November 2015 saw th… Read Full Bio ↴New album TOON TOWN LULLABY released July 2020.
November 2015 saw the release of ALL THE HITS LIVE, an album recorded earlier that year at Perth's Astor Theatre. James released a brand new album THIRTEEN in March 2012, containing the singles English Girls, Capsize and Whatcha Gonna Do About It?
James Reyne came to recognition to the Australian public as lead singer of classic Australian band Australian Crawl in the 1970's. They had a number of hits including "Reckless", "Boys Light Up", "Beautiful People", "Shutdown", "Errol", "Oh No Not You Again" and "Downhearted"
After the band split in 1986, James spent some time in the United States and Europe, returning to Australia in 1987.
His first solo album, "JAMES REYNE" (1987) went triple platinum and included three top 10 singles: "Fall Of Rome", "Hammerhead" and "Motors Too Fast". Other singles from this album included "Always The Way" and "Ript It Up".
In the following years James released more solo albums, "HARD REYNE" (1989) which contaimed the Top 40 singles "House Of Cards", "One More River" and "Trouble In Paradise".
In 1991 James returned with his most successful Australian album "ELECTRIC DIGGER DANDY"(1991), which effortlessly mirrored the success of the first. This album contained the smash hits "Slave", "Any Day Above Ground" and "Some People'", plus a reworking of the Aussie Crawl song "Reckless".
James joined country music star James Blundell and recorded the classic Dingoes song "WAY OUT WEST" which exploded into the number 1 position on the Australian charts in 1992.
He next joined Daryl Braithwaite, Jef Scott and Simon Hussey on the very successful album "THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS" in 1993 which included the top 40 hits "Motor City", "Sweet Love" and "Daddy's Gonna Make You A Star".
James then returned to Los Angeles to record with renowned producer Stewart Levine, arriving back in 1994 with the critically acclaimed CD "THE WHIFF OF BEDLAM". The album was a departure in sound for James and featured a more organic sound, complete with brass section. The album spawned the hits "Red Light Avenue", "Day In The Sun" and the final single "It's Only Natural" in 1995.
While touring the album in Australia and overseas during this period, James released the energetic and profilic double Live album titled LIVE IN RIO, recorded in Brazil. A single "Oh No Not You Again" was featured from this CD.
Throughout his career James has appeared in several and varied theatrical, film and television productions and concert events, the more visible of these including "Return To Eden", "Tina; What's Love Got To Do With It?", television drama "State Coroner" and "The Little Shop Of Horrors" (1996)
While signing to Roadshow Music in 1997, James headed into the studio with famed producer and produced a single "Brand New Emperor's Clothes", to be featured on a forthcoming album.
In 1999 James recorded and released the CD "DESIGN FOR LIVING" with friends and brothers Scott and Brett Kingman. Arguably the most critically applauded album of his career, it further cemented his position as a unique, witty, thoughtful and challenging songwriter and singer. This album featured the singles "Wonderful Today", "Not Waving, Drowning" and the classic live favourite "Reno".
2004 saw the completion of "SPEEDBOATS FOR BREAKFAST", released on Liberation Records. It was a self funded project and saw James break free of the record company restrictions and allowed to him to be in control creatively. Radio-only singles "Bug" and "Rainbows Dead End" were featured on this CD.
Rainbows Dead End Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFaXnfZbBAs
As part of the Liberation Blue Accoustic series, James released two highly successgful accoustic albums in recent times. …"AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON"" which allowed James to revisit many of the above titles with little more than a lone acoustic guitar underpinning the most distinctive voice of his generation.
More reworkings of his solo and Australian Crawl material were sounded on "GHOST SHIP" released in 2007.
2007 saw the release of James 8th Studio album. "EVERY MAN A KING" closing a 30-year circle since James first led Australian Crawl into the front line of the Oz rock boom. His eye and pen grew sharper through a platinum-lined solo career, but never have his wit and poignancy been on more consistently solid musical ground than they are here. Stand-out tracks include "Little Man You've Had a Busy Day", "Light In The Tunnel" and "The Postman".
