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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Precious
The Jam Lyrics
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Will it ever stop or will I just lose touch?
What I want to say, but my words just fail
Is that I need it so I can't help myself
Like a hungry child, I just help myself
And when I'm all full up, I go out to play
Lonely as the moors on a winter's morning
In your tranquil shadow, I try and follow
I hear your distant shoe clicks, to the midnight beat
I feel trapped in sorrow, in this imagery
But that's how I am and why I need you so
But I don't mean to bleed you dry
Or take you over for the rest of your life
It's just that I need something solid in mine
Believe me baby, your precious love, that means so much
Will it ever stop or will I just lose touch?
What I want to say, but my words just fail
I hear your distant shoe clicks, to the midnight beat
I feel trapped in sorrow, in this imagery
But that's how I am and why I need you so
The Jam's song "Precious" is a reflection on the singer's deep longing and dependence on a loved one. The opening lines of the song, "Your precious love, that means so much, will it ever stop or will I just lose touch?" set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is worried that his connection with his loved one is fragile and might not last. He is aware that his words may not do justice in expressing how much he needs this love.
The singer's need for his loved one is compared to that of a hungry child who can't help but keep eating. He acknowledges that he feels lonely and trapped in sorrow without his loved one. His description of his loneliness is vivid; he compares it to the loneliness of the moors on a winter's morning and the quietness of the sea on a calm night. In the last verse, the singer clarifies that he doesn't want to consume his loved one entirely but only seeks something "solid" in his life.
"Precious" can be interpreted as a love song, but it also speaks to the fear of losing people we depend on and the difficulty of expressing our feelings accurately. The song's music and lyrics work together to create a longing and melancholic mood that's introspective and somewhat wistful.
Line by Line Meaning
Your precious love, that means so much
The love that we share is so valuable to me.
Will it ever stop or will I just lose touch?
I worry that our love may fade away or that we might grow apart from each other.
What I want to say, but my words just fail
I struggle to express my deepest feelings because they are so overwhelming.
Is that I need it so I can't help myself
I am so dependent on your love that I cannot control the way I feel.
Like a hungry child, I just help myself
I crave your love like a child who is always hungry and cannot resist eating.
And when I'm all full up, I go out to play
Once I have had my fill of your love, I find joy in other aspects of my life.
Lonely as the moors on a winter's morning
I feel isolated and desolate, similar to the bleak and empty moors on a winter morning.
Quiet as the sea on a good calm night
My mind is calm and peaceful, like the tranquil sea on a quiet night.
In your tranquil shadow, I try and follow
I look up to you and try to emulate your peaceful and contented nature.
I hear your distant shoe clicks, to the midnight beat
Even when we are apart, I can hear your footsteps and feel connected to you.
I feel trapped in sorrow, in this imagery
The emotions that I experience when thinking of you are so intense that they feel overwhelming.
But that's how I am and why I need you so
My intense and overwhelming emotions are a part of who I am and why I need your love so much.
But I don't mean to bleed you dry
I don't want to take advantage of your love or completely drain you of your emotions and energy.
Or take you over for the rest of your life
I don't want to control your life or make you feel suffocated by my emotions.
It's just that I need something solid in mine
I need the security and stability that your love provides in my life.
Believe me baby, your precious love, that means so much
I want you to know that your love is incredibly valuable to me.
Will it ever stop or will I just lose touch?
I worry that our love may fade away or that we might grow apart from each other.
What I want to say, but my words just fail
I struggle to express my deepest feelings because they are so overwhelming.
I hear your distant shoe clicks, to the midnight beat
Even when we are apart, I can hear your footsteps and feel connected to you.
I feel trapped in sorrow, in this imagery
The emotions that I experience when thinking of you are so intense that they feel overwhelming.
But that's how I am and why I need you so
My intense and overwhelming emotions are a part of who I am and why I need your love so much.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind