James was only 18-years old when he captured the attention of guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan, who marveled at this prodigious guitar talent, and immediately decided to take him on the road through the Canadian prairies, and later the United States. It wasn't long after that the young musician began opening for the likes of John Lee Hooker, ZZ Top, Steve Winwood and Keith Richards, Colin's 1988 self-titled debut Colin James was the fastest-selling album in Canadian music history featuring the smash hits "Why'd You Lie?”, “Voodoo Thing” and “Five Long Years". It featured a team of three top producers, including Tom Dowd (Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers), Danny Kortchmar (Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young) and Bob Rock (Jann Arden, Michael Bublé, Bush, The Cult, Loverboy, Sarah McLachlan, Metallica).
James followed up his record-breaking debut with a strong 1990 release, Sudden Stop, which was produced by Joe Hardy (.38 Special, Steve Earle, The Jeff Healey Band, ZZ Top ). This release has two top forty radio hits: "Just Came Back" and, "Keep On Loving Me Baby", and features Bonnie Raitt singing backing vocals on "Give It Up". This sophomore album further helped established Colin's integrity as an artist to lookout for.
James formed The Little Big Band in early 1990's and would eventually release a trilogy of CDs fronting this 1930's-50's style punchy horn section band, playing classics and originals featuring his stellar guitar fills and confident vocals. The first Colin James and The Little Big Band was released in 1993, and it was produced by Chris Kinsley (The Cult, Duran Duran, Psychedelic Furs, The Rolling Stones). The second Colin James and The Little Big Band II was released in 1998 on Warner Music, while the third, Colin James & The Little Big Band 3 was distributed on Maple Music in Canada and Universal Music Group globally in 2006, and he would eventually do a fourth with the band, a holiday album Colin James & The Little Big Band Christmas.
In 2008 he took home three Maple Blues Awards (Toronto Blues Society), which included Entertainer of the Year, while his release Limelight also went gold in Canada.
James released his twelfth album Rooftops and Satellites on October 6th, 2009, and it was a return to his guitar Blues-Rock roots. The album was primarily co-written by Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond) and Thomas "Tawgs" Salter, co-writer and producer of Lights' debut and Josh Groban's Awake, and it has generated four Canadian radio singles, “Man’s Gotta Be A Stone”, “Lost Again”, “Wavelength” and “Johnny Coolman.”
2011's 'Take It From The Top: The Best Of’ pays tribute to James's career's first 23 years and serves as a celebration of Colin’s return back where he started his recordings, Virgin/EMI. This Greatest Hits collection also features two newly recorded tracks, “It’s Gonna Be Alright“ as well as an innovative cover of the Buddy Miles' classic “Them Changes”, that were recorded in Vancouver with veteran producer Bob Rock (Michael Bublé, Metallica), reuniting the two after almost twenty years.
On June 12th, 2012, James released his fifteenth album, appropriately entitled Fifteen, which was produced by Joe Hardy (ZZ Top, Brooks & Dunn, Jeff Healey, Steve Earle), who had handled three of Colin's previous album productions including his successful sophomore release. Colin co-writes with Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar, Grady) on the opener “Sweets Gone Sour” and the rocker “I Need You Bad.” Colin also re-teamed with Tom Wilson and Thomas “Tawgs” Salter on four high-octane tracks, including the bluesy “No Time to Get There” and the driving “Stone Faith,” the album’s first single.
Fifteen also features two beautiful co-writes with Ron Sexsmith that reveal Colin’s seductive side: “Finally Wrote a Song for You”, a soulful love ballad; and “Shoulder to Cry On,” a moving acoustic number that highlights his vocal range, while closing the album. The disc also features some inspiring covers, including John Lennon's "Jealous Guy", Peter Green's (Fleetwood Mac) "Oh Well", [artis]Foy Vance’s gospel-tinged “Shed A Little Light,” and Allen Toussaint's funky "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley", which has perhaps become best known by Robert Palmer's cover.
On February 3, 2015, James released Hearts On Fire which was produced by Colin Linden at House of Blues Studios in Nashville, and this twelve track collection is distributed by Universal Music. The title track and all but two of the songs were written or co-written by Colin.
In 2016, James was named an inductee into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame presented by FACTOR (The Canadian Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings). In addition to this honour, Colin headlined the Western Canadian Music Awards Show at Casino Regina on October 13th, 2016, kicking off BreakOut West’s 14th year of celebrating Western Canada’s talent.
James's studio album Blue Highways features thirteen Classic Blues covers from guitar-hero greats like Blind Willie McTell, Freddie King, Peter Green, and Robert Johnson. The CD was released on October 16th, 2016. Recording and Production was primarily handled in Vancouver by Colin James and Dave Meszaros, with recording and mixing assistance from Eric Mosher, Chris Stringer and Jason Jaknunas. Blue Highways is being distributed by True North Records, and iTunes.
