James emerged from their native Manchester in the mid-'80s playing a brand … Read Full Bio ↴James emerged from their native Manchester in the mid-'80s playing a brand of urgent, ringing guitar pop distinguished by Tim Booth's keening, insistent vocals. Booth's dramatic stylings and James' dedication to textured guitars earned the group the designation of "the next Smiths," a connection strengthened by Morrissey's endorsement of the band. By the dawn of the '90s, James shook off these comparisons by embracing acid house, the first of many adventurous left turns the band took over the decades. "Sit Down," an old open-hearted tune re-recorded for the age of "baggy," proved to be their breakthrough, reaching number two in the U.K. in 1991 and becoming an alternative rock hit in the U.S. With its singles "Sound" and "Born of Frustration," Seven consolidated that success in 1992, but it was 1993's Laid that established the group's mature sound. Working with Brian Eno, the group took aural risks that paid off artistically and commercially: the title track became their biggest American hit. From there, James had a flurry of activity in the late 1990s before entering a hiatus in 2001. The band regrouped in 2007, releasing Hey Ma the following year and then settling into a groove where they alternated tours with ambitious album projects such as 2010's two-part The Night Before and The Morning After, as well as 2021's pandemic journal All the Colours of You.
James formed in Manchester in 1982, when Paul Gilbertson (guitar), Jim Glennie (bass), and Gavan Whelan (drums) met Tim Booth (vocals) at Manchester University and asked him to join their fledgling band. During the next year, James became regulars on the local club circuit, and by 1983 they had signed to Factory, releasing their debut EP, Jimone, later that year. Two years later, their second EP, James 2, was released, and Morrissey, the lead singer of the Smiths, publicly endorsed the group, asking them to open for his band. By the summer of 1985, Larry Gott had replaced Gilbertson, and the group signed to Sire Records. Working with producer Lenny Kaye, the group recorded its debut, Stutter, that year, releasing it in early 1986 to generally positive reviews.
Over the next two years, James toured constantly, building up a solid fan base. They released their second album, the folky Strip-Mine, in 1988. The record failed to capitalize on their live following, and the band departed Sire the following year, signing with the independent Rough Trade. On their new label, James released the moderately successful "Sit Down" and the live album One Man Clapping, which climbed to number one on the indie charts. In 1990, Whelan was replaced by David Baynton-Power, and James expanded to a septet with the addition of keyboardist Mark Hunter, violinist Saul Davies, and trumpeter Andy Diagram. The new lineup signed to Fontana Records and released Gold Mother in the fall. Following a handful of minor hit singles, Gold Mother finally became a breakthrough success in the spring of 1991, when a re-recorded version of "Sit Down" -- now boasting a contemporary baggy beat -- climbed to number two on the U.K. charts and became a staple on U.S. modern rock radio. Although the success of "Sit Down" was a blessing, it also was a curse, as the single became all James were known for. The band began to rebel in concert, playing almost nothing but new material, and its next album, 1992's Seven, was perceived as a misguided stab at big arena rock.
For the follow-up to Seven, James stripped away Diagram and worked with producer Brian Eno. The resulting record, Laid, was a quieter, more ambitious album, and it received some of the band's best reviews. While the album was ignored in the U.K., it was an alternative rock hit in the U.S. on the strength of the title track, which became a crossover hit. During the Laid sessions, James recorded another album's worth of experimental music with Eno that was released in the fall of 1994 as Wah Wah. The album received mixed reviews and the group took an extended break throughout 1995, partly due to guitarist Gott's departure. In 1996, Tim Booth recorded a collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) entitled Booth and the Bad Angel, which received generally positive reviews.
With guitarist Adrian Oxaal in tow, James returned in early 1997 with Whiplash, a more straightforward record that was greeted with mixed reviews. Released in 1999, Millionaires, recorded with new guitarist Michael Kulas, was initially released only in the U.K. Their spectacular follow-up, 2001's Pleased to Meet You, was also available only in the U.K. A few months later, frontman Tim Booth announced his departure from the band he founded nearly 20 years before, and James called it quits following a winter tour of the U.K. in December 2001. The break was short-lived, however, as the band re-formed in 2007 and embarked on a tour in support of the double-disc compilation Fresh as a Daisy: The Singles. The following year saw the release of Hey Ma, James' tenth studio album.
