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".
For artists called "Jam", please see http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Jam.
The Gift
The Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't you see it in the twinkle of my eye
I can't stand up and I can't sit down
I gotta keep movin' - I gotta keep movin'
All the time that gets wasted hating
Why don't you move together and make your heart feel better
Groove - groove - to the beat of this drum
Don't sit down and don't stand up
Keep on movin' - keep on movin'
Think of the future and make it grow
Why don't you move together an' make your heart feel better
Take a pinch of white and pinch of black
Mix it together and make a movin' flavour -
Take a pinch of white and pinch of black
Tell you move together an' make your heart feel better -
Move - move - we got the gift of life
Go and shout it from your roof mountain top
Give it to me once and give it to me twice
We gotta keep movin' - we gotta keep movin'!
"The Gift" by The Jam is a song that urges the listener to keep moving forward and not waste time hating or dwelling on the past. The opening lines, "Move - move - I've got the gift of life/Can't you see it in the twinkle of my eye" suggest that the singer is filled with energy and vitality, and encourages others to embrace life in the same way. The repetition of "I gotta keep movin'" reinforces this idea of constant movement and progress.
The song also touches on the idea of unity, encouraging people to "move together" and "groove to the beat of this drum." The lines "Take a pinch of white and pinch of black/Mix it together and make a movin' flavour" suggest that different races should come together and collaborate, creating something greater than each could individually achieve.
Overall, "The Gift" is an upbeat and optimistic song celebrating life and encouraging listeners to keep moving forward and working together.
Line by Line Meaning
Move - move - I've got the gift of life
I am alive and I am grateful for it.
Can't you see it in the twinkle of my eye
My eyes show my joy and my gratitude for life.
I can't stand up and I can't sit down
Life is not about being still, it's about movement and progress.
I gotta keep movin' - I gotta keep movin'
I need to keep moving forward and making progress in life.
All the time that gets wasted hating
Hate is a waste of time and energy.
Why don't you move together and make your heart feel better
If we come together and focus on positive things, we can improve our lives and our world.
Groove - groove - to the beat of this drum
Life is like a drum, and we need to find our rhythm and dance to it.
Feel it in the wind and the warmth of the sun
Feel life and its energy in everything around us.
Don't sit down and don't stand up
Don't be passive or stagnant, keep moving forward.
Keep on movin' - keep on movin'
Keep making progress in life, always moving forward.
Think of the future and make it grow
Focusing on the future and our goals can help us make them a reality.
Take a pinch of white and pinch of black
Life is a mix of good and bad experiences.
Mix it together and make a movin' flavour -
We need to take the good and the bad and use them to create a unique and meaningful life.
Tell you move together an' make your heart feel better -
If we work together and focus on positivity, our lives and the world around us can improve.
Move - move - we got the gift of life
Again, we should always be grateful for life and strive to make the most of it.
Go and shout it from your roof mountain top
Share your joy and gratitude for life with others.
Give it to me once and give it to me twice
Enjoy life to the fullest, savoring it as much as possible.
We gotta keep movin' - we gotta keep movin'!
Life is always moving forward, and so should we.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mikeyrimshot
Love the Jam and the Council, but this album stands out from the whole catalogue as the best of the lot. (Foxton really on his game) Still in heavy rotation at my house!
Danny Vine
This is never the best album the Jam did! Setting Sons takes that credit. But the Gift has some great songs I agree -I am still amazed that over 30 years later the Jam still have lots of fans. That is longevity for ya!
Bip Bippadotta
The Gift is the first (and as it turned out, last) Jam album that I actually remember being released therefore, it has a special place in my heart. I eventually listened to and still own every one of their LP's. My favourites are In The City & The Gift. Like bookends for a lightening bolt !
Peter Broderick
The whole slab is timeless
HotDog9
Well said! 👍
Mark Smith
Sound affects is their best album. Any arguments? 🤣😉👍
Paul Desca
Brilliant.
alan agnew
The best album they ever did
Porcelain Bus
Small Faces Don't burst my bubble - not that there's anything wrong with borrowing