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/
No Poetry
Gary Jules Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said the paper to the pen
Something's burning in the attic
That her tongue will not defend
Through the arc of conversation
Past the teeth behind the smile
Down the miracle mile
Paint your eyes and hide the tatters
What's the matter, baby?
Could we go downtown
To the middle of the world?
You were always such a pretty girl
And you told me I was beautiful
"There's no poetry between us"
Said the paper to the pen
"And I get nothing for my trouble
But the ink beneath my skin"
If your clothes are getting weary
And your soul's gone out of style
Blame the the Miracle Mile
And the bottom of the ladder
Paint your eyes and hide the tatters
What's the matter, baby?
I'm coming too
The song "No Poetry" by Gary Jules is a melancholic piece that speaks volumes about the frustrations of love and the breakdown of communication between two people in a relationship. The opening lines "There's no poetry between us, said the paper to the pen" suggest that the two lovers have lost touch with the art of expressing their emotions in a meaningful way, and have become unable to communicate on a deeper level. Instead, they are left with a cold, emotionless relationship that lacks any kind of poetic or romantic connection.
The next line, "Something's burning in the attic that her tongue will not defend" implies that there are unresolved issues between the two lovers that they refuse to confront. This burning sensation represents the passion that was once shared between them, but has now been extinguished due to their inability to communicate. The verse ends with the haunting imagery of "the bottom of the ladder" which underscores the sense of defeat and helplessness that the singer feels.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become increasingly surreal and metaphorical, as if the singer is trying to make sense of the complex emotions he is experiencing. The chorus, which is repeated several times throughout the song, is a plea for the two lovers to reconnect and find their way back to each other. Lines like "Paint your eyes and hide the tatters...What's the matter, baby?" suggest that the singer is willing to put in the effort to save the relationship, even if it means pretending that everything is okay.
Overall, "No Poetry" is a powerful and emotional song about the struggles of love and the importance of communication in maintaining a healthy relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
There's no poetry between us
The connection between us is dead and lifeless, lacking any beauty or passion.
Said the paper to the pen
The paper is personified and speaks to the pen, expressing their mutual dissatisfaction with the lack of creativity and expression in their written words.
Something's burning in the attic
There's a deep, underlying issue or emotion that is causing internal conflict or turmoil.
That her tongue will not defend
She's not willing to express or explain the burning feelings inside her, leaving them unresolved and unsaid.
Through the arc of conversation
As the conversation progresses over time,
Past the teeth behind the smile
Beyond the superficial pleasantries and façade of happiness,
Down the miracle mile
Down the long stretch of road filled with illusions and false promises,
To the bottom of the ladder
To the lowest point or level of one's life or situation.
Paint your eyes and hide the tatters
Put on a brave face and try to cover up the emotional wounds or flaws.
What's the matter, baby?
What's the problem, what's causing you pain or hurt?
Could we go downtown
Can we escape or distract ourselves from our problems by going out and having fun?
To the middle of the world?
To a place where everything else fades away and only the present moment matters.
You were always such a pretty girl
You were always beautiful and desirable in my eyes, but now something has changed.
And you told me I was beautiful
You've complimented me and boosted my ego in the past, but it doesn't change the fact that we have lost something important between us.
And I get nothing for my trouble
Despite my efforts and struggles, I haven't received any reward or improvement in our relationship.
But the ink beneath my skin
The writing and memories we've shared are a part of me, and have left a permanent mark on my life.
If your clothes are getting weary
If you're feeling tired or worn out,
And your soul's gone out of style
And your inner spirit or passion has faded away, lost its flair or appeal.
Blame the the Miracle Mile
Blame the false promises, illusions and distractions that led us to this moment of emptiness and dissatisfaction.
I'm coming too
I am also affected by this situation and am willing to be there for you and work together to improve things.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind