James Dean Bradfield (Pontypool, Wales, 21 February 1969) is the lead guita… Read Full Bio ↴James Dean Bradfield (Pontypool, Wales, 21 February 1969) is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the celebrated Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, which he co-formed in 1986. Regarded by many fans as one of the most talented and overlooked guitarists of his generation, he was due to be named "Clint Eastwood Bradfield" after his father's favourite actor, but due to a compromise with James' mother, was named for another famous actor.

On 27 April 2006, a track from Bradfield's debut solo album entitled "That's No Way To Tell a Lie" premiered on Janice Long's show on Radio 2.

Bradfield played three dates in late May 2006 (Manchester Roadhouse, King Tut's Glasgow and London Barfly) to offer fans a chance to preview his new solo material. He also played a couple of Manic Street Preachers songs such as "Ocean Spray" (to which he contributed the lyrics, a first for him), as well as "This Is Yesterday".

Released as a single on the 10th July 2006, "That's No Way To Tell a Lie" charted at number 18.

His solo album "The Great Western" was released on Columbia Records on 24th July 2006 and reached number 22 in the Album Chart. He also has enlisted the help of Super Furry Animals drummer Daf Ieuen to provide drums for the track "Run Romeo Run". Manic Street Preachers bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire provides lyrics for the track "Bad Boys and Painkillers". The album also includes a cover of Jacques Brel's "To See a Friend In Tears".

He also wrote the score for the August 2016 horror film The Chamber, which was released as a soundtrack album in March 2017. It is his first (and so far only) foray into movie soundtracks.

After well over a decade, Bradfield announced his second solo album entitled "Even In Exile", based on the life of Chilean artist Víctor Jara, to be released in August of 2020.

Say Hello To The Pope
James Dean Bradfield Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The doorbell of your house
Still bears your name
But you'll never come back to this place
You were sitting on your steps
Yesterday again
I guess it's just an old neighborhood thing

[Chorus]

You don't have to pray
Because he knows my name
So just remind yourself
To say hello to the pope
To say hello to the pope

You can swear all you like
But you're still such a beautiful girl
Especially when you walk through that door in your Sunday best
So just one more cigarette and a vodka for you
I'll even dance to old time music for you

[Chorus: x2]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of James Dean Bradfield's song "Say Hello To The Pope" are shrouded in mystery, but it seems to be a song about lost love and finding solace in religious imagery. The song speaks of a person who has left and isn't coming back, as symbolized by the fact that their name is still on the doorbell of their former home. Despite this loss, the chorus suggests that there is still comfort to be found in the Pope, who "knows my name" and to whom the listener should "say hello."

The verses of the song paint a picture of a mournful scene as the singer recalls their love and tries to find comfort in smoking and drinking. They describe the beauty of the person who has left, even as they acknowledge that they are gone forever. The chorus seems to be a reminder to the singer to find peace in faith, even as they mourn the loss of someone they loved.

Overall, the lyrics of "Say Hello To The Pope" are poignant and introspective, and the song captures the sadness of losing someone while also offering a glimmer of hope in the form of religious faith.

Line by Line Meaning

The doorbell of your house
The sound of the doorbell at your residence

Still bears your name
It still has the label with your name on it

But you'll never come back to this place
You will never return to the location

You were sitting on your steps
You were seated outside your entrance

Yesterday again
Once more the previous day

I guess it's just an old neighborhood thing
I think it's a common thing in this area

You don't have to pray
You do not have to offer prayer

Because he knows my name
Because he is aware of who I am

So just remind yourself
So just remember for yourself

To say hello to the pope
To greet the pope

You can swear all you like
You can use as much profanity as you want