Following a live DVD release in late 2007, titled "One Night In Melbourne", a CD/DVD of the show was available in 2009. The show was filmed and recorded at Melbourne's Palais Theatre and saw James perform 30 songs from his vast catalogue.
One project, titled JAMES REYNE SINGS THE KING has James performing and re-interpreting 14 classic Elvis Presley songs. The album TCB was released in April 2010. A dedicated website has been set up to support the project. http://www.jamesreyneTCB.com
A new album, Thirteen was released in March 2012.
Harvest Moon
James Reyne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She talked in three dimensional
She held my lazy head when evening light was gone
She called the breaks
I ploughed the lower forty when
She called me plough boy
Say what paddock were you on
God help me just to shade my eyes
Harvest moon she'll be rising soon
God willing and the creek don't rise
She knows I'm right
She knows I'm so conventional
She knows I'm cultivated furrows on my brow
The land was mortified
The land was indivisible
I tell you someday we will reap what we might sow
Don't rise
She calls me Captain
She knows I'm so industrious
She fills my tea, cup when the window shades are down
We load the pick, up
We're making individual
We're making all that hay while driving into town
Don't rise
Harvest moon she'll be rising soon
God willing and the creek don't rise
Don't rise
The lyrics of James Reyne's "Harvest Moon" depict a connection between two lovers working on a farm. The female partner is depicted as being profound, speaking in riddles and three dimensions, as well as being nurturing, holding Reyne's head when the evening light disappears. She also seems to have a commanding presence, calling the breaks and calling Reyne "plough boy," asking questions like "what paddock were you on?" Reyne describes his day as being filled with the summer sun and ploughing the lower forty, but when the day is done, he seeks refuge from the arduous work. He hopes that the harvest moon will rise and bring another day, and that everything will be okay – "God willing and the creek don't rise."
The female lover is also described as knowing Reyne is conventional, cultivated furrows on his brow, and knowing what he is capable of. The land they both work on is given a personality – it was mortified, indivisible, and will eventually reap what they had sown. The couple also works together and rhythmically loading up a pick, making all that hay while driving into town. The lyrics repeat the chorus at the end, which implies that there is a sense of hope and perseverance despite whatever struggles they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
She talked in riddles
She spoke in vague and mysterious terms
She talked in three dimensional
She spoke in a complex and multi-layered way
She held my lazy head when evening light was gone
She supported me when I was tired and lost
She called the breaks
She led the way and took charge
I ploughed the lower forty when
I worked hard on the farm
She called me plough boy
She affectionately teased me about my work
Say what paddock were you on
She playfully asked me about my work on the farm
Summer sun when my day is done
After a long day working under the hot sun
God help me just to shade my eyes
I pray for relief from the harsh sun
Harvest moon she'll be rising soon
The full moon will soon be visible in the night sky
God willing and the creek don't rise
If everything goes well and there are no unexpected obstacles
She knows I'm right
She understands and agrees with my views
She knows I'm so conventional
She is aware that I am a traditional and conservative person
She knows I'm cultivated furrows on my brow
She knows that I have lines on my forehead from working on the farm
The land was mortified
The land was damaged and suffering
The land was indivisible
The land was inseparable from who we are
I tell you someday we will reap what we might sow
We will face the consequences of our actions in the future
She calls me Captain
She playfully gives me a nickname
She knows I'm so industrious
She is aware of my hardworking nature
She fills my tea, cup when the window shades are down
She takes care of me by making sure I have everything I need
We load the pick, up
We load the pickup truck
We're making individual
We're creating something unique and special
We're making all that hay while driving into town
We're multitasking and getting a lot done
Don't rise
Let's hope there are no problems or obstacles in our way
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: SIMON CYRIL HUSSEY, JAMES MICHAEL REYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind