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/)
Of Monsters & Heroes & Men
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feral kids fight over rats, tailed from gutters
Bookie mouth brokers, rotten fruit sellers
Pickpockets, ghost through the crowd
He climbs onto boxes by market stall traders
Toothless and gray haired, thousand yard stare
He had a vision which broke the receiver
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive
Conjuring devils, angels and demons
Only the children see shape to his tone
Laughing and crying, his song fell upon us
We buried his treasure along with his bones
Arms held aloft, away to the sky
Innocent witness, he testified
Drained of his purpose, he falls off the quayside
Absorbed by the ocean, rolled by the tide
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive, we'll survive
Under the power lines which crackle and sparkle
Under the freeway, now, mostly rubble
The hungry still gather to fill up with stories
Of monsters and heroes and men
Under the stars, which prick us and call us
Connect us to hope that perfection's within
Is here on the ground, we're reckless and hopeless
Damned by the slip of a pen
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive, we'll survive
The lyrics of James’s song Of Monsters And Heroes And Men depict a gritty portrayal of a city filled with poverty and desperation. The first verse describes the stray cats with fish heads and feral kids fighting over rats in the gutters. The image is bleak and wild, which is emphasized with the presence of bookie mouth brokers, rotten fruit sellers, and pickpockets ghosting through the crowd.
The song then transitions to the story of a man who stands on boxes by market stall traders with a “thousand yard stare” and a vision that he shares with the children around him. The man conjures devils, angels, and demons with his song, which only the children can see. The lyrics paint a picture of a man deeply troubled by the world around him and trying to reach out to others.
But the story ends with the man drained of his purpose, falling off the quayside and being absorbed by the ocean. The final verse overlays the images of the stars, the moonlight, and the jam jar to speak of the hopelessness that drives the poets and drivers in the city.
Overall, the song is a poignant commentary on the poverty and destruction that can be found in cities across the world. It speaks to the power of music to bring people together, and the tragedy of those who suffer and are lost without it.
Line by Line Meaning
Stray cats with fish heads, feeding their litters
There are roaming cats with fish heads that are hunting for food to feed their offspring.
Feral kids fight over rats, tailed from gutters
Desperate children are scuffling to acquire rats from the gutter to satiate their hunger.
Bookie mouth brokers, rotten fruit sellers
Vendors who sell fruits in a very bad condition are stationed alongside bookmakers.
Pickpockets, ghost through the crowd
Thieves are robbing the crowd of people almost undetectedly.
He climbs onto boxes by market stall traders
The artist is seen climbing over crates amongst the vendors in the market.
Toothless and gray haired, thousand yard stare
He is old, worn-out, and has a cold gaze.
He had a vision which broke the receiver
The singer had a groundbreaking vision that dismantled societal normalcy.
Receiving transmission, surface to air
He is receiving signs from the universe through the airwaves.
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Despite everything, the artist is still in wonder of the artist.
Either way, we'll survive
Regardless, they will make it through this difficult time.
Conjuring devils, angels and demons
The main character is invoking dark and heavenly forces through his words.
Only the children see shape to his tone
Only the young ones can truly comprehend the emotions in his voice.
Laughing and crying, his song fell upon us
Through his song, he made the listeners laugh and cry.
We buried his treasure along with his bones
When he passed away, he took his artistry with him into the grave.
Arms held aloft, away to the sky
Stretching his arms up high, he reaches for the heavens.
Innocent witness, he testified
The artist was an honest witness of the world's hardships.
Drained of his purpose, he falls off the quayside
Deprived of his motivation, he plunges off the pier.
Absorbed by the ocean, rolled by the tide
He was taken by the sea's currents and disappeared from sight.
Under the power lines which crackle and sparkle
Beneath the electrical wires, there are sounds of bursting electricity.
Under the freeway, now, mostly rubble
Below the roadways which are usually congested, now lies ruins of debris.
The hungry still gather to fill up with stories
Despite their hunger, they gather to hear about mythical beings and courageous humans.
Of monsters and heroes and men
These stories revolve around mythical creatures, heroic humans, and the everyday person.
Under the stars, which prick us and call us
Under the night sky, the stars twinkle and beckon to us.
Connect us to hope that perfection's within
The stars connect us to a vision of hope that we might achieve perfection.
Is here on the ground, we're reckless and hopeless
However, on earth, we are careless and without hope.
