Since 2005, and prior to his participation in The X Factor, he was a vocalist and guitarist in a number of bands, and later, as a solo artist as well as forming his own The James Arthur Band and James Arthur Project.
Arthur was born in Middlesbrough, England to English mother Shirley Ashworth and Scottish father Neil Arthur. James’ father was a delivery driver, but also used to be a DJ and a drummer for many years. Arthur’s parents split when he was just two-years-old and each settled with a new partner. Neil and Shirley were not on talking terms with each other for more than twenty years. But they agreed to attend the show together in a family reunion to attend their son’s performance.
Arthur first went to Ings Farm Primary School in Redcar, North Yorkshire. When he was nine, he moved with his mother Shirley and his step father Ronald Rafferty to Bahrain where he studied at the local British School of Bahrain for four years. When they split, Arthur, then 14, had to move back with his mother and his two half-sisters Jasmine and Neve to the UK to live in a modest house in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.Upon his return, he continued his studies at Redcar’s Rye Hills School.
Arthur has five siblings, an older brother called Neil Arthur, an older sister called Sian Arthur, and three younger sisters, Charlotte Arthur and Jasmin and Neve Rafferty.
Arthur has been writing and recording songs since he was 15 as an unsigned artist both solo and in many bands including:
Moonlight Drive - a Cleveland-based progressive, experimental, rock five-piece band with Arthur in lead vocals. The band was active between 2005 and 2008. They had recordings such as «Said You’d Be There», «Hole in My Heart» and «Tear Me Apart».
Cue the Drama - an alternative rock band based in Marske-by-the-Sea and active between 2005 and 2008. Recordings included «On the Radio 98KUPD», «It’s Killing Me», «I Reach You» and «It Hurts».
Save Arcade - a Middlesbrough alternative rock band made up of Arthur (vocals, guitar), Josh Brown (keyboards, vocals), Matthew Green (guitar), Alex Beer (bass, vocals), Travis Shaw (guitar, percussions, vocals) and Karl Dowson (drums). In 2009, the band released a three-track EP called Truth, carrying the title track «The Truth», as well as «Echoes» and «I Un-Proudly Present». In June 2010, the band released a five-track EP, Tonight We Dine in Hades, which in addition to the title track «Tonight We Dine in Hades» included «Superhero», «You Always Want a Fight», «Juliet Is Not Dead» and «She Aims to Please». Both releases were on the independent 57 Records UK.
Emerald Skye - a four-piece indie pop/rock band formed in March 2011 based in Redcar / Saltburn-by-the-Sea and made up of Arthur (guitar, vocals), Dean Harrison (piano, violin), Paul Gill (bass) and Save Arcade bandmate Green (drums).
Arthur also uploaded many of his own songs to Soundcloud and YouTube including an album entitled Sins by the Sea. In 2011, he auditioned for The Voice UK and made it into the final 200 contestants but no further.
In early 2012, he recorded songs and released two EPs as The James Arthur Band. The band consisted of Arthur (vocals and guitar), Jez Taylor (guitar), Chris Smalls (keyboards), Jordan Swain (drums) and Rich Doney (bass). In 2012, the band released The EP Collection CD with nine tracks with R&B, soul and hip hop influences, a compilation of tracks on both EPs. Arthur also released an EP named Hold On under the name The James Arthur Project in August 2012 in collaboration with John McGough. The tracks were written and arranged by McGough, and mixed by Matt Wanstall with all vocals by Arthur.
Arthur auditioned for The X Factor with an acoustic rendition of judge Tulisa Contostavlos’s «Young», before explaining his past, including spells in care and time spent on the streets after break-ups within his family. He also revealed his father and mother had not spoken to each other for over 20 years, and this was a reunion of sorts for them to attend his audition. After his judges’ houses performance of «I Can’t Make You Love Me», he was picked by his mentor Nicole Scherzinger as one of the 12 contestants for the live shows, and one of just three in the «Boys» category. After the second live show, Arthur suffered from an anxiety attack backstage. Whilst being treated at the studio, paramedics determined he did not need to go to hospital, and he was ordered back to his hotel to rest. He later returned for the results show the following. Arthur was in the bottom two in week 7 after performing «Can’t Take My Eyes Off You». He sang «Fallin’» for survival against Ella Henderson, with the judges going to deadlock after their vote was evenly split 2-2 (mentor Scherzinger and Gary Barlow voting to keep him, while Contostavlos and Louis Walsh voted in favour of Henderson). Arthur was then saved by the public vote. On 8 December, he made it through to the second night of the live finals.
Arthur won The X Factor on 9 December 2012, with 53.7% of the vote, against Jahméne Douglas who received 38.9% of the vote.
