The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam’s original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band’s songs, including the hits "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", "The Eton Rifles", "Going Underground" and "Town Called Malice".
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But I'm Different Now
The Jam Lyrics
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I never said a word
But I'm different now and I'm glad that you're my girl
Mess you 'round and upset you
I hurt you most of all
But I'm different now and I'm glad that you're my girl
Fun lasts for seconds, love lasts for days but
And I'm different now but I'm glad that you're my girl
Because I know I done some things
That I should never have done
But I'm different now and I'm glad that you're my girl
The Jam's "But I'm Different Now" is a reflective song about the regret and remorse that is felt after a relationship ends in heartbreak. The lyrics revolve around the singer's past behavior towards his former partner, which he now realizes was hurtful and damaging. The sentiment of the song is one of growth, change, and remorse.
The first two lines of the verses, "Picked you up and let you down and I never said a word / But I'm different now and I'm glad that you're my girl," suggests a past relationship that was not stable, likely due to the singer's poor communication skills. He regrets not speaking out and letting her know how he really felt, which led to her feeling let down. He then goes on to admit that he "mess[ed] [her] 'round and upset [her]," and "hurt [her] most of all." However, he is "different now," which indicates he has grown and changed since their relationship ended, and he acknowledges that he is "glad" she is still in his life.
The next verse continues with the idea that "fun lasts for seconds, love lasts for days," and that you "can't have both." This line suggests that the singer may have prioritized fun over love in their previous relationship, but now he realizes how valuable love is and wants to do things differently.
Overall, the song is a powerful admission of regret and a desire for growth and change. It is a reminder that relationships are not always easy, but through reflection and personal growth, we can become better partners in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Picked you up and let you down and I never said a word
I treated you poorly in the past without any explanation or apology
But I'm different now and I'm glad that you're my girl
I've changed for the better and I'm happy to have you in my life
Mess you 'round and upset you, I hurt you most of all
I caused you a lot of emotional pain and distress
Fun lasts for seconds, love lasts for days but, But you can't have both
I realize now that having fleeting pleasure is not as important as building a lasting, meaningful relationship with you
Because I know I done some things That I should never have done
I am aware that I made mistakes that deeply hurt you and that I regret those actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind