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/)
Waltzing Along
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm cured for laughter
Mood swings not sure I can cope
My life's in plaster (in plaster)
May your mind set you free
(chorus: opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
(chorus: opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
These wounds are all self-imposed
Life's no disaster, disaster
All roads lead unto death-row
Who knows what's after
May your mind be wide open
May your heart beat strong
May your mind's will be broken
By this heart-felt song
May your mind set you free (Chorus: Be opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
May your mind let you breathe all of disaster (Chorus: Be opened by the
wonderful)
May your heart lead you on, may your heart lead you on
May your eyes let you see all of disaster
May your heart lead you on, lead you on
(Chorus: May your eyes be opened by the wonderful)
Set you free (Chorus: May your heart lead you on)
Lead you on
In James's song, "Waltzing Along," the lyrics explore themes of hope, self-improvement, and the challenges of life. The opening verse sets the stage for the song's message, emphasizing that help comes when you need it most. The next line, "I'm cured for laughter," could be interpreted as a reference to finding joy and happiness in the face of difficult times. The following line, "Mood swings not sure I can cope," suggests that despite finding relief, the singer is still struggling with their emotional state. The final line of the verse, "My life's in plaster (in plaster)," could be read as a metaphor for being stuck or trapped in a situation that's difficult to escape.
The chorus begins with the phrase, "May your mind set you free," which can be interpreted as a call to action. The next line, "May your heart lead you on," suggests that by following one's heart, they can find a path forward. The line "May your mind let you breathe all of disaster" implies that freedom and growth are possible even in the midst of difficult circumstances. The chorus ends with a repetition of the phrase "May your heart lead you on," which reinforces the song's message of hope and perseverance.
The second verse of the song takes a darker turn, describing wounds that are self-inflicted and implying a sense of fatalism or resignation. The line, "Life's no disaster, disaster," suggests that the singer is trying to reframe their perspective on life's challenges. The following line, "All roads lead unto death-row/Who knows what's after" leaves the listener with a sense of uncertainty and existential dread. The final chorus of the song reinforces the messages of the first, with a focus on opening one's eyes and breaking free from limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
Help comes when you need it most
Assistance arrives precisely when required
I'm cured for laughter
I'm healed by humor
Mood swings not sure I can cope
I'm uncertain how to manage my emotional instability
My life's in plaster (in plaster)
My existence is rigid and inflexible
May your mind set you free
I wish for your thoughts to liberate you
(chorus: opened by the wonderful)
Introduce the chorus: encouraging positivity
May your heart lead you on
I wish for your emotions to propel you forward
May your mind let you breathe all of disaster
I hope that you can overcome any catastrophe with ease
(chorus: opened by the wonderful)
Introduce the chorus again: generate optimism
These wounds are all self-imposed
The scars I bear were inflicted upon myself
Life's no disaster, disaster
Life is not all catastrophic events
All roads lead unto death-row
Every journey ultimately concludes with death
Who knows what's after
Nobody knows what occurs beyond death
May your mind be wide open
I desire for your mentality to be expansive
May your heart beat strong
I wish for your emotions to be robust
May your mind's will be broken
May this fervent song shatter your willful mindset
By this heart-felt song
Through this sincere tune
May your eyes let you see all of disaster
May you have the perception to recognize all calamity
May your heart lead you on, lead you on
May your emotions inspire you to progress continually
(Chorus: May your eyes be opened by the wonderful)
Introduce the chorus once more: instill confidence
Set you free (Chorus: May your heart lead you on)
Release you from constraint; repeat the chorus
Lead you on
Force you forward
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES GLENNIE, LAWRENCE GOTT, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Davidnumber23
Help comes when you need it most
I'm cured for laughter
Mood swings
Not sure I can cope
My life's in plaster
May your mind set you free
May your heart lead you on
May your mind let you be
May your heart lead you on
These wounds are all self imposed
A life's no disaster
All roads lead on to death row
Who knows what's after
May your mind be wide open
May your heart be strong
May your minds will be broken
By this heartfelt song
May your mind set you free
May your heart lead you on
May your mind let you be
May your heart lead you on
May your eyes let you see
May your heart lead you on
May your mind be wide open
May your heart lead you on
Zack C
Help comes when you need it most
I'm cured for laughter
Mood swings not sure I can cope
My life's in plaster (in plaster)
May your mind set you free
(Opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
May your mind let you breathe all of disaster
(Opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
These wounds are all self-imposed
Life's no disaster, disaster
All roads lead unto death-row
Who knows what's after
May your mind be wide open
May your heart beat strong
May your mind's will be broken
By this heart-felt song
May your mind set you free (Be opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
May your mind let you breathe all of disaster (Be opened by the
wonderful)
May your heart lead you on, may your heart lead you on
May your eyes let you see all of disaster
May your heart lead you on, lead you on
(May your eyes be opened by the wonderful)
Set you free (May your heart lead you on)
Lead you on
José Silva
When you are feeling down, try to hear this song. Always beautiful. Thank you James!
Sean Kelly
José Silva wait are you the Jose Silvia? If so, I am grateful to your families work and thank you for continuing it!
kareen strathearn
the bestest band to gfet any1 out of a situation xxx
Matt Brookes
This song is of sublime beauty
Makes you feel happy inside
Words of sadness with a power to make you feel positive about the future. May your heart beat strong
Jim Newcombe
Thank you for explaining it and for informing me of my potential for happiness.
Sebastian O'Halloran
Beautifully put. I couldn’t say it any better.
P K 123
My dad loved this song, not really my cup of tea, but I played it to him on his death bed. Get real comfort listening to it now a few years later, I hope it gave him some solace in his final hours
Tempus Fugit
One of my absolute favourite songs. Such an epic tune.
Nicolas Stagg
Couldn’t agree more!
Davidnumber23
Help comes when you need it most
I'm cured for laughter
Mood swings
Not sure I can cope
My life's in plaster
May your mind set you free
May your heart lead you on
May your mind let you be
May your heart lead you on
These wounds are all self imposed
A life's no disaster
All roads lead on to death row
Who knows what's after
May your mind be wide open
May your heart be strong
May your minds will be broken
By this heartfelt song
May your mind set you free
May your heart lead you on
May your mind let you be
May your heart lead you on
May your eyes let you see
May your heart lead you on
May your mind be wide open
May your heart lead you on