A musician and lyricist of uncommon and mature gift, and one blessed with a gloriously fluid and expressive voice, Lawson was born and raised in Plymouth in what was he says a resolutely non-musical household. “No-one sang or played anything. We didn’t have any records. My dad would listen to Radio 2 a bit but that was the extent of it. And this was back in the days before the station got really good. There was nothing in what I heard that spoke directly to me.” Then the elder of his two brothers hit adolescence and things began to change: “He got me into The Smiths, The Housemartins, the Jackson 5 ...” A disparate trio of early influences, you might think, but Jamie says not really. “They’re all very big on melody. And Morrissey and the young Michael Jackson both have a real passion to the way they sing.”
Aged eight, he asked for and received his first guitar. Early on in secondary school, he was invited to join his first band. “We were quite a dedicated little bunch, rehearsing every lunchtime when the rest of the class was out playing football. It was pretty much all covers, of course ... R.E.M., the Chilli Peppers, some Hendrix. By the time I was 15 we had quite a wide repertoire of other people’s badly-done songs.” He was writing material of his own too, “all of it terrible to start with, of course. I’d be 17 at least before I came up with anything good.” And he was singing, though mainly in unconscious impersonation of Michael Stipe. “My own voice took a while to find. I had to stop trying to replicate someone else’s tricks.”
When he did properly uncover it, that voice proved to be something very special indeed. No one who has heard him sing live would disagree (and in addition to his own regular schedule of gigging, he has played with artists including The Frames, Martha Wainwright and Damien Rice, as well as having been chosen as opening act for outdoor gigs by both Van Morrison and Katie Melua). Even-keeled, even undemonstrative offstage, he comes alive in front of an audience and in the service of his songs. “American Music Club’s Mark Eitzel has been a big influence, in the sense that he sings with his whole body and puts so much into his performance. The difference is that my voice is sweeter and more pure.”
There was a brief and half-hearted attempt at following a different career path. But unhappy and unfulfilled in his earliest weeks at Art College, Lawson sought the advice of a counsellor who then asked him, ‘So what do you want to do with your life?’ “And when I said that I wanted to be a singer she told me, ‘Then go and do it!’ which totally surprised me but which was absolutely the right thing to say. I met that woman just once and for five minutes. I don’t even know her name. But she showed me what I had to do.” And via a geographically circuitous route that has taken in Dublin, Cornwall and now London and during which both his song writing skills and stagecraft have increased by leaps and bounds, he has done it.
Lawson is not just a singer but also an exceptionally blessed and affecting one. His voice and songs have proven to work equally beautifully and well whether in a tiny indoor venue like London’s 12 Bar Club or outdoors before 10,000 people. “And the simple fact is that I love to sing,” he says. “I love the intimacy of live performance. I love drawing people into my mood. I love bringing them to where I am.”
Alan Jackson.
The Times
London.
Real Thing
Jamie Lawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I should be the one to love you most
And my heart is on its way again
And I don't know what to say again
Is it always been this way? I don't know
I know that someone else is on your house
But I couldn't change the way I feel about you at all
Change the way I felt
And my heart is on its way again
And I don't know what to say again
Is it always been this way? I don't know
Is this the real thing?
This makes my heart sing love
Is this the real thing?
'Cause I've called it love
I've called it love
I've called it love
I've called it love
Would you call it love?
Would you call it love?
Would you call it love?
If your heart is on its way again
You don't know what to say again
Is it always been this way? I guess so
My heart is on its way again
And I don't know what to say again
Will it always be this way?
This is the real thing
'Cause this makes my heart sing love
This is the real thing
This makes my heart sing about love
And I call this the real thing
And I call this the real thing
And I hope that you call me
I hope that you call me
This is the real thing
The lyrics of Jamie Lawson's song "Real Thing" portrays a person who is looking for genuine love and connection with another person. He tells the other person to call him if they need someone to hold them close, and that he should be the one to love them most. However, he is aware that someone else may currently be in their life. In the chorus, he questions if what he is feeling is the real thing and if it's love. His heart is conflicted and unsure of the other person's feelings towards him. He hopes that they feel the same way.
