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
Smoke Signals
James Blunt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pass me by
And I've used up
My supplies
Out of water
Out of hope
Can't make fire
Only smoke
Here I am alone in silence
Cast away on a desert island
A traveller in an ocean lost at sea
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you
The sun comes up, the sun goes down
Wonder if I'll
Ever be found?
Here I am alone in silence
Cast away on a desert island
A traveller in an ocean lost at sea
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you
In "Smoke Signals," James Blunt sings about being stranded on a deserted island, out of supplies and alone. He describes his desperate situation and the despair that comes with the realization that he may not survive. He sends out smoke signals in a desperate attempt to catch someone's attention and be rescued. Blunt also expresses his love and need for someone, as they are the only one who could save him.
Blunt vividly describes his situation, using imagery such as being cast away on a desert island and a traveler lost at sea. He conveys a sense of loneliness and hopelessness, as he has started to lose faith in his chances of survival. The repetition of "smoke signals in the night sky" highlights his desperation, as he hopes his message can be seen by someone passing by.
The overall tone of the song is one of sadness and desperation. Blunt's emotive voice and the simple acoustic guitar accompaniment reinforce the emotional intensity of the lyrics. The message of the song seems to be that love and human connection are essential for survival, even in dire circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
One by one they
People are passing by, one by one
Pass me by
They are ignoring me
And I've used up
I have exhausted all of my resources
My supplies
There is nothing left to sustain me
Out of water
I have run out of water
Out of hope
I have lost all hope
Can't make fire
I am unable to start a fire
Only smoke
All I can produce is smoke
Here I am alone in silence
I am stranded and alone, with no one to talk to
Cast away on a desert island
I have been abandoned on a deserted island
A traveler in an ocean lost at sea
I am wandering in the ocean aimlessly
Smoke signals in the night sky
I am trying to signal for help using smoke
Hope you see them as you pass by
I hope someone sees my signal as they pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
I am shouting for help from a high point
You're the only one I got
You are my only hope for rescue
To rescue me, to rescue me
Please come and rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
Why can't you see my signals and come to my rescue?
I don't think that I'll survive
I don't think I will make it on my own
I'll die here without you
I need you in order to survive
Oh, I can't live without you
I am dependent on your rescue to survive
The sun comes up, the sun goes down
Time passes, but there is no change in my situation
Wonder if I'll
I am wondering if I will
Ever be found?
Be rescued and found by someone
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Danny Parker, James Blount
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Only - Yours
Lyrics
One by one they
Pass me by
And I've used up
My supplies
Out of water
Out of hope
Can't make fire
Only smoke
Here I am alone in silence
Cast away on a desert island
A traveller in an ocean lost at sea
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you
The sun comes up, the sun goes down
Wonder if I'll
Ever be found?
Here I am alone in silence
Cast away on a desert island
A traveller in an ocean lost at sea
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you
Carmela Medon
Ye I am here
Looking for your ship
on the big ocean
crossing me by with you
but it seems so far away
from my house
Iam feeling like a mouse
in a trap
I am feeling like nobody
is talking to me
in my mouse trap
Looking for you
Everyday goes away
and no signal arrived me here
Oh what a feeling
Looking for a signal
Feeling like there is nobody
talking to me
Feeling like a mouse
in a mouse trap
because there are no words
that give me the way to you
What are you feeling
What are you doing in this long years
I am waiting for a signal
and nothing arrived
Lets think closer
think closer
I need a way
To come closer
And no one schould sit and wait
Because I am here
waiting for your ship
Crossing my water.
Costi I
I grew up with his songs, and it's like he's never getting old. Such a unique voice!!
WarriorPrinces333
🦋
dirkeeey
Same
yves sop
What are you talking about you are still growing up
Hussain Hak
Totally 💯
Pranav Gautam
This was such an underrated but one of the most lovely songs by James Blunt when it came out in about 2013. I still love to play this on my guitar. It's very relaxing.
Александр Боровцов
Отлично👍. Спасибо.
Jackie T
Such a wonderful singer and songwriter! I wish he would do a totally acoustic album, he writes such beautiful songs and they shine so brightly without all the production and addition of orchestration! 😍😍😍
Yannick Br
These performances are absolutely fantastic, should release this set as an albun!
Only - Yours
Lyrics
One by one they
Pass me by
And I've used up
My supplies
Out of water
Out of hope
Can't make fire
Only smoke
Here I am alone in silence
Cast away on a desert island
A traveller in an ocean lost at sea
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you
The sun comes up, the sun goes down
Wonder if I'll
Ever be found?
Here I am alone in silence
Cast away on a desert island
A traveller in an ocean lost at sea
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you
Smoke signals in the night sky
Hope you see them as you pass by
I'm screaming from the cliff top
You're the only one I got
To rescue me, to rescue me
Why can't you see, why can't you see?
I don't think that I'll survive
I'll die here without you
Oh, I can't live without you