James Yuill, like many music lovers of his generation, has a passion for bo… Read Full Bio ↴James Yuill, like many music lovers of his generation, has a passion for both the emotional songwriting and atmospheres of artists such as Nick Drake, Radiohead, Sufjan Stevens & the visceral / dynamic beats of Justice, The Chemical Brothers & Richard David James (aka Aphex Twin). Unlike anyone else however, Yuill has fused these seemingly disparate influences into a magical sound of his very own, something that hasn't gone un-noticed; he is quickly becoming an influential part of London’s popular folktronica scene.

Since the UK release of Turning Down Water For Air this past October 2008 on revered independent label Moshi Moshi Records (Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Au Revoir Simone), Yuill has garnered a huge amount of critical attention, including features in NME, Dazed and Confused and Clash Magazine, who featured him as “Best Newcomer 2008.” UK radio also jumped on board, with DJs including Huw Stephens, Colin Murray, Zane Lowe and John Kennedy all championing him on air.

A hectic live schedule including SXSW, Radio One Big Weekend, Latitude Festival, Club NME and numerous sweaty, dark venues across the globe, has added to the tangible buzz around James Yuill. Seeing him live is a truly unique experience: one minute you're drawn in to the tender simplicity of his voice and acoustic guitar, the next minute your head's spinning and your feet are moving to the dazzling array of beats and effects pumped out by James's laptop and boxes of tricks - not bad for a one man show that fits neatly into a reconditioned guitar case.

Yuill is also a sought-after remixer, who has worked with artists like Au Revoir Simone, Tilly and the Wall, David Holmes, and fellow folktronica artist Rod Thomas, as well as some up-and-coming UK artists.

Sites: Discogs

She Said in Jest
James Yuill Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

On the way from my house
To your house, it goes wrong

And things just start to move faster
I just can't seem to slow them down
I only want to make you feel this

The waters overhead

Are closing in on us now
I can't seem to catch my breath
Just drink yourself dead
She said in jest

On the way from my life
To the grave, I thought

I just can't seem to make it happen
The music lifts me when I'm down
It heals the wounds that bleed inside me

The waters overhead
Are closing in on us now
I can't seem to catch my breath

Just drink yourself dead
She said in jest

Overall Meaning

In James Yuill's song "She Said in Jest," the singer is struggling with the overwhelming feeling of moving too fast in a relationship. The lyrics "On the way from my house, to your house, it goes wrong" imply that he tried to make things work, but it went awry. He also sings about wanting to make his partner feel something profound, which hints at their relationship lacking deep feelings. As the song progresses, the singer conveys a feeling of drowning, with the "waters overhead" closing in on them. The metaphor indicates the feeling of being overwhelmed by the situation at hand.

In the second verse, the singer shifts focus from his relationship struggles to his personal struggles. The lyrics "On the way from my life, to the grave, I thought" refer to his journey through life and impending death. He goes on to say that music heals his internal wounds, providing him with a sense of hope amidst his struggles. The waters are still closing in, causing him to struggle to catch his breath. The line "just drink yourself dead, she said in jest" highlights his partner's casual attitude towards his struggles, which exacerbates his feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Overall, "She Said in Jest" explores the feeling of being trapped in difficult circumstances, where everything feels overwhelming, and the world seems to be closing in. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness, despite the character's attempt to hold on. The song is a haunting reminder of the feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and despair a person goes through in a struggling relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

On the way from my house
As I travel from my home to yours

To your house, it goes wrong
But something unexpected happens along the way

And things just start to move faster
Suddenly everything accelerates

I just can't seem to slow them down
And I can't regain control

I only want to make you feel this
All I really desire is to share this feeling with you

The waters overhead
I am drowning

Are closing in on us now
The situation is becoming dire

I can't seem to catch my breath
I am struggling to survive

Just drink yourself dead
Perhaps the only escape is to drink until you die

She said in jest
But it was only a joking suggestion

On the way from my life
As I journey towards the end of my own existence