The artist uses the repetition of phrases like "And my heart is on its way again," "Is it always been this way? I don't know," and "I've called it love" to emphasize the longing for the reassurance of genuine love. He asks the other person to call him, indicating his willingness to be vulnerable and open to love, as shown in the line "And I hope that you call me."
Overall, the song's lyrics express a sincere and heartfelt desire for authentic love, and the artist is open to the possibility that it may not come from the person he is singing to. It's an uplifting song with a message of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Call me if you need someone to hold you close
If you feel lonely and require someone to hold you, you can always call me. I am the one who loves you the most.
You know I should be the one to love you most
I believe I am the best person for you to love because my love for you is greater than anyone else's.
And my heart is on its way again
My heart is once again feeling hopeful and ready for love.
And I don't know what to say again
Despite my hopeful heart, I am still unsure of what to say to you about my feelings.
Is it always been this way? I don't know
I am uncertain if my heart has always felt this way or if this is a new feeling.
I know that someone else is on your house
I am aware that you are currently in a relationship with someone else.
But I couldn't change the way I feel about you at all
Despite your current relationship, I am unable to change my feelings for you.
Is this the real thing?
I am wondering if this feeling of love is genuine and if we could have a real relationship.
This makes my heart sing love
This feeling of love is so intense that it makes my heart feel full and happy.
'Cause I've called it love
I have felt love before, but this feeling is different and more intense.
Would you call it love?
I am curious if you feel the same way and if you would also call this feeling love.
If your heart is on its way again
If you also feel hopeful and ready for love.
You don't know what to say again
If you are also unsure of what to say about your feelings.
Is it always been this way? I guess so
Perhaps our uncertainty about love is a common feeling.
And I hope that you call me
I am hopeful that you will reach out to me and we can explore our feelings further.
This is the real thing
I am certain that this feeling of love is genuine and not just a passing fancy.
This makes my heart sing about love
This intense feeling of love fills my heart with joy and happiness.
Contributed by Elijah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sharon Branda
I love Jamie Lawsons new album . #1 in England now. Way to go Jamie. Ed thanks for seeing a great singer. Loive you both
Kay Davis
what an awesome song writer and singer. His voice is so distinctive-you recognize it as Jamie Lawson immediately. It's a shame it took ago long for him to become an "overnight" success ! His hit single WASN'T EXPECTING THAT has had over 8,000,000 views! Way to go, Jaime!
txastube
Yes! Jamie Lawson is a brilliant singer songwriter! Love his music ever since I first saw him on the same stage with #LeeMacdougall & #SkinnyMachines (with awesome guitarist #RikkiGlover currently w/ #ClovesXIII EP on #iTunes or #Clovesdot) @theregalroom in #London May 2011. Jamie, certainly deserves #1 in USA too! Every song on his current self-titled album is brilliantly, a #1 gem for any person or creature walking the planet. He's got a great voice! Not comparing, cause everyone's original in their own way. However, at times, his voice sort of reminds me a bit of Christopher Cross. Jamie Lawson's voice and music are timeless, full of wonder, spellbounding & captivating. He just recently performed on Ellen, Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the Today show & Christmas Day 2015 on BBCs Top Of Pops with #WasntExpectingThat . So glad #EdSheeran signed him to his Gingerbread Man record label! I hope they will all have him back again soon. Merry Holidays & Wonderful New 2016 :)
Lettie Van Coller
Love, love, love his music!
Fiona Chapman
Brilliant artist love his music
Karina Norris
I love this song :)
Charles Davis
This guy is magic
SS Gre
i love this tune
Jane Richards
gorgeous song
Sandra Wright
Jamie was in the same class as me at Tamarside Community College. Congratulations on your success..