Simon Wainwright – Vocals/Guitars/Piano & stuff
Rich Huxley – Guitars/Vo… Read Full Bio ↴Simon Wainwright – Vocals/Guitars/Piano & stuff
Rich Huxley – Guitars/Vocals/Piano & stuff
Ed Waring – Keyboards... mainly
Simon Fletcher - Bass, Vocals and stuff
James Hamilton - Brass, vocals and stuff
Gary Stewart - Drums, guitars, vocals and stuff

Hailing from Leeds and born in late 2007, Hope and Social are a band... and soooo much more. 2009 saw the release of their debut "Architect of this Church" to public and critical acclaim. They went on to play at Glastonbury and tour the UK three times that year.

The following few years saw a flurry of releases, tours, festivals and (significantly) a focus on fans' experience. 2010's "April" was released less than a year after their debut album, and featured a Simon Goff on bass and strings. Recorded in 3 months, the album closes with "Eurospin", a song recorded live, with 70 fans as a *wine bottle orchestra* > http://www.hopeandsocial.co.uk/2010/05/17/april-track-10-eurospin-2

Fan involvement continued across their next two albums, "Sleep Sound" and "All Our Dancing Days" - featuring community choirs, and their collaboration with experimental theatre/digital arts company Invisible Flock "Bring The Happy" > http://www.hopeandsocial.co.uk/projects/bring-happy/ saw a national tour, international shows, and an album created around the stories and memories people have of a place.

In 2014, as part of Yorkshire Festival, Hope and Social took on the Tour Of Infinite Possibility > http://www.hopeandsocial.co.uk/projects/tour-infinite-possibility/ - where Hope and Social became "A Band Anyone Can Join" in twelve towns along the route of the Tour de France, teaching 1,200 people to play Hope and Social songs and playing 12 shows in 12 towns in four days. The project culminated in their appearance at the opening ceremony of the Tour de France: Grand Depart. Hope and Social took to the stage with 180 members of the Band Anyone Can Join and played at Leeds Arena to an audience of 10,000 in the arena, and a (speculative) 30,000,000 people worldwide on TV. > https://youtu.be/NstoL1W-wbA?t=1m10s

Gloriously interdependent, and strong proponents of the Pay What You Want model, fan involvement, blue jackets and fun, you can find the band online at.
hopeandsocial.com www.hopeandsocial.com
Music http://music.hopeandsocial.com/
Facebook http://band.to/hopeandsocial
Twitter http://twitter.com/hopeandsocial/
Instagram http://instagram.com/hopeandsocial/

James
Hope and Social Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just picture a penthouse way up in the sky
With hinges on chimneys for stars to go by
A sweet slice of Heaven for just you and I
When we're alone.

From all of society we'll stay aloof
And live in propriety there on the roof.
Two heavenly hermits we will be in truth

When we're alone.

We'll see life's mad pattern
As we view old Manhattan
Then we can thank our lucky stars
That we're living as we are.

In our little penthouse we'll always contrive
To keep love and romance forever alive
In view of the Hudson just over the drive,
When we're alone.

We can thank our lucky stars
That we're living as we are.

In our little penthouse we'll always contrive
To keep love and romance forever alive

In view of the Hudson just over the drive,
When we're alone.

Overall Meaning

The song "James" by Hope and Social is a romantic ballad that paints a picture of a perfect escape from society with a loved one. The lyrics describe a penthouse high above Manhattan with a breathtaking view of the Hudson River. The penthouse is a peaceful and romantic refuge where the two lovers can escape from the hustle and bustle of society and live in seclusion.

The lyrics suggest that the couple will be "heavenly hermits" living a life of propriety on the roof, observing the world below and cherishing their quiet and intimate time together. The song is a celebration of love and the idea that when two people are truly in love, they can find happiness in even the most simple and secluded of settings. The chorus reminds us to appreciate the present moment and the fortunate circumstances that allow us to be living in such bliss.

Overall, "James" is a romantic and dreamy song that highlights the importance of finding peaceful moments with loved ones in a busy and chaotic world.

Line by Line Meaning

Just picture a penthouse way up in the sky
Imagine a luxurious apartment high above, in the sky

With hinges on chimneys for stars to go by
The chimneys have hinges to reveal stars to gaze upon

A sweet slice of Heaven for just you and I
A heavenly haven for only you and me

When we're alone.
But only when we're alone

From all of society we'll stay aloof
We'll distance ourselves from society

And live in propriety there on the roof.
We'll lead dignified lives on the rooftop

Two heavenly hermits we will be in truth
We'll be reclusive like two heavenly hermits in reality

When we're alone.
But only when we're alone

We'll see life's mad pattern
We'll observe the chaotic pattern of life

As we view old Manhattan
While looking at the city of Manhattan

Then we can thank our lucky stars
Then we can express gratitude for our fortune