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
No Bravery
James Blunt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Arms outstretched and to the sky
Tears drying on their face
He has been here
Brothers lie in shallow graves
Fathers lost without a trace
A nation blind to their disgrace
Since he's been here
And I see no bravery
No bravery
In your eyes anymore
Only sadness
And I see no bravery
No bravery
In your eyes anymore
Only sadness
Only sadness
Houses burnt beyond repair
The smell of death is in the air
A woman weeping in despair says
He has been here
Tracers lighting up the sky
It's another family's turn to die
A child afraid to even cry out says
He has been here
And I see no bravery (no bravery)
No bravery (no bravery)
In your eyes anymore
Only sadness
And I see no bravery
No bravery
In your eyes anymore
Only sadness
There are children standing here
Arms outstretched and to the sky
But no one asks the question why
He has been here
Old men kneel to except their fate
Wives and daughters cut and raped
A generation drenched in hate says
He has been here
And I see no bravery
No bravery
In your eyes anymore only sadness
And I see no bravery
No bravery
In your eyes anymore
Anymore
Anymore
Anymore
And I see no bravery
No bravery
In your eyes anymore
Only sadness
And I see no bravery
No bravery
In your eyes anymore
Only sadness
Only sadness
The song "No Bravery" by James Blunt discusses the tragedy and heartache that war brings to innocent people, particularly children. The beginning of the song paints a stark picture of a war-torn country with images of children standing with their arms outstretched and tears drying on their faces. The song then goes on to describe the shallow graves of brothers who have been killed, fathers who have disappeared, and a nation that is blind to their own disgrace.
As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more graphic and tragic - houses burned beyond repair, the smell of death in the air, weeping women, and families dying. The singer of the song speaks directly to the soldiers, pointing out their lack of bravery and the sadness that is now present in their eyes.
The final verse mentions the acceptance of fate by older men, wives and daughters being cut and raped, and an entire generation being drenched in hate. The song closes with a sad and poignant reminder that the bravery of the soldiers is gone, replaced only by sadness.
In summary, "No Bravery" is a powerful and emotional song that shines a light on the cost of war, particularly to innocent civilians. The song is a plea to soldiers to consider the human cost of their actions and to find the bravery necessary to work for peace.
Line by Line Meaning
There are children standing here
There are innocent children who are present and witnessing the atrocities of war.
Arms outstretched and to the sky
The children are pleading for help and a way out of a hopeless situation.
Tears drying on their face
The children have been crying, but have been unable to find any solace or comfort.
He has been here
The presence of the enemy is the cause of the destruction and suffering of the innocent.
Brothers lie in shallow graves
Many young men have lost their lives in this conflict, and their families are left grieving.
Fathers lost without a trace
Many fathers have been taken away from their families, and are either missing or have been killed.
A nation blind to their disgrace
The nation responsible for the conflict is either ignorant or indifferent to the suffering of those affected.
Since he's been here
The destruction and death toll has been a result of the presence of the enemy.
I see no bravery
Despite the struggles and hardships, there is no sign of true bravery, only sadness and resignation.
In your eyes anymore
There is no hope or ambition left in those fighting and suffering through the conflict.
Only sadness
The emotions that remain are only ones of sorrow, regret, and despair.
Houses burnt beyond repair
The conflict has caused irreparable damage to people's homes, both physically and emotionally.
The smell of death is in the air
The violence and loss has left a somber and haunting atmosphere.
A woman weeping in despair says
Even individuals who are not directly involved in the conflict are unable to avoid the pain and suffering it has caused.
Tracers lighting up the sky
There is always a constant reminder of the danger and destruction taking place in the form of explosive lights.
It's another family's turn to die
The violence and killing is an endless cycle that only adds to the pain of those who survive.
A child afraid to even cry out says
The fear and trauma of the conflict has even silenced the voices of the most innocent among us.
No one asks the question why
The underlying causes and motivations for the conflict are not being acknowledged or addressed.
Old men kneel to except their fate
Even those who have lived through more peaceful times are unable to escape the suffering caused by the conflict.
Wives and daughters cut and raped
The violence of the conflict has caused unspeakable pain and suffering to women and girls.
A generation drenched in hate says
The trauma and loss of the conflict has fueled a new generation with bitterness, anger, and pain.
Anymore
This situation has gone on long enough, and needs to be addressed and resolved.
Anymore
The pain and loss of the conflict is too much to bear any longer.
Anymore
The hopelessness of the situation is overwhelming.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: James Blount, Sacha Skarbek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind