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/
PILLS
Gary Jules Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm still not sleepy
Tried to trick myself into thinking
That I'm not awake
That it's only a dream
Put that cigarette out
Don't ask me no questions
And the shadows on the floor
Look so warm from here
I've seen it all before
Just one little lie
But the difference is this
It meant the world to me
Don't ask me no questions
"Take the wheel" she said "As I wander"
We could leave this town
I've got all I need spirit, hope and joe
But no one knows me
I think I lost my pills
Guess I'll take my chances
I'm looking at the telephone
But nothing happens
I am well aware
That the morning is near
Put that radio down
Don't ask me no questions
In Gary Jules's song Pills, the lyrics explore the theme of insomnia and the desperate measures we take to try and escape the feeling of being awake. The first lines "I've taken all my pills but I'm still not sleepy" suggest that the singer has tried to take medication to help them sleep, but it hasn't worked. They then try to convince themselves that they are only dreaming by not responding to the cigarette and trying to ignore questions. The line "Salome dancing on my wall" could be a reference to the biblical story of Salome, who danced for King Herod to behead John the Baptist. This could suggest a fear of impending doom or a sense of being trapped.
The singer then talks about the shadows on the floor looking warm and having seen it all before but with one little lie meaning the world to them. This could suggest that they have experienced this feeling of insomnia before and that they are holding onto one specific connection that makes them feel alive. The line "Take the wheel" she said "As I wander" could suggest the singer is trying to escape their current situation and somebody else is directing them. This leads to the line "We could leave this town, I've got all I need spirit, hope, and joe, but no one knows me" which suggests that the singer feels trapped where they are and they have the means to leave, but no-one knows who they really are.
In conclusion, the song Pills by Gary Jules explores the theme of insomnia and the desperate attempts we make to try and escape the feeling of being awake. The song is open to interpretation and can evoke feelings of hopelessness or a desire to escape. However, the creative use of imagery and lyrics can draw the listener in and create a powerful emotional response.
Line by Line Meaning
I've taken all my pills
I have consumed all my medication
But I'm still not sleepy
However, it has not brought me any sleepiness.
Tried to trick myself into thinking
Attempted to deceive oneself.
That I'm not awake
That I am not conscious.
That it's only a dream
That presently, it is just a dream.
Put that cigarette out
Extinguish the cigarette.
Don't ask me no questions
Requesting the audience to refrain from asking queries.
Salome dancing on my wall
Imagery of a dance performance on a wall.
And the shadows on the floor
The impressions of people or objects blocking the light on the ground's surface.
Look so warm from here
Appear to be comfortable to observe from a distance.
I've seen it all before
This occurred earlier, and it's familiar.
Just one little lie
Only a minor dishonest statement.
But the difference is this
Nonetheless, the contrast is this.
It meant the world to me
It was of great significance to me.
Take the wheel she said as I wander
While I am aimlessly moving around, she requested me to guide the car.
We could leave this town
It's possible for us to relocate from this location.
I've got all I need spirit, hope, and joe
I possess adequate spiritual, optimistic thinking, and coffee to function.
But no one knows me
Although, there isn't anyone who is familiar with me closely.
I think I lost my pills
I believe that I misplaced my medicine.
Guess I'll take my chances
Perhaps, I will make a gamble about something.
I'm looking at the telephone
I am staring at the phone device.
But nothing happens
But it remains inactive.
I am well aware
I am fully cognizant.
That the morning is near
It's clear that dawn is fast approaching.
Put that radio down
Turn off the radio system.
Don't ask me no questions
Repeating the request to hold back the queries.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BOBBY BURNS, JASON LUTTRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
xLaUltima
this song is so good, can't stop listening to it xx
Colette Bembenek
What a talent! The more I hear of Gary Jules, the more I catch his drift.
Juan Antonio Cruz Ramirez
This isn't talent!
2cats1girl
Always makes me smile.
finsclapping
The middle part really fits the song. I love gary's fingerpicking too. I learned to play Mad World but I never play it anymore. Too down for me. I'd love to be able to play this. But dont know where the tabs are.
Dick Kait
I am a total fan, with Gary Jules' catchy rhythms and the fine musical thoughts that his side dudes bring to this recording. He is real fun, and hope he stays healthy for an entire lifetime (not damn tragedies!).
Wrickage SWE
this was a great song never, heard it before, i love mad world : )
Charles2531
Gary Jules is a talented songwriter. I've noticed that quite a few of his songs sound very similar to early Coldplay songs.
arbitrarynonsense
Very Simon and Garfunkel-esque. I love it!
420relate
I just heard it in that movie too!!! I love this song and I also love "Mad World" thats featured in the movie "Donnie Darko" XO David