Gary Jules attended The Bishop's School in La Jolla, California. Some of his early projects/bands were The Ivory Knights, Our Town Pansies, Woodenfish and The Origin.
Jules started off his solo recording career with the debut Greetings from the Side. Originally released by A & M, this album slipped through the cracks due to neglect on the label's part, and Jules was dropped. In 2001, together with friend Michael Andrews, Gary Jules recorded Trading Snakeoil For Wolftickets. It was from this album that the remake of Tears for Fears' Mad World was subsequently used by Michael Andrews for Donnie Darko.
In December 2003, two years after Donnie Darko was released, Mad World finally reached the charts and became the Christmas Number One in the UK. In early 2004, the song surfaced in the US and Canada.
His most recent album, simply titled Gary Jules was released in 2006. The song Falling Awake from this album was recently used in the season 3 episode Six Days: Part Two of Grey's Anatomy.
Jules' Andrews' arrangement of "Mad World", was recently used in a trailer for the Gears of War for the XBOX 360, it was also used in a few episodes of CSI, Without a Trace, in some episodes of Dead Like Me, in an episode of Jericho, and an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Official Site: http://www.garyjules.com/
Bluefish
Gary Jules Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She will fall on you like weather
You don't hear a thing
But the beating of wings
& the lights go up -
There you are
Standing in the doorway
You say -
Hey rock'n'roll, did you really have to sell your soul
Or were you just playing the fool
That shame is mine,
You know I've done it too
Nineteen's fire & the lighthouses burn out at twentytwo
She will come
To any whispered invitation
Try to send her away
She did not come here to play
She ain't leaving empty handed
And there we are
Here we are
You say time isn't mine to save or to waste
But I might stick around till the seasons change,
Sure
And the fortunate ones will always get to choose
Nineteen's fire & the lighthouses burn out at twenty two
Take care
She will fall on you like weather
You don't hear a thing but the beating of wings
& the lights go out
And there you are
The song Bluefish by Gary Jules is a poignant ballad about the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of change. The opening lines of the song warn the listener to be careful because life can come crashing down like a sudden storm, represented by the metaphor of a falling sky. The imagery of wings beating against the wind creates a sense of chaos and urgency, as if time is fleeting and the end is near.
The verse then switches to a conversation between two people, represented by the singer and a mysterious figure who is smoking a cigarette. The use of the command "take care" is repeated several times throughout the song, perhaps in a warning or a plea for caution. As the conversation continues, the singer asks the figure if they regret their past actions and if they believe in the concept of selling one's soul. The figure admits their shame and the singer expresses their understanding of this feeling.
The chorus of the song returns to the theme of change and the transience of youth. The metaphor of a lighthouse burning out at the age of twenty-two implies that life is short and time is running out. The final verse describes the figure of the woman returning, seemingly unstoppable and inexorable. The singer muses on the nature of time and its inevitability, but also expresses the desire to remain present and endure with time, even if it means weathering the storms of life.
The song is a beautifully crafted mediation on the fragility of life and the ephemeral nature of time. The imagery of the falling sky and the lighthouse burning out at twenty-two capture the fleeting nature of youth and the sense of mortality that accompanies it. The conversation between the two figures adds a personal, introspective element to the song, inviting the listener to consider their own regrets and fears. All in all, Bluefish is a haunting and evocative song that speaks to the universal experience of time passing and the struggle to make meaning in a world that is constantly changing.
Line by Line Meaning
Take care
Be cautious and attentive
She will fall on you like weather
Her presence will have a powerful impact on you
You don't hear a thing
You're unaware of the subtle changes happening around you
But the beating of wings
The sound of something taking flight is the only thing noticeable
& the lights go up -
Suddenly, everything changes
There you are
You find yourself
Standing in the doorway
You're in a transitional state
With a cigarette,
Smoking to ease your anxiety
You say -
You start to speak
Hey rock'n'roll, did you really have to sell your soul
You question if pursuing your passion was worth sacrificing other aspects of your life
Or were you just playing the fool
You wonder if it was all just a fling or a mistake
That shame is mine,
You take responsibility for your actions
You know I've done it too
You empathize with others who have made similar choices
Nineteen's fire & the lighthouses burn out at twentytwo
The passion and ambition of youth fades with time
She will come
She will appear
To any whispered invitation
She can't resist temptation
Try to send her away
You attempt to push her out of your mind
She did not come here to play
She's not here just to have fun
She ain't leaving empty handed
She will gain something from this experience
And there we are
Both of us are present
Here we are
Together
You say time isn't mine to save or to waste
You realize that time is precious and limited
But I might stick around till the seasons change,
You're willing to wait and see what the future holds
Sure
Without a doubt
And the fortunate ones will always get to choose
Luck plays a role in determining the path one takes in life
Nineteen's fire & the lighthouses burn out at twenty two
The passion and ambition of youth fades with time
Take care
Be cautious and attentive
She will fall on you like weather
Her presence will have a powerful impact on you
You don't hear a thing but the beating of wings
You're so focused on her that you're unaware of everything else
& the lights go out
Everything fades into darkness
And there you are
You're left alone to contemplate
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anthony Makarakarn
Love this song.
Zeke Piestrup
@Anthony McCoy True.
MrMoustacheish
Its been about 7 years since I revisited this jam. Far too long.