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/)
I Know What I
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A trick of light
Then everything returns to the sea
You can have whatever you want
But are you disciplined enough to be free
Turning love into a chore
Promises come cheap dear reader
Follow, follow me
I know what I'm here for
Hanging on through late December
I know what I'm here for
Follow, follow me
Moving on
Don't belong
My life turned into a mall
Every line is in the song
Follow me out of the fall
What an actor, what a show
Going through some holy motions
The bands are sharp but the singers slow
Everything must go
I know what I'm here for
Souvenirs, polygraph tests
Photographs fresh from the wreck
What a poster saint he'll make
In one take, one take
I know what I'm here for
Follow, follow me
The lyrics to James's song "I Know What I'm Here For" are about figuring out one's purpose in life and staying disciplined enough to achieve it. The opening lines, "What a life, a trick of light / Then everything returns to the sea," suggest the fleeting nature of life and the need to make the most of it before it slips away. The following lines, "You can have whatever you want / But are you disciplined enough to be free," imply that true freedom comes from discipline and self-control.
The lyrics then shift to the theme of love, likening it to a chore and suggesting that promises are often empty. The line "Follow, follow me" could be interpreted as a call to action or a plea for others to follow the singer on his journey of self-discovery. The chorus reinforces the idea that the singer knows his purpose, even if it means enduring difficult times.
The second verse continues with the theme of moving forward and not belonging in a world that has become like a mall. The line "Every line is in the song / Follow me out of the fall" suggests that the singer is trying to lead others out of a downward spiral. The following lines about being an actor in a holy show and the need for everything to go could be interpreted as criticism of society's superficiality and desire for perfection.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Know What I'm Here For" are about finding purpose, staying disciplined, and leading others out of difficult situations.
Line by Line Meaning
What a life
Life is a complex and unpredictable phenomenon.
A trick of light
Life can be an illusion, difficult to perceive or understand.
Then everything returns to the sea
Everything in life has a beginning and an end, just like waves returning to the sea.
You can have whatever you want
Life offers endless possibilities and opportunities.
But are you disciplined enough to be free
Freedom requires discipline and self-control.
Turning love into a chore
Love should not feel like a task or obligation.
Promises come cheap dear reader
Words can be meaningless if not followed by actions.
Another page, another door
Life is full of new beginnings and opportunities.
Follow, follow me
Join me on this journey through life.
I know what I'm here for
I have a sense of purpose or direction in life.
Hanging on through late December
Persisting through difficult or challenging times.
Moving on
Letting go of the past and embracing the future.
Don't belong
Feeling out of place or disconnected from one's surroundings.
My life turned into a mall
Life can become a commercialized and superficial experience.
Every line is in the song
Music can express the emotions and experiences of life.
Follow me out of the fall
Join me in rising above adversity and hardship.
What an actor, what a show
Life can resemble a theatrical production, with roles and performances.
Going through some holy motions
Engaging in rituals or traditions without true devotion or sincerity.
The bands are sharp but the singers slow
Some parts of life can be more effective or efficient than others.
Everything must go
Change is a constant aspect of life, and nothing lasts forever.
Souvenirs, polygraph tests
Memories and truth-seeking can both be part of life's journey.
Photographs fresh from the wreck
Even amidst chaos or destruction, beauty and preservation can exist.
What a poster saint he'll make
Some people may become symbols or icons, regardless of who they truly are.
In one take, one take
Life can be unpredictable and spontaneous, occurring in a single moment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN BAYNTON-POWER, JAMES GLENNIE, MARK HUNTER, SAUL DAVIES, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ismail OZAY
One of the James song that felt me so happy after the years..
Doctor, what is happening to me?
Palpitations, my mind's diseased
Even my vision is impaired
I'm losing my hair
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
Lovesick, my temperature's high
Just met a girl who believes we can fly
I'm a bull, not a bear
I'm a millionaire
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
I believe in happiness
I believe in love
I believe she fell to earth
From somewhere high above
I believe in Hollywood
Don't believe that love must bring despair
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
You say love is just a disease
A plague for the naive
These days, no-one believes
Meteors may strike the earth
Nations live and die
I'm the boy who got the girl
And now we're gonna fly
We can cross the race divide
Bridge a gap that wasn't really there
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
I'm gonna hold her in my arms
Just like Fred Astaire
I'm gonna hold her in these charms
Like Fred Astaire
Like Fred Astaire
(My goodness, the water's rising)
Like Fred Astaire
lou9878
Doctor, what is happening to me?
Palpitations, my mind's diseased
Even my vision is impaired
I'm losing my hair
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
Lovesick, my temperature's high
Just met a girl who believes we can fly
I'm a bull, not a bear
I'm a millionaire
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
I believe in happiness
I believe in love
I believe she fell to earth
From somewhere high above
I believe in Hollywood
Don't believe that love must bring despair
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
You say love is just a disease
A plague for the naive
These days, no-one believes
Meteors may strike the earth
Nations live and die
I'm the boy who got the girl
And now we're gonna fly
We can cross the race divide
Bridge a gap that wasn't really there
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
I'm gonna hold her in my arms
Just like Fred Astaire
I'm gonna hold her in these charms
Like Fred Astaire
(My goodness, the water's rising)
Like Fred Astaire
(My goodness, the water's rising)
Like Fred Astaire
Ray Joiner
How the hell can anyone give this musical masterpiece a thumbs down 😲
It's bloody brilliant 🥰
MrTuryn
its just boring ^^
Edward William Morris
If you can't see the excellent mastery of music in this song you are suffering from brain damage. It's superb
Solvej Nielsen
I’m mesmerised ❤
Hare Typer
The moment I realized I was in love with my husband (a couple weeks after we met) was while I was listening to this song for the first time 8 years ago in the car driving to meet him after my friend's wedding where this song was on the wedding favor which was a mix CD made by the groom. My husband died 1 year ago today from cancer at 38 years old. I am thankful I have that moment of realization and feeling preserved in this song forever and am right back in the car driving again every time I hear it. "I believe in happiness, I believe in love, I believe he fell to earth from somewhere high above". I will always miss you and will love you forever. <3
PAUL WADDINGTON
Your post literally made me cover my mouth and shed a tear for your loss..... I cannot imagine how hard it must be.....
Hare Typer
PAUL WADDINGTON Thank you Paul. That is so sweet of you to be so touched by my comment and to admit it publicly. I am sorry it upset you though. It IS very hard, but I'm doing OK... usually. :) Sometimes I can't believe he's gone and reality hits me like a slap in the face. Sometimes I feel like I hate this life without him, but not all the time and there are usually more good days than bad ones now. I try to live my life now being thoughtful of him being proud of what I'm doing. I have a 3 year old son that looks JUST like my husband and for him I'm very thankful. My husband knew he was dying and during that time he told me several times he wanted me to find someone else and remarry when I was able, he was so selfless like that. I love that being human means we are capable of loving many people at the same time and have enough love to go around. Sometimes I can't imagine how hard this is either, but we're forced to be strong when we have to be and either stop living or force ourselves to keep going and do what is scary and uncomfortable and appreciate life and make those that we lose along the way proud by living better- being our best selves. I never understood really the term "live one day at a time" until this last year. It'll never be OK, it'll never be right, it'll never be easy but I choose to be happy and allow love in and that does allow for healing. That's what he wanted and I'm trying to do that, I am doing that :)
Thomas Cook
Just read your post and it brought a tear to my eyes, i also love the line you quoted
Hare Typer
Thomas Cook
Thank you Thomas.
bigtommyt71
What can you say about James..... seriously under-rated, they have done a bucket load of amazing songs like this but never get mentioned. James you guys rock