(1) Zach Will… Read Full Bio ↴*NOTE: There are multiple artists named Zach Williams*
(1) Zach Williams comes from Georgia and his music comes from childhood bike rides down steep hills, the valleys of real tragedy, the rivers of hope pushing you on, sincere prayers, wind chimes on a back porch where grandfathers rock in silence, the back of cereal boxes on Saturday mornings, rust and shadows in an old barn, wet pavement after rain in the city, a string full of caught fish, the advice of generations before, the way love will surprise you in someone you’ve known for years, a bullheaded grip on lifelong friendship, and the offering of an open hand.
Zach was a late bloomer as songwriters go and didn’t perform his first song publicly till near the end of college. That was in West Palm Beach in 2004 and the reception to this new artist was as warm as a south Florida summer night. The music and Zach have been growing ever since. His first band developed quite a loyal following in West Palm, recorded their first self-titled album, and hit the road for a short tour of the southeast. The pull of being at different stages in life led the original band to part ways in Florida, but Zach carried the music and the spirit with him. It was the beginning of something.
Zach began to pull from the corners of his life, to weave fact and fiction, to pound out melodies from the backs of memories, and as life took him north he chose to root the expression of his music in the south that had formed him, the faith that sustains him, and his friends. He stumbled upon a sound that is both soulful and penetrating.
Zach currently resides with his wife Stacy in Brooklyn and would tell you that his music represents the communities he has had the privilege to pass through, experience, and the ones he is still holding on to. His voice carries layers of Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and Adam Duritz. The blend is refreshing and above all honest. Zach has formed a new band since arriving in New York. The band’s Americana folk sound drifts towards all out rock n roll at moments and Zach performs as if he is strapped to the front of a freight train. Zach and the band’s crowning achievement thus far is crafting a live show that is both approachable and yet coursing with adrenaline. You can dance to it too. It leaves you feeling like you have spent the evening hearing the stories of your close friends.
Zach brings and open and collaborative spirit to the music he makes. He invites listeners to come in and live for a while in his songs, to take what you can and leave what you will. His music is not complete without the people who shape it, the people who are shaped by it, and God who holds it all together.
(2) Zachary Stephen Williams (born March 5, 1981) is an American Christian rock artist from Jonesboro, Arkansas. From 2007 through 2012 he was a member and lead vocalist of Zach Williams & The Reformation (also acoustic guitar and harmonica). He was also the lead singer of the Christian group Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace. In 2016 he went solo.
James
Zach Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What his lung saying begs him to scream,
Scream is what James wants
But he can't be seen,
Seen by the boys,
Sleeping boys in their dreams
Dreams on the banks of a riverbed
If he could wake them
Sleep through the midnight
This night won't leave
Deep, deep is the river
That's under his feet,
Feet, dangling dark
In the night but no sleep
Sleep won't consume
For this God-fearing boy
Who's stuck in the cold fog of
December trees
They would have saved him
If he could wake them
Sleep through the midnight
This night won't leave
They would have saved him
If he could wake them
Sleep through the midnight
This night won't fall
Fall comes the rain down and wakes up them all,
All they can see is James' boots and they crawl
Crawl down the steep river's edge,
Slipping right past him
That's where they screamed
James, James,
Get out of the water
Please, please,
Don't go down
No farther,
There's rapids up ahead
In this valley's bend
Please, James
James, James,
Get out of the water
Please, please,
Don't go down
No farther,
There's rapids up ahead
In this valley's bend
Please, James
They would have saved him
If he could wake them
Sleep through the midnight
This night won't...
They would have saved him
If he could wake them
Sleep through the midnight
This night won't...
James, James,
Get out of the water
Please, please,
Don't go down
No farther,
There's rapids up ahead
In this valley's bend
Please, James
James, James,
Get out of the water
Please, please,
Don't go down
No farther,
There's rapids up ahead
In this valley's bend
James, James,
Get out of the water
Please, please,
Don't go down
No farther,
There's rapids up ahead
In this valley's bend
Please, James
The lyrics of Zach Williams's song "James" tell the tragic story of a young man named James who is contemplating suicide by drowning himself in a river. James is in a state of despair and feels isolated, unable to scream out to others for help. The song speaks of how James is standing on the edge of the river, contemplating if he should go through with the act. He is in the cold fog of December trees, both physically and mentally. The boys who are sleeping on the riverbank would have saved him if he could have woken them. They crawl on the river's edge, slipping past him, and can only see James' boots. They call out to him, begging him to get out of the water and telling him that there are rapids ahead.
The song's lyrics give the impression of a bleak, desperate, and lonely place. Those around James are powerless to help, and they can only shout his name and beg him to stop. They can see the danger he is in but feel helpless in the face of his despair. The last lines of the song repeatedly urge James to come back from the edge of the river, to get back to safety, and to make it back to life. The song uses the metaphor of the river as a symbol of physical and emotional danger, where the rapids represent an imminent threat to life.
Overall, "James" is a heart-wrenching song that showcases the importance of reaching out to those in crisis and providing support, even to those who may not be able to communicate that they need help.
Line by Line Meaning
Breathe, breathe
Take a deep breath and calm down
What his lung saying begs him to scream,
James wants to scream but he's holding back because he doesn't want to draw attention to himself
Scream is what James wants
James is feeling helpless and wants to scream out for help
But he can't be seen,
James is in a situation where no one can see him or hear his cries for help
Seen by the boys,
James is referring to a group of boys who are nearby but are unaware of his situation
Sleeping boys in their dreams
The boys are sleeping and dreaming unaware of what's happening around them
Dreams on the banks of a riverbed
The boys are dreaming about being on the banks of a riverbed
They would have saved him
If he could wake them
Sleep through the midnight
This night won't leave
James is aware that if he can wake the boys, they would save him from the situation but he is struggling to do so, and this night won't be over anytime soon
Deep, deep is the river
That's under his feet,
James is standing on the banks of a deep river, which could result in a disastrous situation if he falls or slips
Feet, dangling dark
In the night but no sleep
James is scared and trying to hold on while his feet are dangling in the dark night
Sleep won't consume
For this God-fearing boy
Who's stuck in the cold fog of
December trees
James is so scared and frightened that he's unable to sleep, and he's stuck in a cold place with lots of fog
Fall comes the rain down and wakes up them all,
All they can see is James' boots and they crawl
Crawl down the steep river's edge,
Slipping right past him
That's where they screamed
The boys wake up to the sound of rain and notice James' boots. They try to crawl down towards him but slip past him and scream for him to get out of the water
James, James,
Get out of the water
Please, please,
Don't go down
No farther,
There's rapids up ahead
In this valley's bend
Please, James
The boys are urging James to get out of the water as there are rapids up ahead, and he's in danger of being pulled in
They would have saved him
If he could wake them
Sleep through the midnight
This night won't...
James is aware that the boys would have saved him if he could wake them up earlier. However, now it might be too late
James, James,
Get out of the water
Please, please,
Don't go down
No farther,
There's rapids up ahead
In this valley's bend
The boys continue pleading with James to get out of the water
Contributed by Aubrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
zach green
Rockwood, early 2010. First and only time I got hear Zach Williams perform originals. It was an indescribable experience. Soulful, hilarious, umcomfortable, overcrowded and easily one of the greatest nights of my life.
Alavaro Romero
Thank you for Putting it on Youtube!!!! Ive had to go to spotify for years to hear this gem ❤
BadBubbles1205
Absolutely love this song!!
BadBubbles1205
Revisited 2022! Still love this song!!!!!!!
FlashFan 11
Aweeeesome thanks for posting this!