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.
Hearts On Fire
Gavin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Strangers in my head
Keep making me forget
Where I came from
There's madness in eyes
We're too blind to realise
Just what we've done
Just what we've done
I feel it taking a hold
I feel a rush in my bones
For you
I think we're caught in a fight
Can we make it alright
With all these shadows on our backs
How can we take it back and
How can we love with our hearts on fire
Is this enough or are we just burning
Ashes to dust like a funeral pyre
Can we love with our hearts on fire?
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
How can we love with our hearts on fire
Alone between the sheets
Down on these dirty streets
I lost my soul
I lost my soul
Such a losing game again
Between angels and demons
And I feel cold
I feel cold
I think we're caught in a fight
Can we make it alright?
With all these shadows on our backs
How can we take it back?
Oh oh oh, how can we love with our hearts on fire?
Is this enough or are we just burning?
Ashes to dust like a funeral pyre
Can we love with our hearts on fire?
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
How can we love with our hearts on fire?
How can we love with our hearts on fire?
Is this enough or can we go higher?
How can we love with our hearts on fire?
How can we love with our hearts on fire?
How can we love with our hearts on fire?
Is this enough or are we just burning?
Ashes to dust like a funeral pyre
Can we love with our hearts on fire?
How can we talk when the words just won't come out
Too scared to open up our mouths
Will we walk as the flames get higher
How can we love with our hearts on fire?
"Hearts on Fire" by Gavin James is a song about the struggle of maintaining love and relationships in the face of hardship and shadows that threaten to pull us apart. The song describes the difficulties we all face in overcoming our own demons and darkness, and how this can get in the way of true connection and intimacy. The lyrics invite us to reflect on the challenge of loving with all our hearts even when we feel lost, alone or scared. We are reminded that love is not an easy path but rather a journey of facing our fears and vulnerabilities, and growing stronger and more resilient in the process.
The opening lines of the song introduce the idea of "strangers in my head" - voices or thoughts that distract us from our true selves and our purpose. The refrain "how can we love with our hearts on fire" expresses the desire to love passionately and fully, but also the fear of getting hurt or consumed by our own intensity. The verses describe the feeling of being lost or disconnected, and the sense of powerlessness in the face of our own inner turmoil. However, there is also a glimmer of hope, as the song suggests that we can "make it alright" if we face our shadows and our fears with courage and honesty.
Overall, "Hearts on Fire" is a powerful and emotional song that invites us to reflect on the meaning of love and the challenge of opening our hearts fully to ourselves and others. It acknowledges the difficulties we all face in navigating our own inner landscapes, but also suggests that it is possible to find connection and intimacy even in the midst of darkness and struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Strangers in my head
My mind is clouded by thoughts of strangers
Keep making me forget
These thoughts are causing me to lose focus
Where I came from
I am losing sight of my roots
There's madness in eyes
People are acting erratically
We're too blind to realise
We are not aware of the situation at hand
Just what we've done
Our actions may have negative consequences
I feel it taking a hold
I am experiencing an overwhelming sensation
I feel a rush in my bones
My body is reacting to this sensation
For you
This feeling is directed towards you
I think we're caught in a fight
We are struggling in our relationship
Can we make it alright
Can we find a way to repair our relationship?
With all these shadows on our backs
We are burdened by unresolved issues
How can we take it back and
How can we fix what's been broken?
How can we love with our hearts on fire
How can we love passionately without getting burned?
Is this enough or are we just burning
Is our love strong enough to survive or is it fleeting?
Ashes to dust like a funeral pyre
Our love may end in flames
Alone between the sheets
Feeling isolated while lying in bed
Down on these dirty streets
Life is not easy, especially in the city
I lost my soul
I am feeling lost and disconnected
Such a losing game again
This situation is becoming increasingly negative
Between angels and demons
Caught between good and evil
And I feel cold
I am emotionally detached
How can we talk when the words just won't come out
We're struggling to communicate effectively
Too scared to open up our mouths
We're afraid to express ourselves
Will we walk as the flames get higher
Will we stay together as things become more heated?
Is this enough or can we go higher
Can we take our love to the next level?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gavin Charles Wigglesworth, Sam Romans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J Ojeifoh
I've been listening to this song for two years now and I still love it...
Nocturnal Vice
Likewise
Pogamer Ethan
I used to love it then after a year I forgot about it, then today I remembered it’s name and I’m so happy
Caity
Oh my god. I love everything this man puts out. His music makes me so happy. ♥️
Lobi Diz
Amei a musica,é maravilhosa.
Apoorva
This song is beautifully written!😍
PixMasterStudios
Couldn't agree more.
Gavin James
Thanks xx
Ronaldo Jr Pereira
Maravilhosooooo!❤
Sara Jesus
Ronaldo Jr Pereira olá. Bom ver por aqui alguém que fala a minha língua. E ainda por cima gosta de boa música