The band returned in 2010 with a pair of "mini-albums" called The Night Before and The Morning After, respectively, before late 2011 brought a short, but novel, U.K. tour (the Orchestra of the Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir were their backup bands). In 2012, the lavish and long-awaited box set The Gathering Sound was issued, and included previously unreleased audio material alongside long-unavailable video concert footage. Details of the Max Dingel-produced La Petite Mort emerged in February 2014, and this first post-Mercury studio album was released four months later in June. Dingel then returned to produce their 2016 record, Girl at the End of the World. Written in Scotland and recorded in London, the album was described by the band as "big but personal, abrasive but warming" and "ultimately uplifting." Two years later, James teamed with producers Charlie Andrew and Beni Giles for Living in Extraordinary Times.
During the 2020 pandemic, Tim Booth teamed up with his Topanga Canyon neighbor Jacknife Lee to construct the basic tracks the rest of James completed while in quarantine. The resulting All the Colours of You was released in June 2021.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There are other artists using the same name:
2) James is the vocalist of popular Bangladeshi band Nagar Baul. He was a member of the band Feelings and later formed the band Nagar Baul. James was raised in Chittagong and later moved to Dhaka for his singing career. Stylishly longhaired James--overwhelmingly known as the Nagar Baul (the City Bard), was the pioneer of psychedelic rock in Bangladesh. Originally a lead singer and guitarist, he has always been respected for his solo projects. He became affectionately called Guru by his fans. His tunes were bright and his singing a divergence from the archetypal tunes preferred by the commercial-type directors. His songs expressed love, rage, discontent, frustration, and happiness.
3) A Dutch rapper connected to the Fakkelteitgroep.
4) James Lee - known as James - was a former member of Royal Pirates, a South Korean band. On 2015, he got into an accident that caused him unable to play bass any longer. Hence, he decided to left the band.
James moved back to Los Angeles and decided to release music written post accident in a project called ’the Light EP’ consisted of 5 tracks. (http://jamesleeofficial.com/)
James formed in Manchester in 1982, when Paul Gilbertson (guitar), Jim Glennie (bass), and Gavan Whelan (drums) met Tim Booth (vocals) at Manchester University and asked him to join their fledgling band. During the next year, James became regulars on the local club circuit, and by 1983 they had signed to Factory, releasing their debut EP, Jimone, later that year. Two years later, their second EP, James 2, was released, and Morrissey, the lead singer of the Smiths, publicly endorsed the group, asking them to open for his band. By the summer of 1985, Larry Gott had replaced Gilbertson, and the group signed to Sire Records. Working with producer Lenny Kaye, the group recorded its debut, Stutter, that year, releasing it in early 1986 to generally positive reviews.
Over the next two years, James toured constantly, building up a solid fan base. They released their second album, the folky Strip-Mine, in 1988. The record failed to capitalize on their live following, and the band departed Sire the following year, signing with the independent Rough Trade. On their new label, James released the moderately successful "Sit Down" and the live album One Man Clapping, which climbed to number one on the indie charts. In 1990, Whelan was replaced by David Baynton-Power, and James expanded to a septet with the addition of keyboardist Mark Hunter, violinist Saul Davies, and trumpeter Andy Diagram. The new lineup signed to Fontana Records and released Gold Mother in the fall. Following a handful of minor hit singles, Gold Mother finally became a breakthrough success in the spring of 1991, when a re-recorded version of "Sit Down" -- now boasting a contemporary baggy beat -- climbed to number two on the U.K. charts and became a staple on U.S. modern rock radio. Although the success of "Sit Down" was a blessing, it also was a curse, as the single became all James were known for. The band began to rebel in concert, playing almost nothing but new material, and its next album, 1992's Seven, was perceived as a misguided stab at big arena rock.
