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.”
Sister
Joshua James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I found your suicide poem in your right coat pocket.
There was a fire in the Hollywood hills
Ten children were killed
You had better be cautious
I'll pray for you sister,
I wait for you sister,
Holding my breath makes me tired
Farewell take comfort in the fact you're young
You got ten years to grow up
Don't become like your father
I'm sure you know by now
The rain falls most along the California coast
Each time this season.
I hate for your anger
To turn into something like mine.
Stay close to water,
The air helps the motion inside.
Inside
Well dear God, bless your soul
Poor child might never know just why.
Well dear God, bless your soul
Poor child might never know just why.
Oh just why.
I'll pray for you sister,
Wherever your heart will reside,
I will wait or you sister,
Holding my breath makes me tired
Makes me tired.
In the first verse of Joshua James's "Sister," he bids farewell to his sister and discovers something alarming in her coat pocket - a suicide poem. There is talk of a tragedy - a fire in the Hollywood hills that claimed the lives of ten children. Joshua James warns his sister to be cautious and tells her that he will pray for her, no matter where her heart resides. He seems to be worried that she will be caught up in anger, like he is.
In the second verse, he bids her farewell once again, telling her that she has ten years to grow up and not become like their father. He also advises her to stay close to water and the motion inside, which may refer to the way water actively moves and flows, in contrast to the stagnant emotions that can cause us to feel stuck. The song ends with Joshua James wishing his sister well and hoping that someone will bless her soul, for she may never know just why she felt the need to write a suicide poem.
Line by Line Meaning
So long, be careful on your way back home
Goodbye, take care on your return journey
I found your suicide poem in your right coat pocket.
I discovered a poem in your jacket pocket that suggests you are contemplating suicide.
There was a fire in the Hollywood hills
There was a wildfire in the hills of Hollywood.
Ten children were killed
Tragically, ten children lost their lives in the fire.
You had better be cautious
You should be careful and watchful.
I'll pray for you sister,
I will offer my heartfelt prayers for you, my dear sister.
Where your heart will reside.
Wherever your heart may lead you.
I wait for you sister,
I am waiting for you with open arms, my sister.
Holding my breath makes me tired
I am exhausted from waiting so patiently for you to return.
Farewell take comfort in the fact you're young
Goodbye, take solace in the fact that you have plenty of time to grow and mature.
You got ten years to grow up
You have a decade ahead of you to learn, develop, and change.
Don't become like your father
Try not to emulate or adopt the same negative traits as your father.
I'm sure you know by now
I am certain that you are aware already.
The rain falls most along the California coast
The largest amount of rainfall occurs on the coast of California.
Each time this season.
This happens repeatedly during this specific time of year.
I hate for your anger
I dislike the idea of you feeling angry or upset.
To turn into something like mine.
I don't want you to suffer or become as emotionally damaged as I am.
Stay close to water,
Remain in close proximity to bodies of water.
The air helps the motion inside.
The fresh air will help lift your spirits and improve your emotional state.
Inside
Internally, within you.
Well dear God, bless your soul
May God bless your soul and watch over you.
Poor child might never know just why.
The child may never fully comprehend the reasons behind the difficult circumstances of their life.
Makes me tired.
Waiting for you and worrying about you has exhausted me greatly.
Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wolf_At_The_Door
I just discovered this guy..... and am so glad I did! You are awesome, Joshua James.... Thanks for the great music!
flower !
the instrumental part at 1:58 is just phenomenal
Kanze
Fantastic!!!!
JackReed
awesome
terri vozzella
can't find his cd's anywhere. I've been asking all over the place.