Blunt was educated at Elstree School, Woolhampton, then Harrow School (where he received his nickname 'Blunty'), and finally the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Before the release of his album, Blunt was a commissioned officer in the British Army, rose to the rank of Captain and served as a NATO peacekeeper in Kosovo. He was also on duty for the funeral of the Queen Mother on 9th April, 2002.
He is currently signed to Linda Perry's American label Custard, and became the first British artist to top the American singles chart in nearly a decade when his first single from Back to Bedlam, "You're Beautiful", reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006. The last British artist to do so had been Elton John in 1997 with the song Candle in the Wind.
His second album, All The Lost Souls, was released on 17th September 2007.
His third album, Some Kind of Trouble, was released on 8th November 2010.
Year active 2004- present
I Really Want You
James Blunt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Many clerics wasted wine
Do the bloodied sheets
On those troubled streets
Mean I have wasted time?
Are there silver shores on paradise?
Can I come in from the cold?
I killed a man in a far away land
I really want you to really want me
But I really don't know if you can do that (I really want you)
I know you want to know what's right
But I know it's so hard for you to do that (I really want you)
And time's running out as often it does
And often dictates that you can't do that (I really want you)
But fate can't break this feeling inside (now)
That's burning up through my veins
I really want you
I really want you
I really want you
Now
No matter what I say or do
The message isn't getting through
And you're listening to the sound
Of my breaking heart
I really want you
I really want you
Is a poor man rich in solitude?
Or will mother earth complained?
Did the beggar pray for a sunny day
But lady luck for rain
They say a million people bow and scrape
To an effigy of gold
I saw life begin
And the ship we're in
And history unfold
I really want you to really want me
But I really don't know if you can do that (I really want you)
I know you want to know what's right
But I know it's so hard for you to do that (I really want you)
And time's running out as often it does
And often dictates that you can't do that (I really want you)
But fate can't break this feeling inside (now)
That's burning up through my veins
I really want you
I really want you
I really want you
Now
No matter what I say or do
The message isn't getting through
And you're listening to the sound
Of my breaking heart
No matter what I say or do
The message isn't getting through
And you're listening to the sound
Of my breaking heart
In โI Really Want You,โ James Blunt struggles to convey his affection towards his desire, but feels like the message isn't getting through. Blunt's poetic lyrics are intricate and full of complex emotions. The opening verses begin with a nod to religion โ the concept of prophets and clerics โ and introduces the idea of wasted opportunities. The lyrics also pose a question about what determines an individual's richness, whether it be material or spiritual.
Later, Blunt's lyrics shift focus to a personal confession but leaves the details up to interpretation. The line "I killed a man in a faraway land, my enemy untold" can be seen as a personal wartime experience or an abstract confession of an unknown wrongdoing. But this chilling line holds the clue to Blunt's desire for redemption and forgiveness.
In the chorus, Blunt expresses his desire for mutual affection and love but feels like the message isn't getting through. The line "Time's running out, as it often does and often dictates that you can't do that" suggests that timing plays a crucial role in a relationship's success. Blunt's tone is vulnerable yet determined, making the chorus a compelling expression of an almost universal desire to be loved and valued.
Overall, "I Really Want You" is a thoughtful reflection on the complex emotions and ideas that are often difficult for people to articulate. Blunt's ability to weave together abstract concerns with personal experiences creates a lyrical depth that is both expressive and communicative.
Line by Line Meaning
I really want you
The singer desires the love and attention of the person they are addressing
I really want you
Reinforcing the intensity of the singer's desire
Many Prophets preach on bended knees
Religious leaders often advocate passionately
Many clerics wasted wine,
Religious leaders often partake in excess, perhaps without accomplishing their goals
Do the bloody sheets and those troubled streets mean?
The artist is questioning the meaning or significance of violence and chaos in the world
I have wasted time,
The singer feels they have lost time or opportunities in life
Are there silver shores on paradise?
The singer wonders if paradise exists and if it is everything they imagine it to be
Can I come in from the cold?
The artist seeks warmth, both physically and emotionally
I killed a man in a far away land
The artist may be confessing to a past sin or expressing guilt
My enemy untold
The identity or nature of the artist's enemy is unspecified
No matter what I say or do
The singer feels as though their efforts are futile
The message isn't getting through
The artist's attempts to communicate their love and desires are going unheard
And you're listening to the sound
The person the singer is addressing is aware of the pain and heartbreak the singer is experiencing
Of my breaking heart
The singer is experiencing emotional pain and heartbreak
Is a poor man rich in solitude?
The singer is considering the concept of wealth and whether it is measured solely by material possessions
Or when mother earth complained
The artist is using personification to suggest that the earth may be experiencing pain or hardship
Did the beggar pray for a sunny day but
Even someone with very little may wish for something beyond their means or grasp
Lady luck for rain
Luck may come in unexpected or paradoxical forms
They say a million people bow and scream
The singer is considering the power of a collective and the influence of mob mentality
To an effigy of gold
The object of the worship is ultimately meaningless or trivial
As so life begin
The beginning of life and the meaning of existence are mysteries
And the ship we're in
The artist is acknowledging that they and their addressee are in the same boat or facing similar struggles
And history unfold
The course of human events and how they shape the present and future are unpredictable
I really want you to really want me
The artist is expressing the intensity of their desire for the other person's affection and attention
But I really don?t know if you can do that (really want you)
The singer is uncertain whether their love can be reciprocated
I know you want to know what?s right
The singer suggests the addressee is searching for answers or guidance
But I know so hard for you to do that (really want you)
The singer acknowledges that it may be difficult for the other person to understand or follow their heart
Time's running out as it often does
The artist is aware that time is fleeting and may be running out on their opportunity for love
And often dictates that you can't do that (really want you)
External factors may be preventing the addressee from reciprocating the artist's love
Fate can't break this feeling inside
The singer believes their love is stronger than any outside force or obstacle
That's burning up through my veins...
The intensity of the singer's love is consuming them
Now...
Emphasizing the immediacy of the artist's desire and need for love
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Blount
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Snapped Dragon
Man,he sings exactly as it comes from the CD.
Manuel Castillo
Sometimes better than the CD
Hugo Gonzalez
Excelente voz , transmite todo el sentimiento en cada una de sus canciones :D
wily Badass
muy buen unplugged temas q no se puede dejar de escuchar y una voz previligiada
Florinda Hitomi Otubo
Jan/2021 linda canรงรฃo e o visual mais bonito de james blunt.
Lillian Khan
James Blunt is my spirit animal โ๐
ean_nae
Awesome quality... James at his best.... swoooon! TQSM for sharing!!! 2 thumbs up!
OkiBidou
where does these videos come from please? on DVD? very good quality!
Valerio Borrelli
fantastic song
Peter Corris
Superb, simply Superb