James occasionally plays solo shows (often with Carl Broemel on Guitar & Pedal Steel), showcasing "bare-bones" versions of My Morning Jacket songs along with various covers. Notably, James (with Broemel) supported John Prine for several shows in late summer 2006.
Actress
Jim James Lyrics
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A little wink of the eye
A little glimpse of the thigh and we're in heaven
Whether or not it's true I believe in the concept of you
With personality
Distorting reality
Oh actress the fact is
I know reality but don't believe in everything
I believe in a heightened emotion
Truth stings
And in the blink of an eye our life changes
What I came to know as you
Had been replaced with something new
Oh what an actress!
Whether or not it's true
I believe in the concept of you
With personality
Distort my reality
Oh actress, the fact is
I believed in the myth and the legend
I thought knew reality
What you portrayed it to be
Lost in a fantasy
Oh actress, the fact is
I believed in the myth and the legend
I knew reality and I believed in everything
Swayed by a sense of devotion
The Jim James song "Actress" is a poetic take on the idea of fame, illusion, and the emotional turmoil of falling for someone who lives in the spotlight. The lyrics describe a person who is adept at drawing in others with their charm and sensuality, even if their public persona may not reflect their true self. The singer admits to buying into the "concept" of this person, being seduced by their powerful personality and the image they project to the world.
The chorus contains the key line, "Oh that dress, the fact is I believe in the myth and the legend, no reality," which seems to suggest that the performer's public image is a carefully crafted illusion that holds great appeal, but is ultimately not real. The second verse hints at the downside of this kind of fame, with the singer admitting that "truth stings" and that the person they thought they knew has been replaced by someone new. The chorus repeats, with a slight variation on the final line ("you were training to be lost in a fantasy"), underlining the idea that the person in question is living in a world of their own making, disconnected from the realities of everyday life.
Overall, "Actress" is a song about the allure of celebrity and the ways in which people can create myths and legends around themselves. It's also a cautionary tale about the dangers of buying into those myths, losing sight of what's real, and getting hurt in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
You're good at making everyone believe that they love you
You have a talent for convincing people to feel love towards you
A little wink of the eye, a little glimpse of the thigh and we're in heaven
Even the smallest seductive gestures from you can arouse a sense of bliss in others
Whether or not it's true
Regardless of whether it's genuine or not
I believe in the concept of you
I hold onto the image of you that I have created in my mind
With personality
You have a captivating persona
Destructing reality
Your persona has the power to distort the truth and alter reality
Oh that dress the fact is I believe in the myth and the legend
Your appearance and demeanor make me believe in the fantasy that surrounds you
No reality
There is no tangible truth behind the illusion you present
Don't believe in everything I believe in a heightened emotion
I don't blindly follow every aspect of your image, but I am drawn to the intense feeling it represents
Truth stings
The truth can be painful to hear
And in a blink of an eye your life changes
Your life can take a sudden turn without warning
What I came to know is you, had been replaced by something new
I learned that the image of you in my mind was no longer accurate
Oh what an actress
You are a master performer
Whether or not it's true I believe in the concept of you
Regardless of whether it's genuine or not, I hold onto the image of you that I have created in my mind
With personality
You have a captivating persona
Destruct my reality
Your persona has the power to distort my perception of reality
Oh actress, fact is, I believed in the myth and the legend
You have convinced me to believe in the fantasy that surrounds you
Thought I knew reality but you were training to be lost in a fantasy
I thought I understood what was true, but you were actually leading me towards an imaginary world
A new reality and I believe in everything
I have accepted a new version of reality that you have shown me, and I believe in everything you present
Swayed by a sense of devotion
I am easily influenced by my feelings of loyalty towards you
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind