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/
Serpent-In-Claw
Gary Jules Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Making your way through the opening
Corduroy princes and pretty things
Quietly turning away
Leaning
Into the arms of your city life
Glorious stars in a shitty sky
Don't you know you are the only one
Serpent-in-claw
Don't you know you are the coolest kid
Serpent-in-claw
And I won't let them get you down
Everyone knows
Where everyone goes
Where everyone knows the words
But you
Laid back
Drunk at the wheel of a foreign car
Nobody wondering where you are
Fixing your hair anyway
And they will never touch you
Serpent-in-claw
Don't you know you are the only one
Serpent-in-claw
Don't you know you are the coolest kid
Serpent-in-claw
And I won't ever let them get you down
And they will never touch you
The lyrics of Serpent-In-Claw describe a person who is quietly navigating their way through life, surrounded by both beauty and decay. The first verse paints a picture of someone making their way through a crowd of people ("corduroy princes and pretty things"), but remaining somewhat separate from them ("quietly turning away"). The second verse describes this person as leaning into the arms of their "city life," finding solace in the glittering stars amid a "shitty sky."
The chorus addresses the person directly, calling them a "serpent-in-claw" and telling them that they are the "coolest kid." This is likely meant as a term of endearment or admiration, emphasizing the individuality and strength of character possessed by this person. The singer promises to protect them from those who would try to bring them down, emphasizing their uniqueness and value.
The final verse continues this theme of independence and self-assurance, portraying the person as laid-back and carefree, "drunk at the wheel of a foreign car." There is a sense that they are untouchable, and that the singer - and by extension, the listener - should be inspired by their strength and resilience.
Overall, the lyrics of Serpent-In-Claw seem to celebrate the beauty and value of individuality in a world that often rewards conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
Breathing,
Existing and surviving in this world
Making your way through the opening
Navigating into unknown territories
Corduroy princes and pretty things
The materialistic allure of the world
Quietly turning away
Disregarding that superficiality and moving on
Leaning
Relaxing into the comfort of your city life
Into the arms of your city life
Embracing the familiarity of urban living
Glorious stars in a shitty sky
Finding beauty in an otherwise bleak world
Glimmer in perfect decay
Appreciating the fleeting beauty of life
Don't you know you are the only one
Realizing your individuality and uniqueness in this world
Serpent-in-claw
Having the power and control to handle any challenge
Don't you know you are the coolest kid
Recognizing your self-worth and confidence
And I won't let them get you down
Promising to protect and uplift oneself from external negativity
Everyone knows
Society and those around you may seem to have it all figured out
Where everyone goes
Following the crowd is the norm
Where everyone knows the words
The expectations and limitations set by society are deeply ingrained
But you
Breaking free from those societal expectations as an individual
Laid back
Relaxed and carefree
Drunk at the wheel of a foreign car
Taking risks and living on the edge
Nobody wondering where you are
Being independent and not seeking approval from others
Fixing your hair anyway
Paying attention to personal style and aesthetics
And they will never touch you
Being in complete control and untouchable by external forces
Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.