Week Seventy-One: James - "Out to Get You" - Laid

You may recall that when I posted about "Sing Your Life" by Morrissey, I included a scan of two fanzines that I picked up at the 1992 concert in Dallas. If you read the page about Moz's "statistics", you may also recall that he listed James as one of his favorite bands. James actually opened a few shows for The Smiths on the Meat is Murder tour.

To me, this song is so reminiscent of something that Morrissey would write. In fact, through one of my many periods of depression (who hasn't had at least one?!?!?), I would listen to this song on repeat. It is an incredibly powerful song!!!

When I was listening to it while I was composing this post, I realized that it is no longer capable of taking me back to a level of sadness like it once was... I guess I am just at a different place in my life at the moment, but I still adore this song for getting me through many rough days!!!

I'll also include another favorite called "Sometimes" to take you into the weekend...

I'm so alone tonight

My bed feels larger than when I was small

Lost in memories

Lost in all the sheets and old pillows

So alone tonight

Miss you more than I will let you know

Miss the outline of your back

Miss you breathing down my neck

They're all out to get you

Once again they are all out to get you

Once again

Insecure, what you gonna do

Feel so small they could step on you

Called you up, answering machine

When the human touch

Is what is need

What I need (X4)

Is you

I need you

Looked in the mirror, I don't know who I am anymore

The face is familiar

But the eyes, the eyes give it all away

They're all out to get you

Once again they're all out to get you

Here they come again (X8)

Insecure what you gonna do

Feel so small they could step on you

Called you up, answering machine

When the human touch

Is what I need

What I need (X8)

Is you (X6)

If you let me breathe (X5)

They're all out to get you

Once again

To get you

Once again

Week Seventy-One: James - "Say Something" - Laid

Believe it or not, James stopped by Texas back in 1994, and they played at, of all places, the Six Flags Music Mill Amphitheater. My friend, Cecilia, and I attended the show. We did not purchase our tickets in advance. We actually purchased them at the park on the day of the show, and we were still able to get third row center, if that tells you how poorly the concert was attended. At one point, a girl with a laminated backstage pass came and sat behind us. We asked her how she got that pass, and it turned out that she was the girlfriend of one of the band members. She said that the guys were really disappointed by the small turnout.

Regardless, James still put on an amazing show. At one point the band member's girlfriend jokingly stated that I knew the words to their songs even better than she did. "Say Something" was not one of my favorites until I heard it live. Tim Booth sang it with such passion that it was impossible not to be moved by it. He also has the loveliest eyes. Even from the third row, his eyes were sparkling as he sang.

I cannot locate my ticket stub, which really sucks!! In fact, many of my stubs from the concerts that I attended at Six Flags were ruined from riding the water rides. I imagine that might be what happened to my James stub, as well. :-(

You're as tight as a hunter's trap

Hidden well, what are you concealing

Poker face, carved in stone

Amongst friends, but all alone

Why do you hide 

Say something, say something, anything

I've shown you everything

Give me a sign

Say something, say something, anything

Your silence is deafening

Pay me in kind 

Take a drug to set you free

Strange fruit from a forbidden tree

You've got to come down soon

(More than a) Whole lot of drug is what I need

Need a change of scenery

Need a new life 

Say something, say something anything

I've shown you everything

Give me a sign

Say something, say something, anything

Your silence is deafening

Pay me in kind 

Say something, say something, anything, 

I’ve shown you everything

Give me a sign

I'm open wide, open wondering

Have you swallowed everything

Pay me in kind 

Week Seventy-One: James - "Laid" - Laid

Even though most people think this song was released around the time of the American Pie films, it was actually released in 1993. In fact, either Josh or Alex would play it on The Adventure Club on The EDGE because I won a copy of this CD by calling into the show. I remember my dad handing me the CD after he picked it up from the station and asking: "What the hell kind of music is this?!?!?!" The cover, if you recall, has the band members wearing dresses and eating bananas.

Matt Nathanson covered the song, and it was included on the soundtrack for the film, American Wedding. You may remember me mentioning in my post for "The Mayor of Simpleton" by XTC that I have a snow globe collection. In this collection, there are a few really, really strange ones. In fact, if you recall the scene referred to as "grooming the groom", I have a snow globe of that scene that was a promotional offer when you purchased the DVD. It was actually my mother who purchased that DVD, but since she knew that I had a snow globe collection, she happily handed it over to me. If you do not remember the "grooming the groom" scene, then I will let Wikipedia fill you in:

"As the ceremony draws near, a series of mishaps occur, including Jim's grandmother being displeased that Michelle is not Jewish and Jim shaving his pubic hair, then disposing of it too close to a vent that causes it to be set loose all over the wedding cake."

And here's a photo of my snow globe:

Another interesting fact that I learned about the song, "Laid", while I was consulting Wikipedia is the following:

"'Laid' was also covered by New Orleans alt-rock band Better Than Ezra on their 2005 greatest hits compilation."

You may recall that I covered the band, Better Than Ezra, just a few short weeks ago!!

This bed is on fire

With passionate love

The neighbors complain about the noises above

But she only comes when she's on top

My therapist said not to see you no more

She said you're like a disease without any cure

She said I'm so obsessed that I'm becoming a bore, oh no

Ah, you think you're so pretty

Caught your hand inside a till

Slammed your fingers in the door

Fought with kitchen knives and skewers

Dressed me up in women's clothes

Messed around with gender roles

Dye my eyes and call me pretty

Moved out of the house, so you moved next door

I locked you out, you cut a hole in the wall

I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone

You're driving me crazy, when are you coming home

Laid

Laid