Her solo career began in earnest in 2002, when a demo version of the song "Finally Woken" was played on the LA radio station, KCRW. The track became one of the most listener-requested songs at the station, landing her in their top 5 played artists, and all prior to any record label being attached. As a result, she signed to Dave Matthews' ATO Records label.
Along with electronic producer Guy Sigsworth (Björk, Frou Frou), she wrote the song Nothing Fails, which was later reworked by Madonna and appeared on her 2003 album, American Life.
Jem released the moderately successful EP It All Starts Here in autumn 2003, followed by the debut album Finally Woken in March 2004. The first single They became her most successful single to date, peaking at #6 on UK Singles Charts.
Her second album Down to Earth was released on 16 September 2008, preceded by the single It's Amazing.
Jem's music featured on various movies (Closer, Eragon, Sex and the City, Monster-in-Law, The Prince and Me), trailers (Ultraviolet, Closer), ads (Lexus), and TV series (The OC, Six Feet Under, Gossip Girl, Smallville, 90210).
Wuthering Heights
Jem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'd roll and fall in green
You had a temper, like my jealousy
Too hot, too greedy
How could you leave me
When I needed to possess you?
I hated you, I loved you too
They told me I was going to lose the fight
Leave behind my wuthering, wuthering
Wuthering Heights
Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home
I'm so cold, let me in in-a-your-window
Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home
I'm so cold, let me in in-a-your-window
Oh it gets dark, it gets lonely
On the other side from you
I pine alot, I find the lot
Falls through without you
I'm coming back love, cruel Heathcliff
My one dream, my only master
Too long I roam in the night
I'm coming back to his side to put it right
I'm coming home to wuthering, wuthering
Wuthering Heights
Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home
I'm so cold, let me in in-a-your-window
Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home
I'm so cold, let me in in-a-your-window
Ooh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
Ooh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
You know it's me, Cathy
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy come home
I'm so cold, let me in in-a-your-window
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy come home
I'm so cold, let me in in-a-your-window
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy come home
I'm so cold
The song "Wuthering Heights" by Jem is a cover of the famous song by Kate Bush. The opening lines, "Out on the wiley, windy moors / We'd roll and fall in green" conjure images of the Yorkshire Moors, where the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is set. The reference to rolling and falling in green may be a nod to the passionate and tempestuous relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine in the novel.
The lyrics go on to describe a love-hate relationship between two people who are unable to let go of their feelings for each other. Catherine's jealousy is compared to Heathcliff's temper, an indication of the intense emotions and conflicts between them. The line "How could you leave me / When I needed to possess you?" exemplifies the possessive nature of their love. The repeated phrase "Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home" is a reference to the scene in the novel where Catherine returns to Wuthering Heights after being away for some time.
The line "Bad dreams in the night / They told me I was going to lose the fight" may be a reference to the doomed nature of Catherine and Heathcliff's relationship. The line "Ooh let me have it, let me grab your soul away" portrays the desperation of the singer to connect with their lover.
Overall, the lyrics of "Wuthering Heights" convey a sense of passion and longing that is consistent with the themes of the novel.
Line by Line Meaning
Out On the wiley, windy moors
We used to roam outside on the windy moors, carefree.
We'd roll and fall in green
We often played and frolicked in the meadows.
You had a temper, like my jealousy
You were often angry, just like I always felt jealous.
Too hot, too greedy
You were always wanting more and more, which made you reckless.
How could you leave me
I can't believe you abandoned me.
When I needed to possess you?
Especially when I needed you close to me.
I hated you, I loved you too
Despite our differences, I still had strong feelings for you.
Bad dreams in the night
I often had nightmares that kept me up at night.
They told me I was going to lose the fight
These nightmares would warn me about future struggles.
Leave behind my wuthering, wuthering
I had to leave this place behind, with all its hardships.
Wuthering Heights
A reference to our old home.
Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home
I've returned, Heathcliff--it's me, your Cathy.
I'm so cold, let me in in-a-your-window
I'm cold and desperate, please let me in through your window.
Oh it gets dark, it gets lonely
Life is bleak and lonely without you by my side.
On the other side from you
Being apart from you makes everything dark and dismal.
I pine alot, I find the lot
I miss you terribly and everything reminds me of you.
Falls through without you
Things fall apart without you here to hold me together.
I'm coming back love, cruel Heathcliff
I'm returning to you, even though you can be cruel at times.
My one dream, my only master
You are my one and only desire, Heathcliff.
Too long I roam in the night
I've wandered alone for too long, searching for my way back to you.
I'm coming back to his side to put it right
I'm coming back to fix things between us.
I'm coming home to wuthering, wuthering
I'm returning to our old home, Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home
Once again, I'm pleading with you to let me in.
Ooh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
I need to be with you so completely that it feels like I've taken a part of your soul.
You know it's me, Cathy
Don't be afraid, Heathcliff, it's just me, your beloved Cathy.
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy come home
Please let me in, Heathcliff--I'm home.
I'm so cold, let me in in-a-your-window
I'm freezing and in need of your warmth.
Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.