Influenced by Tim Buckley (whose 1970 album gave the band their name), Van Morrison, and Neil Young, they played their first London show at the Heavenly Social in April 2000. At the same time, a demo tape containing the tracks "Fever," "Coming Down," and "Love Is Here" began circulating rapidly around the music industry. By the summer there was a queue of record companies to sign the nascent band. EMI won the race for their signature. After spending January 2001 on an NME-sponsored tour with JJ72 and Amen, Starsailor released their debut single, "Fever," to unanimous critical praise.
A sold-out headline U.K. tour at the end of March preceded the release of their second single, "Good Souls," in April. Once again it was ecstatically received and reached the Top 20. As the single was released, the band went to Wales to record their debut album. They re-emerged in June to begin a summer of festival appearances sandwiched between an American tour supporting Doves and a couple of headline dates of their own.
After achieving their first U.K. Top Ten hit with the single "Alcoholic," Starsailor's debut album, Love Is Here, was released in September 2001 to much critical fanfare, and a European tour closed out a highly successful year. The following year kicked off with the American release of Love Is Here in January, and a few weeks on the road for a brief North American tour, ending with a performance at the SXSW festival in March. Their sophomore album, Silence Is Easy, followed in 2004.
Starsailor released their third album, On The Outside, in the UK on 17 October 2005 along with the first single from the album, "In The Crossfire".
Their song, "Way To Fall" was featured (during the ending sequence) in the blockbuster Playstation 2 video game, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
"All The Plans" was released March 9, 2009, in the UK.
Lead singer, James Walsh began to work on a solo project at the end of 2009. In November 13, 2009 it was officially announced by Lancashire Evening Post that Starsailor was on hold and that James Walsh was concentrating on his solo career. In an interview with VirtualFestivals.com he stated that at this moment he was working on his first solo album and that he was writing the lyrics with American songwriter and singer Suzanne Vega.
Starsailor announced their reunion on 23 May 2014 and began performing worldwide. Good Souls: The Greatest Hits was released in September 2015, and featured two new songs. A fifth studio album All This Life was released in 2017.
More can be found on their official website: http://www.starsailorband.co.uk/
Good Souls
Starsailor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick after every meal
I'd say
'Cos I know
The life from your burning wheel
Won't wane
Sleep
I sleep every day
I need to be loved
Christ
I'm out of my mind
I need to be loved
I need to be loved
As I turn to you and I say
Thank goodness for the good souls
That make life better
As I turn to you and I say
If it wasn't for the good souls
Life would not matter
Dive straight in on your girlfriend
Making her feel like there's going to be a war
Dive straight in at the deep end
Making you feel like there's going to be a war
As I turn to you and I say
Thank goodness for the good souls
That make life better
As I turn to you and I say
If it wasn't for the good souls
Life would not matter
One good day of the week
And I'll be up again
One good day of the week
I'll be higher than the government
As I turn to you and I say
Thank goodness for the good souls
That make life better
As I turn to you and I say
If you're messing with a good heart
You've got to take what's due
In "Good Souls" by Starsailor, the singer communicates a deep sense of loneliness and longing for love. He acknowledges that he has been feeling sick after every meal, possibly hinting at his unhealthy lifestyle choices, and states that he needs to be loved. He looks up to those he refers to as "good souls" who make life better and essentially keep him going. In fact, the good souls are so important to him that he feels that without them, life would not matter. The singer expresses a sense of belonging to someone by saying, "As I turn to you," but it's uncertain who he is referring to. He then makes a plea, suggesting that those who mess with a good heart must take what's due.
The song's lyrics capture one's feelings of vulnerability, a common theme in Starsailor's music. Although the lyrics are somewhat vague, one may interpret that the singer is struggling with his mental health and trying to come to terms with a broken relationship. Nevertheless, he looks to the "good souls" who make a positive difference in the world for solace and hope. The song's slow and somber melody further emphasizes the melancholic feelings expressed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel
Feeling unwell after eating every meal.
Sick after every meal
Experiencing discomfort or illness after consuming food.
I'd say
I would attribute this to
'Cos I know
Because I understand
The life from your burning wheel
The intense experiences that come from living life.
Won't wane
Will not diminish or weaken over time.
Sleep
I rest
I sleep every day
I sleep regularly, as one would.
Wipe the cobwebs away
Shake off the feeling of being unproductive or tired.
I need to be loved
I require love and connection.
Christ
An exclamation of surprise or frustration.
I'm out of my mind
I feel crazy or out of control.
As I turn to you and I say
Addressing someone directly to express my thoughts.
Thank goodness for the good souls
That make life better
Expressing gratitude for the people who bring positivity and enrichment to life.
If it wasn't for the good souls
Life would not matter
Without the presence of those who offer love and support, life would seem meaningless.
Dive straight in on your girlfriend
Making her feel like there's going to be a war
Rushing into a situation, causing conflict or tension with a romantic partner.
Dive straight in at the deep end
Making you feel like there's going to be a war
Acting impulsively or recklessly, creating a sense of danger or unease for myself or others.
One good day of the week
One day out of seven where things go well or feel positive.
And I'll be up again
I'll feel good or optimistic once more.
I'll be higher than the government
I'll feel a sense of elation or power greater than what any governmental authority could provide.
If you're messing with a good heart
You've got to take what's due
Warning against mistreating or taking advantage of those who are kind and empathetic.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRY WESTHEAD, BENJAMIN BYRNE, JAMES STELFOX, JAMES WALSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rene2899
Feel
Sick after every meal
I'd say
'Cos I know
The life from your burning wheel
Won't wane
Sleep
I sleep every day
Wipe the cobwebs away
I need to be loved
Christ
I'm out of my mind
I need to be loved
I need to be loved
As I turn to you and I say
Thank goodness for the good souls
That make life better
As I turn to you and I say
If it wasn't for the good souls
Life would not matter
Dive straight in on your girlfriend
Making her feel like there's gonna to be a war
Dive straight in at the deep end
Making you feel like there's gonna to be a war
As I turn to you and I say
Thank goodness for the good souls
That make life better
As I turn to you and I say
If it wasn't for the good souls
Life would not matter
One good day of the week
And I'll be up again
One good day of the week
I'll be higher than the government
As I turn to you and I say
Thank goodness for the good souls
That make life better
As I turn to you and I say
If it wasn't for the good souls
Life would not matter
As I turn to you and I say
If you're messing with a good heart
You've got to take what's due
@oteuamormesalvoudemim684
Sentir,
Doente após cada refeição,
Eu diria que,
Porque eu sei,
A vida de sua roda de fogo,
Não vai diminuir,
Sono,
Durmo todos os dias,
Limpe as teias de aranha de distância,
Eu preciso ser amado,
Cristo,
Eu estou fora da minha mente,
Eu preciso ser amado,
Eu preciso ser amado,
Eu volto para você e eu digo,
Graças a Deus pelas almas boas,
Que tornam a vida melhor,
Como eu volto para você e eu digo,
Se não fosse pelas almas boas,
A vida não teria importância,
Mergulhar de cabeça em sua namorada,
Fazendo-a sentir como se vai ser uma guerra,
Mergulhar de cabeça no final de profundidade,
Fazendo você se sentir como se vai ser uma guerra,
Eu volto para você e eu digo,
Graças a Deus pelas almas boas,
Que tornam a vida melhor,
Como eu volto para você e eu digo,
Se não fosse pelas almas boas,
A vida não teria importância,
Um bom dia da semana,
E eu estarei de novo,
Um bom dia da semana,
Eu vou ser maior do que o governo,
Eu volto para você e eu digo,
Graças a Deus pelas almas boas,
Que tornam a vida melhor,
Como eu volto para você e eu digo,
Se não fosse pelas almas boas,
A vida não teria importância,
Como eu volto para você e eu digo,
Se você está mexendo com um bom coração,
Você tem que pegar o que é devido.
@billyr.1703
This is such a timeless gem! Who else is listening to Starsailer in 2021? They are truly a unique and extremely talented band.
@gwendolincrockford8406
Me!
@VitalFuckRemains
2022 now!
@guyborrows7818
Me 2022 x
@robertmarland4696
Agreed !
@chemaamusco6078
Me 2022
@pkmgio600
first time i heard this I was a teenager, and it moved me, it made me feel exactly the way I was feeling about the world. Now i am a 33 years old guy and I can surely say "If it wasnt for the good souls life wouldnt matter". One of my top 10 great songs of all my life.
@emretezcan3383
PKM Gio Good for u to discovered them for a young ages, for me too👍
@beatlessteffi
PKM Gio same
@raffamessn4527
Beautiful song about the breath of the world...