to hate you! (repeat)
James, how I love to hate you
Oh, how I love
How I love to hate you
The song "James" by Blue October is a dark and haunting depiction of a self-destructive and abusive relationship. The singer seems to take pleasure in the power he wields over his partner James, urging him to submit to him and reveling in his own sadistic tendencies. The opening lines describe a scene where James is forced to kneel down and hit the ground repeatedly, while the singer watches with satisfaction. The desolate cave where the action takes place adds to the sense of isolation and helplessness.
The chorus of the song, "how I love to hate you", drives home the twisted nature of the relationship. The singer admits that he hates James, but also acknowledges that he loves the feeling of control he has over him. The repeated reference to "eleven words" that the singer has rehearsed to say suggests that he has a specific plan for what he wants to do to James, and that he takes pleasure in the anticipation of carrying it out. The lyrics also contain references to the singer's predatory nature, telling James that he is not so brave when the singer is the snake and James is his prey.
Overall, "James" is a chilling portrayal of a toxic relationship marked by cruelty and domination.
Line by Line Meaning
Kneel down
Submit yourself to me, show me that you're under my control
Close your eyes
Don't look, don't think, let me take over your senses
Hit the ground
Bow your head, show me your vulnerability
I want you to, to kneel all day
I want you to submit yourself to me for as long as I want
Alone in this desolate cave
We're alone in this dark and isolated place, you can't escape
Scream if you want to
Let out your emotions, but it won't change anything
Cause no one is around
There's no one here to save you, you're helpless
I want you to, to scream all day
I want you to suffer and express your agony for as long as I want
'Cause there's eleven words that I've rehearsed to say
I want to hurt you with these specific words that I've prepared
And I say
How I love to hate you! (repeat)
I get pleasure out of hurting you, I enjoy this twisted relationship
You're
Not so brave
When I'm the snake
And you're my prey
You're only brave when you confront me, but you're defenseless when I attack you
Let me tell you I'll eat all day
I'll consume and destroy you completely, I won't stop until I've drained you of everything
Squeal if you want to
You can make noise, but it won't change your fate
Cause no
No one is around
You're completely alone, no one can hear you
I want you to, to squeal all day
I want to torture you and hear you suffer for as long as I want
'Cause there's eleven words that I've rehearsed to say
I want to inflict pain on you with the specific words I've prepared
And I say
How I love to hate you! (repeat)
James, how I love to hate you
Oh, how I love
How I love to hate you
I'm specifically targeting James with my sadistic tendencies, I take pleasure in hating and hurting him
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BlizzardBeaches
on Congratulations
Spent many nights in 2006 crying myself to sleep listening to this song from Blue October's Foiled album. Although different than the interpreted mean, It helped me realize that often times a relationship is dead long before it's over.