James won Ireland's answer to the Mercury (the Choice Music Prize for 'Song of the Year') and saw his debut EP ('Say Hello') remain on the Irish chart for over 6 months. This rise and development in his home market has gained James sell-out headline dates and wider support tours with the likes of Lianne La Havas, Beth Orton, Kodaline and Marina & The Diamonds.
A snapshot of this ascent, 'Live at Whelans' is a selection of new and old songs performed in the stripped-back environment of a rapturously-received hometown show. The first track to be lifted from it, 'Nervous', is a pin-drop account of a one-sided relationship: from that initial fear of your first meeting to the gradual realisation, by the end of the song, that perhaps they were never who you thought they were (and it's best to forget about them).
James released his eagerly-anticipated debut album, ‘Bitter Pill’ on March 11th 2016 – having already gone Top 5, been certified Platinum and winner of Choice Music Prize’s ‘Song of the Year’ in his native Ireland in 2013 and 2016. Following a sold-out London show at KOKO, support across Spotify (Spotlight Artists for 2016), Radio 1, Virgin Radio, Beats 1 and Radio X, Gavin had an extensive UK tour, European tour, US tour and Australian dates, that featured Shepherd’s Bush Empire on October 7th 2016 in London and 3Arena on December 2016 in Dublin. Gavin has over 150 million total streams on Spotify already and live performances on Late Late Show with James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel Live, BBC One Show and C’est A Vous.
Bitter Pill
Gavin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I could see it written all over you
Since you already know
That I said, sorry, but I gotta go
And I'll rip these walls apart
And I went and shot an arrow right through your heart
But how those times have changed
I'm sorry that I'm here so late
And please don't turn my heart away
For your love, I can change,
'Cause without you, I'm so hollow
I'm sorry that I let you go
It's only when it's lost you know
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
No, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I guess I played my cards too late
'Cause now my body can't take the weight
And once we flew so high, oh
But now I'm afraid to fly, oh oh oh
I'm sorry that I'm here so late
And please don't turn my heart away
For your love, I can change,
'Cause without you, I'm so hollow
I'm sorry that I let you go
It's only when it's lost you know
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
No, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm sorry that I'm here so late
And please don't turn my heart away
For your love, I can change
'Cause without you, I'm so hollow
I'm sorry that I let you go
It's only when it's lost you know
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
No, oh, oh
No, oh, oh
The song "Bitter Pill" by Gavin James is a heart-wrenching ballad about a person who realizes the mistake they made when they let go of someone they loved. The song begins with the singer acknowledging the tension in the room as they meet with the person they let go. They apologize for their actions and admit that they were wrong. They express their regret and their willingness to change for the person they love. The chorus repeats the apology and expresses a desire to reconcile with the person they lost. The second verse talks about their regret over their actions, admitting that they waited too long to make things right. They compare the pain they feel to taking a bitter pill. The song ends with the singer pleading for forgiveness, again apologizing for their mistakes.
The lyrics are simple, but the emotion behind them is powerful. The singer's regret and longing are palpable, making the song relatable to anyone who has lost the person they love. The imagery in the song, such as shooting an arrow through someone's heart or the bitter pill, add to the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
They came down to the room
Someone entered the room
And I could see it written all over you
You were displaying your emotions clearly
Since you already know
Acknowledging previous communication or understanding
That I said, sorry, but I gotta go
I apologized for leaving but had to go
And I'll rip these walls apart
I'm willing to do drastic things to get your attention
And I went and shot an arrow right through your heart
I hurt you deeply
But how those times have changed
Reflecting on how things are different now
'Cause now you don't remember my name
You have forgotten who I am
I'm sorry that I'm here so late
Apologizing for being late
And please don't turn my heart away
Asking for forgiveness or not to be rejected
For your love, I can change,
Expressing willingness to change for love
'Cause without you, I'm so hollow
I feel empty without you
I'm sorry that I let you go
Regretting having let you go
It's only when it's lost you know
One realizes the value of something when it's gone
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
It's difficult to handle the pain of missing you
No, oh, oh, oh, oh
Vocal expression to accentuate emotion
I guess I played my cards too late
I missed my chance or opportunity
'Cause now my body can't take the weight
Feeling the physical effects of emotional distress
And once we flew so high, oh
Recalling a time of great happiness or achievement
But now I'm afraid to fly, oh oh oh
Fear of failure or rejection
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
It's difficult to handle the pain of missing you
No, oh, oh, oh, oh
Vocal expression to accentuate emotion
I'm sorry that I'm here so late
Apologizing for being late
And please don't turn my heart away
Asking for forgiveness or not to be rejected
For your love, I can change
Expressing willingness to change for love
'Cause without you, I'm so hollow
I feel empty without you
I'm sorry that I let you go
Regretting having let you go
It's only when it's lost you know
One realizes the value of something when it's gone
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
It's difficult to handle the pain of missing you
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
It's difficult to handle the pain of missing you
No, oh, oh
Vocal expression to accentuate emotion
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: GAVIN JAMES, JAMIE SCOTT, SACHA SKARBEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rayesaldro7180
They came down to the room
And I could see it written all over you
Since you already know
That I said, sorry, but I gotta go
And I'll rip these walls apart
And I went and shot an arrow right through your heart
But how those times have changed
'Cause now you don't remember my name
I'm sorry that I'm here so late
And please don't turn my heart away
For your love, I can change,
'Cause without you, I'm so hollow
I'm sorry that I let you go
It's only when it's lost you know
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
No, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I guess I played my cards too late
'Cause now my body can't take the weight
And once we flew so high, oh
But now I'm afraid to fly, oh oh oh
I'm sorry that I'm here so late
And please don't turn my heart away
For your love, I can change,
'Cause without you, I'm so hollow
I'm sorry that I let you go
It's only when it's lost you know
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
No, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm sorry that I'm here so late
And please don't turn my heart away
For your love, I can change
'Cause without you, I'm so hollow
I'm sorry that I let you go
It's only when it's lost you know
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
Seeing you, missing you, such a bitter pill to swallow
No, oh, oh
No, oh, oh
@indie
This is heartbreaking...
@WilliamFinneganGolf
How does this video not have millions of views is really confusing. Great Song!! Great Voice!!
@Bellenger1981
+William Finnegan
I agree. I actually discovered this song on "Now 56" as a bonus track and thought that it deserved to become a huge hit. That still might happen. His album gets a U.S. release in March, and if Capitol is going with "Bitter Pill" as the single, I expect big things for him. Amazing song. If Adele's "Hello" can hit big, so can "Bitter Pill".
@emilywarnick8
+Bellenger1981 same
@ED-wi4sx
Agree.
I too am surprised.
Sounds like a hit to me.
Hopefully it's just a matter of time
@reynardimawan444
We don't need them (one who listen song about fuck, shit, boob, booty, cheat, boose, unstable singer (repeatition in the phrase like i i i ca ca ca can't bla bla bla) because they can't understand value of the song. This is song, not music, song include great lyric.
@zeetzeetmcskeet896
Boy do I have some news for you
@kassandraangrimson9669
IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO FIND THIS SONG ON YOUTUBE!!!!!! I FEEL SO ACCOMPLISHED !!! this song is beautiful, how is it not popular
@brunoricheel3204
deveriam botar esse cara pra fazer o show de abertura da copa da Rússia
@bragesolheim3467
Gavin man, you deserve so much more credit! Love you voice!!!