For the follow-up to Seven, James stripped away Diagram and worked with producer Brian Eno. The resulting record, Laid, was a quieter, more ambitious album, and it received some of the band's best reviews. While the album was ignored in the U.K., it was an alternative rock hit in the U.S. on the strength of the title track, which became a crossover hit. During the Laid sessions, James recorded another album's worth of experimental music with Eno that was released in the fall of 1994 as Wah Wah. The album received mixed reviews and the group took an extended break throughout 1995, partly due to guitarist Gott's departure. In 1996, Tim Booth recorded a collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) entitled Booth and the Bad Angel, which received generally positive reviews.
With guitarist Adrian Oxaal in tow, James returned in early 1997 with Whiplash, a more straightforward record that was greeted with mixed reviews. Released in 1999, Millionaires, recorded with new guitarist Michael Kulas, was initially released only in the U.K. Their spectacular follow-up, 2001's Pleased to Meet You, was also available only in the U.K. A few months later, frontman Tim Booth announced his departure from the band he founded nearly 20 years before, and James called it quits following a winter tour of the U.K. in December 2001. The break was short-lived, however, as the band re-formed in 2007 and embarked on a tour in support of the double-disc compilation Fresh as a Daisy: The Singles. The following year saw the release of Hey Ma, James' tenth studio album.
The band returned in 2010 with a pair of "mini-albums" called The Night Before and The Morning After, respectively, before late 2011 brought a short, but novel, U.K. tour (the Orchestra of the Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir were their backup bands). In 2012, the lavish and long-awaited box set The Gathering Sound was issued, and included previously unreleased audio material alongside long-unavailable video concert footage. Details of the Max Dingel-produced La Petite Mort emerged in February 2014, and this first post-Mercury studio album was released four months later in June. Dingel then returned to produce their 2016 record, Girl at the End of the World. Written in Scotland and recorded in London, the album was described by the band as "big but personal, abrasive but warming" and "ultimately uplifting." Two years later, James teamed with producers Charlie Andrew and Beni Giles for Living in Extraordinary Times.
During the 2020 pandemic, Tim Booth teamed up with his Topanga Canyon neighbor Jacknife Lee to construct the basic tracks the rest of James completed while in quarantine. The resulting All the Colours of You was released in June 2021.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There are other artists using the same name:
2) James is the vocalist of popular Bangladeshi band Nagar Baul. He was a member of the band Feelings and later formed the band Nagar Baul. James was raised in Chittagong and later moved to Dhaka for his singing career. Stylishly longhaired James--overwhelmingly known as the Nagar Baul (the City Bard), was the pioneer of psychedelic rock in Bangladesh. Originally a lead singer and guitarist, he has always been respected for his solo projects. He became affectionately called Guru by his fans. His tunes were bright and his singing a divergence from the archetypal tunes preferred by the commercial-type directors. His songs expressed love, rage, discontent, frustration, and happiness.
3) A Dutch rapper connected to the Fakkelteitgroep.
4) James Lee - known as James - was a former member of Royal Pirates, a South Korean band. On 2015, he got into an accident that caused him unable to play bass any longer. Hence, he decided to left the band.
James moved back to Los Angeles and decided to release music written post accident in a project called ’the Light EP’ consisted of 5 tracks. (http://jamesleeofficial.com/)
Crescendo
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh it's late it's late it's late show
Oh it's late it's a late it's a late show
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
swallowing me
Bow down, bow down with someone
Bow down, bow down with somewhere
It's It's It's better than me
It's It's It's better than me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
swallowing me
Bow down, bow down with somewhere
Bow down, bow down with someone
It's It's It's better than me
It's It's It's better than me
Oh, it's a late show
it's it's it's a late show
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
Hula-hey-ray
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
Oh it's late it's a late it's a late show
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
swallowing me
Bow down, bow down with someone
It's It's It's better than me
It's It's It's better than me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
swallowing me
Bow down, bow down with somewhere
Bow down, bow down with someone
It's It's It's better than me
It's It's It's better than me
Oh, it's a late show
it's it's it's a late show
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
Hula-hey-ray
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
The lyrics to James's song Crescendo capture a sense of fear and vulnerability, particularly in relation to loneliness. The repetition of "I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me" underscores the depth of this anxiety, while the refrain of "Bow down, bow down with someone/Bow down, bow down with somewhere/It's It's It's better than me" hints at a possible solution: seeking connection with others. The lyrics suggest that the alternative to being swallowed up by loneliness is to bow down in submission to another person or place, perhaps as a way of finding community and support.