Quite Miss Home
James Arthur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're careful not to let the smoke inside
I always tell you it's poison
But I know it helps you take the edge off the day
We get a drink before it's closing time
The one on high street with the blinking sign
All these memories feel poignant
I won't be there to see the snow melt away
Oh
Yeah, I been gone on business
I gotta make some money
I really feel the distance
And I quite miss home
And I miss you telling me
To leave my shoes at the door
'Cause you just swept the floor
And the dirt drives you crazy
Yeah, I quite miss home
'Cause it feels like poetry
When the rain falls down on the window
While you're in my arms
And we're watching the TV
Yeah, I quite miss home
Yeah, I quite miss home
I smell you cooking from the living room
And then I tell you that I love your food
I know it doesn't come easy
But you know it reminds me where I'm from
Whoa
I'm in another city
I got nobody with me
And it just really hit me
That I quite miss home
And I miss you telling me
To leave my shoes at the door
'Cause you just swept the floor
And the dirt drives you crazy
Yeah, I quite miss home
'Cause it feels like poetry
When the rain falls down on the window
While you're in my arms
And we're watching the TV
Yeah, I quite miss home
Yeah, I quite miss home
And I quite miss home
Yeah, I miss you telling me
To leave my shoes at the door
'Cause you just swept the floor
And the dirt drives you crazy
Oh, I just miss home, no, no
'Cause it feels like poetry
As the rain falls down on the window
While you're in my arms
And we're watching the TV
Oh, I miss home
Yeah, I quite miss home, no
Oh, I quite miss home
Yeah
Yeah, I quite miss home
James Arthur's song "Quite Miss Home" depicts a longing for one's home and loved ones. The lyrics describe scenes between two people, one of whom is away on business, while the other remains at home. The first verse opens with the individual who is back at home, smoking outside the kitchen while the other person is inside. Despite being asked not to smoke inside, the "I" concedes that it helps the other take the edge off the day. The second half of the verse talks about getting a drink before the bar closes, creating poignant memories. The chorus focuses on the hook, "I quite miss home" and the singer's longing for their loved one's everyday habits, like asking them to remove their shoes before entering the house, sweeping floors, and cooking food.
The second verse amplifies the feelings of homesickness, intensifying the distance as the singer is alone in another city. The final repetition of the chorus has a building emotional quality, with James Arthur emphasizing his feelings with high notes and power. The song's overall message is clear - despite the allure of fame and fortune, there is still a calling to return to the comforting memories of home life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the kitchen while you smoke outside
I am currently in the kitchen area while you are outside smoking
You're careful not to let the smoke inside
You are being cautious to ensure that no smoke enters the house
I always tell you it's poison
I always caution you that smoking is harmful
But I know it helps you take the edge off the day
However, I am aware that smoking offers some alleviation to your day-to-day stress
We get a drink before it's closing time
We usually grab a drink before the bar closes
The one on high street with the blinking sign
We go to the bar on High Street with the blinking neon sign
All these memories feel poignant
All of these memories evoke a strong sense of sentimentality
I won't be there to see the snow melt away
Unfortunately, I will not be present to witness the snow melting away
And I miss you telling me to leave my shoes at the door
I long for the moments when you remind me to take off my shoes before entering the house
'Cause you just swept the floor and the dirt drives you crazy
You cleaned the floors recently and the idea of dirt on them unsettles you
And it just really hit me that I quite miss home
The realization has just struck me that I really miss my home
And it feels like poetry when the rain falls down on the window while you're in my arms and we're watching the TV
It feels very poetic when we are cozy together watching television and the rain is falling against the window
I smell you cooking from the living room
I am able to smell the food you are cooking from the living room area
And then I tell you that I love your food
I express my love for the food you cook
I know it doesn't come easy
I understand that it requires dedication and effort on your part
But you know it reminds me where I'm from
However, you should know that your cooking reminds me of my roots and upbringing
Oh, I just miss home, no, no
I just simply miss home
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Arthur, Michael James Ryan Busbee, Scott Harris Friedman, Brett Leland McLaughlin, Ryan Patrick Daly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sriwahyuningsih9389
lyrics :
I'm in the kitchen while you smoke outside
You're careful not to let the smoke inside
I always tell you it's poison
But I know it helps you take the edge off the day
We get a drink before it's closing time
The one on high street with the blinking sign
All these memories feel poignant
I won't be there to see the snow melt away
Oh
Yeah, I been gone on business
I gotta make some money
I really feel the distance
And I quite miss home
And I miss you telling me
To leave my shoes at the door
'Cause you just swept the floor
And the dirt drives you crazy
Yeah, I quite miss home
'Cause it feels like poetry
When the rain falls down on the window
While you're in my arms
And we're watching the TV
Yeah, I quite miss home
Yeah, I quite miss home
I smell you cooking from the living room
And then I tell you that I love your food
I know it doesn't come easy
But you know it reminds me where I'm from
Whoa
I'm in another city
I got nobody with me
And it just really hit me
That I quite miss home
And I miss you telling me
To leave my shoes at the door
'Cause you just swept the floor
And the dirt drives you crazy
Yeah, I quite miss home
'Cause it feels like poetry
When the rain falls down on the window
While you're in my arms
And we're watching the TV
Yeah, I quite miss home
Yeah, I quite miss home
And I quite miss home
Yeah, I miss you telling me
To leave my shoes at the door
'Cause you just swept the floor
And the dirt drives you crazy
Oh, I just miss home, no, no
'Cause it feels like poetry
As the rain falls down on the window
While you're in my arms
And we're watching the TV
Oh, I miss home
Yeah, I quite miss home, no
Oh, I quite miss home
Yeah
Yeah, I quite miss home
@jamesarthur
Wow such a great response to the video, glad you guys are liking it. Loving the comments ❤️
@niamh3568
James Arthur I love you
@tottenhamedits422
Lol you’re not verified.
Simon is...
@niamh3568
Tomathy Mossop grow up
@tottenhamedits422
Sugma a 😂
@KathleenMcVarish
I know! Spectacular! Only one day up and 603 THOUSAND views!!! 😍💖👍 James Arthur, rightfully so.... YOUR SOARING!
"I quite miss YOU!" (In America!)
Long Live the King~!
@mariaxandramonforte5488
I miss my mom more after hearing this. I hope she's proud of what I am becoming
@kellytladi6299
crying at this song and i dont know why.. i have this heavy feeling of nostalgia... for an easier life
@TrvisXXIII
Same girl, same 😔
@chelleobenne
Lol same there