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/)
Ring The Bells
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wake the town
Everyone is sleeping
Shout at the crowd
Wake them up
This anger's deeper than sleep
Got to keep awake to what is happening
I no longer feel my God is watching over me
Got to tell the world we've all been dreaming
This is not the end, a new beginning
I no longer feel my God is watching over me
Break break the code
Concentrate
Let the doors swing open
See through all your walls
All your floors
Now you're in deeper than sleep
Got to keep awake to what is happening
I can't see a thing through my ambition,
I no longer feel my God is watching over me
Got to tell the world we've all been dreaming
This is not the end, a new beginning
I no longer feel my God is watching over me
When you let me fall
Grew my own wings
Now I'm as tall as the sky
When you let me drown
Grew gills and fins
Now I'm as deep as the sea
When you let me die
My spirit's free
There's nothing challenging me
"Ring the Bells" by James is a song about waking up and realizing the truth about the current state of the world, and the singer's personal ambition. The opening lines of the song, "Ring ring the bells, wake the town, everyone is sleeping, shout at the crowd, wake them up, this anger's deeper than sleep," is a call to action. The singer wants to awaken the people who are oblivious to the world's problems and who are content in their own little bubble. These lines depict the singer's frustration with society, and their need to publicly broadcast their message to make people aware of what's happening around them.
The next stanza, "Got to keep awake to what is happening, I can't see a thing through my ambition, I no longer feel my God is watching over me. Got to tell the world we've all been dreaming, this is not the end, a new beginning, I no longer feel my God is watching over me," suggests that the singer is consumed by their ambition and is oblivious to what's happening around them. They feel disconnected from their spiritual beliefs and the world. The singer is urging people to stay aware of what is happening around them, to stop dreaming and take action to create a new beginning.
In the last stanza, "When you let me fall, grew my own wings, now I'm as tall as the sky. When you let me drown, grew gills and fins, now I'm as deep as the sea. When you let me die, my spirit's free, there's nothing challenging me," the singer speaks about finding their own strength in the face of adversity. They are suggesting that when people try to bring them down, they only end up making them stronger. The singer's spirit is free and nothing can challenge them, as they have overcome various obstacles in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ring ring the bells
Sound the bells to awaken the town and its inhabitants.
Wake the town
Rouse the people from their slumber.
Everyone is sleeping
The people are not aware of important events occurring around them.
Shout at the crowd
Yell and scream to capture the attention of the people.
Wake them up
To make the people become more conscious of their surroundings.
This anger's deeper than sleep
The feeling of anger runs deeper than the natural need for sleep.
Got to keep awake to what is happening
It is crucial to remain aware and informed of current events.
I can't see a thing through my ambition
The artist's ambition has clouded their judgment and perception.
I no longer feel my God is watching over me
The artist's faith and belief in higher power has diminished.
Got to tell the world we've all been dreaming
The people have been living in a false reality, and it is important to inform them of the truth.
This is not the end, a new beginning
The current situation should not be seen as the end, but rather the start of a new chapter.
Break break the code
Decipher and analyze the secrets and hidden meanings.
Concentrate
Focus and pay close attention.
Let the doors swing open
Allow yourself to become more open-minded and receptive.
See through all your walls
Remove any barriers preventing you from understanding the truth.
All your floors
Explore and question everything around you.
Now you're in deeper than sleep
You have become fully immersed and invested in discovering the truth.
When you let me fall
When the singer was let down or disappointed before.
Grew my own wings
The singer learned to become self-reliant and grow without the help of others.
Now I'm as tall as the sky
The artist has reached new heights, both metaphorically and literally.
When you let me drown
When the artist was allowed to suffer and struggle on their own.
Grew gills and fins
The artist adapted and learned to survive in their difficult situation.
Now I'm as deep as the sea
The singer has become more introspective, philosophical and profound.
When you let me die
When the artist believed they had reached their lowest point.
My spirit's free
The singer has gained a sense of spiritual freedom and liberation from their past struggles.
There's nothing challenging me
The singer has overcome their past obstacles and is ready for whatever comes next.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LAWRENCE GOTT, JAMES PATRICK GLENNIE, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Therenegadeaussie
Ring, ring the bells
Wake the town
Everyone is sleeping
Shout at the crowd
Wake them up
This anger's deeper than sleep.
Got to keep awake to what is happening
I can't see a thing through my ambition,
I no longer feel my God is watching over me
Got to tell the world we've all been dreaming
This is not the end, a new beginning
I no longer feel my God is watching over me.
Break, break the code
Concentrate
Let the doors swing open
See through all your walls
All your floors
Now you're in deeper than sleep.
Got to keep awake to what is happening
I can't see a thing through my ambition,
I no longer feel my God is watching over me
Got to tell the world we've all been dreaming
This is not the end, a new beginning
I no longer feel my God is watching over me.
When you let me fall
Grew my own wings
Now I'm as tall as the sky
When you let me drown
Grew gills and fins
Now I'm as deep as the sea
When you let me die
My spirit's free
There's nothing challenging me.
Snakusyo
I'm so glad The X-files introduced me to this song over 20 years ago. It's amazing when I think about it. For over twenty years I've been listening to a song that I heard in a TV show. The first time I heard this was (I think) 1999 when I was really young. It helped me through my teenage depression (I suffer from a mild case of autism). It helped me when I felt lost as a father. Through changes I had to make in life, like moving far away from my family and friends. Through getting a diagnose for a chronic disease. Through being cheated on and eventually through divorce. It was always hard for me to connect with my feelings, and especially of those around me. This song helped me in many ways. I owe so much to this one song, which is something I never thought I'd say. Thank you James for giving me something I can share with thousands of people for years to come.
MrRjnr
Listen to Robert Plant's first few solo albums too
Duskys3rd Eye
My first time hearing the song a few moments ago , in the same exact x-files as you🤘🏽 Been getting hooked to the show for weeks now
meking yup
Same here! I heard this song in the X-Files episode about 20 years ago, and have loved it ever since. I think about that episode every time. This song really spoke to me about my beliefs and how I coped with trauma. It's amazing to know that there is a community of people connected in this weird niche way.
Lisa B
Me too
Kalle Neumann
Same here, xFiles S3E3 🖖
Martin
I almost forgot this song existed, but like many others I was recently watching an old X-Files episode and instantly recognised it as a James track. I then remembered I even had a copy of the track on the original tape album, so had to dig it out of the loft as soon as I could; now it's rightly back in my regular playlist. One of my favourite James tracks, personally a very underrated group as shown by the low viewing figures for the video. For me it's one of those great tracks that you can play and play again on repeat.
Markdiob
xfiles is how I learned about this song, I have been playing it since, Jack Black was in that one
Special NK
In 94 or 95 me, my three brothers and a group of friends went to see James do a warm up gig in Torquay before they played a huge show at Milton Keynes, that gig is still one of the, if not the greatest I ever had the pleasure to see.
Esther76
I just re-discoverd some of your songs. I loved this one 30 years ago, and here we are, in 2023 and I still LOVE it!! Brilliant! Just as Tomorrow, Born of frustration, etc.. Thanks for the great music! ❤