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.
Take A Giant Step
James Reyne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just beware, just you chill
Truth laid bare, if this don't get you
Next thing will
The rag and bone man
He's trying to scare you
Drag you down, feeling fine, don't you frown
The man who waits under your bed
"Meet me tonight", he said
Take a giant step now
Take a giant step now
Dust on the Bible
The man who waits behind your door
You can't feel, you can't score
Breathing on his face to make him real
The man who waits under your bed
"Meet me tonight", he said
Take a giant step now
Take a giant step now
The man who waits under your bed
"Meet me tonight", he said
Take a giant step now
Take a giant step now
Under, under your bed
Under, under your bed
The man who waits under your bed
"Meet me tonight", he said
Take a giant step now
Take a giant step now
The man who waits under your bed
"Meet me tonight", he said
Take a giant step now
Take a giant step now
The man who waits under your bed
The man who waits under your bed
Take a giant step now
Take a giant step now
James Reyne's song "Take A Giant Step" is a haunting and creepy tune with lyrics that can be interpreted in a variety of ways. The opening verse seems to warn of impending doom or danger, with the suggestion that there is something lurking just outside one's window. The next lines reference the "rag and bone man," who is trying to scare the listener and drag them down. It is not clear if this is a literal reference to a person or a metaphorical one, but the sense of dread is palpable.
The chorus is where the song takes a particularly dark turn. The repetition of the line "The man who waits under your bed" is unnerving, and the invitation to "Meet me tonight" is downright terrifying. The suggestion that the listener should take a giant step now adds to the urgency of the situation, while the line "You can't feel, you can't score" implies that the person in question is deeply troubled or traumatized. The final verse again references the man under the bed and urges the listener to take action.
Overall, "Take A Giant Step" is a disturbing and intense song that leaves a lasting impression. Its lyrics can be interpreted in a number of ways, but the underlying message seems to be that there are dark forces at work in the world and that one must be vigilant in order to protect oneself from harm.
Line by Line Meaning
It's everywhere outside your window
The danger and fear is ever-present, right outside your safe space.
Just beware, just you chill
Be cautious and keep calm, despite the unsettling atmosphere.
Truth laid bare, if this don't get you
The reality of the situation will become clear, and if you still don't take action, you'll suffer the consequences.
Next thing will
The situation will escalate and you'll face even greater danger.
The rag and bone man
A scary, ominous figure who represents death and decay.
He's trying to scare you
He wants you to be afraid and succumb to your fears.
Drag you down, feeling fine, don't you frown
He'll bring you down to his level, and you'll feel hopeless, but you need to stay strong and not show weakness.
Waiting at the end of, the end of the line
The rag and bone man is always waiting for you, and eventually you'll reach the end of the line and have to face him.
The man who waits under your bed
Another ominous figure who represents your fears and anxieties.
"Meet me tonight", he said
This figure is inviting you to confront your fears and face the unknown.
Take a giant step now
You need to take a bold, decisive action to overcome your fears and move forward.
Dust on the Bible
A symbol of neglect and abandonment, suggesting a lack of spiritual guidance.
The man who waits behind your door
Another figure representing danger and the unknown, lurking just behind the next obstacle.
You can't feel, you can't score
You're unable to sense what's coming or how to handle it, leading to a sense of helplessness.
Breathing on his face to make him real
By mustering your courage and facing your fears head-on, you can make them tangible and conquer them.
Under, under your bed
A repetition of the previous theme, emphasizing the pervasive and inescapable nature of fear and danger.
The man who waits under your bed
Reiterating the idea of confronting your fears and defeating them.
Take a giant step now
The only way to move forward and achieve your goals is to be brave and take action, no matter how scared you may be.
The man who waits under your bed
A final reminder that fear is a recurring and ever-present challenge, but one that must be continually faced and overcome.
Take a giant step now
A final exhortation to be brave and keep moving forward, no matter how difficult the journey may be.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
xBqbby
This is an amazing song. It has a very very special feeling. You are forever loved James Reyne! What an awesome collection of songs. What an Aussie icon!
R Rix
Really love this... as someone else commented, I heard Bob Harris play this too, and was hooked after just one hearing - so original!
scott031073
A genuine work of art!
Will Chainey
Sincere thanks for uploading this track. I was starting to think I had dreamed it up I had ever heard it! Why oh why is it not available anywhere? It should be EVERYwhere!
David Tan
Great uplifting song. Been looking for this song all over. Thank you for uploading.
Cammy Docherty
Heard this on Bob Harris in '92 and took me another 20 years to find it cos i thought i was dreaming! Such a laid back and clever tune - uplifting!!!
Migmatite
Same... 🙏
doofstar57
Same...just found it now.
Peter Ream
Bob did a ten year anniversary since finishing the overnight shows on bbc radio 1. I heard it on that show..loved it and got the album the following weekend ❤
GF
First heard this on an Virgin flight to Orlando in 1994, had to listen to the whole 'radio show' again just to hear this .....no playlist in those days haha....took me until 2007 to find out who it was......bloody love this song....phenomenal.....now a huge James Reyne fan with a lot of his stuff......ah, the days before the Internet and amazon/ shazam/ spotify.....thanks for uploading.