Over his illustrious career, James has earned 16 Maple Blues Awards, and he has worked and toured with the 'who’s who' in the international music scene (in alphabetical order): Luther Allison, Jann Arden, The Chieftains, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Tom Dowd, Buddy Guy, Johnny Hallyday, John Hammond Jr., Gordie Johnson, Albert King, Bobby King and Terry Evans, Danny Kortchmar, Lenny Kravitz, Little Feat, The Memphis Horns, Craig Northey, Bill Payne, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Bob Rock, The Rolling Stones, Roomful Of Blues, Carlos Santana, Mavis Staples, Roebuck "Pops" Staples, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Wilson, Betty Wright and ZZ Top. In addition to writing most of his own material, his music has been covered by artists like Maria Muldaur, Johnny Halliday and Lucinda Williams.
You & Whose Army
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have left me off the guest list
And the show is on
I guess its time to leave the scene
Apparently they just can't see
A spiraling situation
No hint of hesitation here
You an whose army's gonna drag me down
Me down today
You an whose army's gonna drag me down
Me down today
No one, no one, no one
Burning tires and gasoline
Have clouded up my disappearing memory
What we once knew is almost gone
I'm falling out of touch
It never meant this much before
You an whose army's gonna drag me down
Me down today
You an whose army's gonna drag me down
Me down today
No one, no one, no one
(Yeah)
You and whose army's gonna
Drag me down, today
Nothing can harm me
You can say what you want to say
You and whose army's gonna
Drag me down
The lyrics to Colin James's song "You and Whose Army" suggest a feeling of being disenfranchised and ostracized from a group or movement. The use of the phrase "fatalistic pacifist" indicates an individual who has given up hope for change and is resigned to a passive acceptance of their position in society. The singer of the song seems to be attending an event or gathering, but has been left off the guest list by those in charge. The use of the phrase "spiraling situation" suggests a feeling of chaos and confusion surrounding the events taking place.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more ominous, with mentions of burning tires and gasoline clouding the singer's memories. It's unclear whether these are literal or metaphorical, but they suggest a feeling of intense emotional turmoil. The chorus repeats the phrase "you and whose army's gonna drag me down," which appears to be a challenge to those in power or control. The use of the phrase "no one, no one, no one" suggests a feeling of isolation and being alone in one's struggle.
Overall, the lyrics of "You and Whose Army" suggest a feeling of disenfranchisement and isolation in the face of a chaotic and oppressive world. It seems to be a call to action, challenging those in power and urging listeners to stand up for themselves and their beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Fatalistic pacifist
Someone who believes that events are inevitable and unavoidable, but also believes in the importance of peacefulness, does not consider me important enough to be included in their plans.
Have left me off the guest list
I have not been invited to participate in the activities or events that the fatalistic pacifist is planning.
And the show is on
The events that the fatalistic pacifist has planned are already in motion.
I guess its time to leave the scene
It seems like the situation is not in my control, so I should remove myself from it.
Apparently they just can't see
The fatalistic pacifist cannot or chooses not to recognize my worth or my right to be included.
A spiraling situation
The events are forming a spiral pattern, and are becoming more complex and difficult to manage.
No hint of hesitation here
There is no indication that anyone involved in the events is unsure or hesitant about what they are doing, even if it is causing harm.
You an whose army's gonna drag me down
Who, exactly, do you think has the power to harm me?
Me down today
In this moment, I am most vulnerable, but I refuse to be defeated.
Burning tires and gasoline
Violent methods of protest are causing destruction and chaos.
Have clouded up my disappearing memory
The traumatic events are making it difficult for me to remember important details.
What we once knew is almost gone
Our shared way of life, beliefs, and/or shared goals are almost completely lost or changed beyond recognition.
I'm falling out of touch
I'm losing my connection to people, goals, or the current events, which is causing me to feel isolated or unsupported.
It never meant this much before
This is the highest level of significance or emotional intensity that I have ever experienced in relation to the current events or relationships.
No one, no one, no one
There is no one with the power to bring me down or defeat me, regardless of how tough things get.
(Yeah)
An interjection which serves to emphasize the previous statement in a casual way.
You and whose army's gonna
Who do you think actually has the ability to harm me or stop me from reaching my goals?
Drag me down, today
Today, more than ever, there should be no doubt that I am a force to be reckoned with, despite any perceived threats or obstacles.
Nothing can harm me
I am resilient and capable of handling whatever comes my way.
You can say what you want to say
My self-assurance is not reliant on the praise or opinions of others, no matter how negative or critical they may be.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP SELWAY, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS YORKE, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind