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.
WATER
James Reyne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smoking in the distant light
See the big sky, see it roll by
Day is turning into night
All your troubles, dust and rubble
All the cares you had today
There's no big sign on the hard line
Water water
Run over me
Water water
Run over me
Give me season, give me reason
Baby doll goes, boogaloo be a good girl
Bring me my buffalo horn
Bring me my head-dress too
He's got the Indian mind
He's got the Indian law
He's got the Indian mind
Bring me my shadow
He's got the Indian law
Water water
Run over me
Water water
Run over me
Go watch a river burn
Go watch the seasons turn
These lyrics are from James Reyne’s song “Water Water”. The song begins with the observation that the world is constantly turning and changing, with day turning into night. The troubles and cares of the day are washed away by water, which is a symbol of emotional cleansing and renewal. The chorus repeats the phrase “water water run over me” as a plea for this renewal and emotional release.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch the world turn, it's a slow burn
Observing the world revolve, everything seems to be in slow-motion and getting worn out
Smoking in the distant light
Seeing the hazy light far in the distance
See the big sky, see it roll by
Notice the vast and endless sky, witnessing it continuously moving
Day is turning into night
The day is coming to an end as it moves into darkness
All your troubles, dust and rubble
All your worries and problems are insignificant, just like dust and debris
All the cares you had today
All the issues that bothered you earlier are no longer significant
There's no big sign on the hard line
There is no prominent sign stating the boundary or limit for any problem
Washing all your cares away
Removing all the current worries and concerns, leaving them behind
Water water
Uttering the two most essential words for life
Run over me
Letting the water cleanse and purify the soul
Give me season, give me reason
Requesting the significance and purpose for the changing seasons
Baby doll goes, boogaloo be a good girl
A girl performing a rhythmic dance while being affectionately referred to as a baby doll. Being encouraged to be well-behaved.
Bring me my buffalo horn
Asking someone to bring a musical instrument in the shape of a buffalo horn
Bring me my head-dress too
Collecting one's head-dress while gathering the musical instrument
He's got the Indian mind
Someone has an Indian mindset
He's got the Indian law
This person has a habit creating an environment that resembles American Indian culture
Bring me my shadow
Gathering the somber element of one's self
Go watch a river burn
Observing the river gradually drying up
Go watch the seasons turn
Witnessing the transition from one season to another
Water water
Uttering the two most essential words for life
Run over me
Letting the water cleanse and purify the soul
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@samuraidarryl
A truly magnificent song by a very gifted artist. James Reyne is so so underrated in my opinion. Could listen to his music forever. .
@snacklofter
Watch the world turn, it's a slow burn
Smoking in the distant light
See the big sky, see it roll by
Day is turning into night
All your troubles, dust and rubble
All the cares you had today
There's no big sign on the hard line
Washing all your cares away
Water water
Run over me
Water water
Run over me
Give me season, give me reason
Baby doll goes, boogaloo be a good girl
Bring me my buffalo horn
Bring me my head-dress too
He's got the Indian mind
He's got the Indian law
He's got the Indian mind
Bring me my shadow
He's got the Indian law
Water water
Run over me
Water water
Run over me
Go watch a river burn
Go watch the seasons turn
@kodiakmkv
I love playing this songs in the car up LOUD!.
@TheKanaraja
I just love this song...the mood, the words, the voice! Thx for the vid...
@Ironbar11
Just a brilliant piece of music... I come back to it year after year... James, you are genius.
@nicholecrombie3403
MAJESTIC 🙏