Craving
James Bay Lyrics

Walking through the traffic on a Monday
The singer is describing their mundane routine of walking through town on a weekday.

In the town I grew up
The town is familiar to the singer because they grew up there.

Shelter from the rain in every doorway
The town offers very little in terms of protection from the rain, except for doorways.

It's dark and everyone's numb
The surroundings are dark and lifeless, with everyone going through the motions.

Kids are making faces in the bus lane
The artist is observing some kids goofing around, but nobody seems to notice.

But nobody looks up
The people around the singer seem to be closed off and disconnected to the world.

Everyone's life the same as yesterday
The singer is expressing the monotony of everyday life and how little things change.

Just like the ticking of clocks
Time seems to move very slowly and predictably in this town.

And I'm craving, craving, craving something I can feel
The artist is longing for something tangible and real to break up the monotony.

Where do I go what do I need?
The artist is unsure of what exactly they are craving or how to fulfill that desire.

Is it ecstasy or is it fear?
The singer is contemplating whether the feeling they're searching for is rooted in pleasure or pain.

Am I on my own am I even close?
The artist is questioning if they are alone in their search or if others feel the same way. They also wonder if they are close to finding what they crave.

'Cause I'm craving, still craving something I can feel
The singer reiterates their desire for a tangible sensation to break free from the monotony.

Never thought the night could get so lonely
The singer reflects on how even the night, typically a time for adventure, can feel empty and solitary.

Til she called me up
The singer receives a phone call, possibly from someone they had been waiting to hear from.

Never thought these streets could've outgrown me
The town that the artist once felt comfortable in now feels unfamiliar, like it has outgrown them.

I guess it wasn't enough
The artist realizes that what they previously had in their life no longer satisfies them.

So I put my faith in everyone around me
The singer turns to others in their life for guidance and support.

Then she sold all my stuff
Someone close to the singer betrays them, causing them to lose control and possessions.

Sheer and wild abandon, that's all I need
The artist fantasizes about the freedom and recklessness that comes with letting go completely.

And someone I can trust
The artist also recognizes that they need someone they can count on to be there for them in this time of confusion.

Take me far from streets and roads
The artist wants to escape the familiarity of their surroundings for something new.

Lead me out in the night
The singer seeks an adventure that takes them out into the nighttime.

Don't show me the way back home
The artist doesn't want to go back to the same old routine, but instead wants to keep moving forward.

'Cause I
The singer is affirming their determination to continue searching for what they crave.

Yes I'm craving, craving, craving something I can feel
The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the singer's desperate yearning for a tangible sensation.

Craving something I can feel
The title and final line of the song further reinforces the singer's need for something real and tangible to break up the monotony of their life.

Oh, craving something I can feel
The repetition of the phrase again in a more emotive tone indicates the depth of the artist's longing.