Damned by the slip of a pen
An unintended mistake has caused us to lose everything.
Rambling poets, manic with vision
Visionary poets are describing their thoughts in a chaotic manner.
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Despite being the ones in control, it feels like someone else is making all the decisions.
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Just like moths are deceived by artificial light, we too are misguided by false truths.
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Similarly, just like a bug in a jar will suffocate, we are desperate and can't breathe.
Either way, we'll survive, we'll survive
Once more, the singer proclaims they will make it through no matter what happens.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JAMES LAWRENCE GOTT, JAMES PATRICK GLENNIE, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mikel Melvin
Stray cats with fish heads, feeding their litters
Feral kids fight over rats, tailed from gutters
Bookie mouth brokers, rotten fruit sellers
Pickpockets, ghost through the crowd
He climbs onto boxes by market stall traders
Toothless and gray haired, thousand yard stare
He had a vision which broke the receiver
Receiving transmission, surface to air
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive
Conjuring devils, angels and demons
Only the children see shape to his tone
Laughing and crying, his song fell upon us
We buried his treasure along with his bones
Arms held aloft, away to the sky
Innocent witness, he testified
Drained of his purpose, he falls off the quayside
Absorbed by the ocean, rolled by the tide
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive, we'll survive
Under the power lines which crackle and sparkle
Under the freeway, now, mostly rubble
The hungry still gather to fill up with stories
Of monsters and heroes and men
Under the stars, which prick us and call us
Connect us to hope that perfection's within
Is here on the ground, we're reckless and hopeless
Damned by the slip of a pen
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive, we'll survive
Mikel Melvin
Stray cats with fish heads, feeding their litters
Feral kids fight over rats, tailed from gutters
Bookie mouth brokers, rotten fruit sellers
Pickpockets, ghost through the crowd
He climbs onto boxes by market stall traders
Toothless and gray haired, thousand yard stare
He had a vision which broke the receiver
Receiving transmission, surface to air
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive
Conjuring devils, angels and demons
Only the children see shape to his tone
Laughing and crying, his song fell upon us
We buried his treasure along with his bones
Arms held aloft, away to the sky
Innocent witness, he testified
Drained of his purpose, he falls off the quayside
Absorbed by the ocean, rolled by the tide
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive, we'll survive
Under the power lines which crackle and sparkle
Under the freeway, now, mostly rubble
The hungry still gather to fill up with stories
Of monsters and heroes and men
Under the stars, which prick us and call us
Connect us to hope that perfection's within
Is here on the ground, we're reckless and hopeless
Damned by the slip of a pen
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Rambling poets, manic with vision
We are the drivers, yet we feel driven
Moths in the moonlight, fooled by a flashlight
Caught in a jam jar, gasping for air
Either way, I'm in awe of you
Either way, we'll survive, we'll survive
bully ruf
On an album that doesn't have a bad track on it, this song (along with Waterfall) is a standout - absolutely awesome song. I can listen to this over and over
paul woolfrey
TOP BAND,TOP VOCALIST,ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.LISTEN FROM DAY ONE AND YOU WILL FIND OUT WHY.
Gareth Lane
Im going to bombard my 18 mth yr old daughter with James as she gets older. Im so scared that Music like this will just pass and fade away after this generation. How many of you James fans are singular in your love as no one around you has the devotion and understanding to get these songs apart from our own souls, You are so lucky if you know someone who knows these songs and loves them the same as you!
elspeff
Down with that plan, min. I will do the same with my own wee girl!
bully ruf
I too truly discovered them around 2 years ago and listened to them exclusively every day for the next year - like you, they became my addiction. I still listen to them now and totally love them, but I have managed to reintroduce other music into my aural diet again - Superb band
K Pas
Gareth Lane James are a class act and I'm off to see them live tonight in Scarborough. Some bands are too good to fade away.
Da Midfielder 3
lolly corns 2020 I’m ten and still listen to James
Demetrios Menos
My first child (daughter) expected to arrive first week of June ;) You will be sure I will follow suit with your plan! My brother shared with me the song Getting Away with It close to 10 years ago and I became obsessed ever since. Anyway, I don't usually post things in general.... Great post lolly.
Robert Pangborn
I came to this by accident while looking up songs by Of Monsters and Men. I'm so glad I did.