On his second album, Build Me This, the follow-up to his critically acclaimed The Sun is Always Brighter, produced by industry veteran Shannon Edgar, James expands his musical palette to foreboding doom-laden hard rock. Progressing from folkish harmonies, to country twang, world beats and southern home rock while further exploring themes of spiritual searching and heartbreaking loss. Possessing a whispery and intimate vocal style that works its way into the ear peacefully and directly, Joshua James is pitched midway between seminal influences like Bob Dylan and Neil Young.
“I find solace and beauty in darkness and depression,” admits James, who grew up in his native Lincoln, Nebraska, skateboarding and sneaking listens to music his parents banned, like classic rockers Jim Morrison and The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd, “But there are contrasts to everything. You have to combine the sweet and salty, the ugly and beautiful. Music is very therapeutic for me. It’s all about making a connection with humanity, with the audience, in ways that I normally wouldn’t be able to.”
Over the past three years, James has been doing just that. His debut was the #1 Folk Album on iTunes, and “FM Radio,” a song about a childhood friend coping with the death of his father, amassed more than 150,000 downloads as part of an iTunes promotion. In addition to performances at Sundance, SXSW and CMJ, James has toured with John Mayer, David Gray and Ani DiFranco, winning legions of fans along the way. His new album, Build Me This, has already attracted major–label interest. “I feel strongly about the things I sing about,” nods Joshua. “I want people to know how I feel, which sounds kind of dumb, because who cares how I feel? If someone feels similarly, though, that’s what I’m looking for. That’s the most important thing. If
you can relate to what I’m going through, then I’ve achieved my goal.”
The album title, Build Me This, refers to his dream of salvation. “It’s my way of asking God to show himself,” declares James. “To prove he exists. Do something. Give me a sign. It’s a call to whatever or whoever is out there. I don’t want him to strike me down or paralyze me, just give me something to believe.”
Aside from the spiritual, Build Me This is also about the difficulties of everyday relationships, the inadvertent hurt we cause to those we love. “Magazine” deals with the pain of separation (“Go take your bags to New York City, call me when your plane arrives/I’ll feed the children, wash the dishes, I’ll keep the house lookin’ nice/Well don’t you worry, everything’s gonna be all right.”), while “In the Middle” laments a shattered romance (“You’ve tried so hard to forget me/You burnt the letters I’d made/Though my memory has been dyin’/I hope the feeling still remains”).
On the stage, though, is where Joshua James’ music comes alive and reveals its true intent, which is about drawing people into his insular universe, a sense of mystic that only the truly great ones can communicate.
“Perhaps the darkness comes out a little more often that I’d like,” he offers “but that’s just where I gravitate to when I’m writing. I don’t usually try to tackle specific subjects; it’s usually about what I’m feeling at the time. Things start to come out, then they form a story and a reason, and that’s how things evolve. I’m influenced by everything… by life, by love, by hate, by music.”
Magazine
Joshua James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go take your bags to New York City, call me when your plane arrives
I'll feed the children, wash the dishes, I'll keep the house lookin' nice
Well, don't you worry now, everything's gonna be alright
It's been snowin' this October turnin' grass into grain
Do you see much past your hotel window friday nights with your gang?
I can only hope that things were different and darlin' do you feel the same
Oh, oh, all you said you've seen is my face in a magazine
My hair slicked back and clean or so it seemed
And now anyone can say that a man shouldn't live this way
So take your pretty poison right into the grave, we'll never change
I sold our house, the 3rd December, we're livin' where our feet done land
And the babies screams, they might get to heaven
But they're buried far 'neath the sand
All I know's my minds done thinkin', my mouths doin' what it can
To keep the rhythm and put a nickel back in your hand
Oh, oh, all you said you've seen is my face in a magazine
My hair slicked back and clean or so it seemed
And now anyone can say that a man shouldn't live this way
So take your pretty poison right into the grave
We dated naked out in the rain
We are okay to the pain, they'll never change, oh no, no, no, no
The song "Magazine" by Joshua James captures the pain of a relationship that has ended due to distance and different life choices. The lyrics describe the singer's willingness to compromise and be the responsible one, taking care of the children and the house while the other person pursues their dreams in New York City. The singer acknowledges that their partner's perception of their life is limited to glimpses in magazines and social media, where they see the singer's face looking polished and put-together. The singer feels trapped in this image and resents the idea that a man shouldn't live this way, that they need to conform to societal expectations. The song ends with a sense of resignation, accepting that they may be okay with the pain of the past and that they will never change.
Line by Line Meaning
Our separation seems forever, I'll do it if it's what you like
Although it seems like we will be apart forever, I am willing to go along with what you want.
Go take your bags to New York City, call me when your plane arrives
Go ahead and leave for New York City, but please let me know when you arrive safely.
I'll feed the children, wash the dishes, I'll keep the house lookin' nice
I'll take care of all the domestic tasks like feeding the kids and maintaining the house.
Well, don't you worry now, everything's gonna be alright
Don't worry, everything will be okay.
It's been snowin' this October turnin' grass into grain
The weather has been chilly this October, making the grass dry and grain-like.
Do you see much past your hotel window friday nights with your gang?
When you're with your friends on Friday nights, do you ever look beyond your hotel window?
I can only hope that things were different and darlin' do you feel the same
I wish things were different between us, and I wonder if you feel the same way.
Every time you're drinkin' wine in the rain?
Do you think about me every time you have a glass of wine in the rain?
Oh, oh, all you said you've seen is my face in a magazine
You have only seen a polished version of me in a magazine.
My hair slicked back and clean or so it seemed
In the pictures, my hair is neatly done and I look well-groomed.
And now anyone can say that a man shouldn't live this way
Critics can argue that a man shouldn't live the way I do (with fame and attention).
So take your pretty poison right into the grave, we'll never change
You can take your harmful ways to the grave, but we won't change who we are.
I sold our house, the 3rd December, we're livin' where our feet done land
I sold our house on December 3rd, and now we're living in a new place that we stumbled upon.
And the babies screams, they might get to heaven
The screams of our children might be heard in heaven.
But they're buried far 'neath the sand
However, they are buried deep under the sand.
All I know's my minds done thinkin', my mouths doin' what it can
I'm not thinking too much anymore, just going through the motions.
To keep the rhythm and put a nickel back in your hand
I keep working to keep things moving and to provide for us.
We dated naked out in the rain
We used to have romantic moments outside in the rain.
We are okay to the pain, they'll never change, oh no, no, no, no
We can withstand the pain and difficulties, and nothing will change who we are.
Writer(s): Joshua Fred James Copyright: Free The Son Publishing, Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Contributed by Eliana E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robert Olsen
Currently my favorite song. Refreshing to find young artists that get it.
Owen
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH I CANNOT FIND THE CHORDS FOR THIS ANYWHERE DAMMIT
Keanna Limes
magpiefabric samee
Nathan
Saw him last year. This kid puts on a good show.
Bill Gauntlett
Joshua is simply the Best !!!!
MonkeyTazer
I love joshua james
EndEuphoria
posting on a great song 10+ years later
Álvaro Avivar Luque
FUCK IM TIRED OF SEEING VIDS OF JOSHUA JAMES AND REALIZE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VIEWS AS THEM SHOULD HAVE...... FUCKING GOD. Sorry for my english i'm from spain. Cheers from Spain joshua!!!!!!!!
EndEuphoria
posting on a great song 10+ years later