The use of repetition throughout the song underscores this sense of panic and desperation, with the phrase "it's late" repeated multiple times to create a mood of urgency. The final section of the song, which consists solely of the phrase "Are you swallowing me?" repeated over and over, creates a haunting sense of repetition that captures the cyclical nature of anxiety and fear.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh it's late it's late it's late show
The singer is emphasizing that it is very late and that a show is happening.
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
The singer expresses fear of being alone and consumed by loneliness.
swallowing me
Repeating the phrase emphasizes the singer's fear of being consumed by loneliness.
Bow down, bow down with someone
The artist suggests that it's better to be with someone rather than alone.
Bow down, bow down with somewhere
The artist suggests that it's better to be somewhere with someone rather than alone.
It's It's It's better than me
Repeating the phrase emphasizes that being with someone is better than being alone.
Oh, it's a late show
The singer reiterates that it's late and there is a show happening.
Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
These repeated syllables serve as a meaningless refrain or interlude.
Are you swallowing me?
The artist questions whether loneliness is consuming them.
Swallowing me
Repeating the phrase emphasizes the artist's fear of being consumed by loneliness.
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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@rezadutamahendra9520
LYRICS
Oh it's late it's late it's late show
Oh it's late it's a late it's a late show
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
Swallowing me
Bow down, bow down with someone
Bow down, bow down with somewhere
It's It's It's better than me
It's It's It's better than me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
Swallowing me
Bow down, bow down with somewhere
Bow down, bow down with someone
It's It's It's better than me
It's It's It's better than me
Oh, it's a late show
It's it's it's a late show
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
I'm afraid of loneliness swallowing me
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Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
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Hula-hey-ray, hula-hey-rey
Hula-hey-ray
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Are you swallowing me?
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
Swallowing me
@wilburfierce5312
The way the vocalist and guitar trade licks pitch perfect at the end is simply brilliant. THE MOST CRIMINALLY OVERLOOKED BAND IN HISTORY. !
@animalchin9601
REALLY THOUGH!!!! I remember hearing a live edition of government walls and just thought why is this band shoved to the bottom of all platforms!!!
@dmbrod1000
Agreed!
@mudman1881
I remember buying this album on tape when it first came out. It was bought on the strength of tracks like Come Home and How Was It For You, but I just fell totally in love with this track and Walking The Ghost they hold so many great memories for me...beautiful!!
@hufclufc
I was arrested for singing this rather loudly at 2.30 on a wed morning in Leicester in 1998
@nmw6674
That sounds like a rite night out! Good call! Bet you weren't singing it when you won the title! More like "Rock n Roll star" I bet! :-) Hope you educated the rozzers!
@rascalw.492
10 years ago.. You still here david ? 10 years 0.o A lifetime lol
@mishatomskovich7103
No accounting for taste. Sing your life without strife
@hufclufc
@@mishatomskovich7103 I think I got arrested coz it was so out of tune!
@stewartmercer19
I know this might sound bollocks. But, in the Blue Moon and On Narborough Road ( huntsman...before it came shite) and up Aylestone Black Swan especially...before the licencing laws came into effect and when we had lock ins. This I was rendering to the drunken arseholes on many occasion.
Now...I just yell it out on Sainsbury carpark when it comes on the ipod whilst I'm shopping on a Saturday Morning....woe is me....