Gary Jules (born in 1969 in Fresno, California as Gary Jules Aguirre) is an… Read Full Bio ↴Gary Jules (born in 1969 in Fresno, California as Gary Jules Aguirre) is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for his cover of the Tears for Fears song Mad World, which was featured in the film Donnie Darko.

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/

Greetings From The Side
Gary Jules Lyrics

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Keep up conversation
Pick up catch phrase
Lay it down
On the freaky side of town
Don't let me seem so
Don't let me wander too far
Don't let me take too much
I didn't need anything from you

Don't let me seem so
Don't let me feel so down

I know a girl who waits
All her life she's been waiting in shame
Anticipating a change she can't explain

Don't let me seem so
Don't let me feel so down

There's a better way
There's a better way, hey
There's a better way
There's a better way, hey

Keep up competition
Pick up new phrase
Look around
On the freaky side of town
Find me a hero
Find me a chain neither binding nor broken
Name me a new find
A new name
I am not the same

Don't let me seem so
Don't let me feel so

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gary Jules's song "Greetings From The Side" are mysterious and intriguing, with a sense of yearning for something more. The opening lines suggest a desire to keep up the appearance of normality and to use catchphrases to fit in, even on the "freaky" side of town. The singer doesn't want to seem too needy or vulnerable, asking not to be let wander too far or take too much. There's a sense of a deep internal struggle to keep up appearances and maintain a facade of strength.

The chorus repeats the plea to not let the singer seem or feel so down, highlighting the inner turmoil and desperation for connection. The second verse introduces a girl who has been waiting in shame for some kind of change she can't explain. The singer seems to empathize with her, seeing her as a kindred spirit who is also searching for something more.

The final verse has a more hopeful tone, with the singer asking to find a hero and a chain that isn't binding or broken. There's a sense of a desire for freedom and independence, as the singer declares that they are not the same. The repeated refrain of "there's a better way" suggests that despite the struggles, there is hope for something better.

Line by Line Meaning

Keep up conversation
Continue a dialogue with someone

Pick up catch phrase
Acquire a memorable expression

Lay it down
Express something firmly and decisively

On the freaky side of town
In the seedy and unusual part of town

Don't let me seem so
Do not allow me to appear in a certain manner

Don't let me wander too far
Do not allow me to stray too much

Don't let me take too much
Do not allow me to be greedy

I didn't need anything from you
I did not require any assistance from you

Don't let me seem so
Do not allow me to appear in a certain manner

Don't let me feel so down
Do not allow me to feel sad or discouraged

I know a girl who waits
I am acquainted with a girl who is patiently anticipating something