Lullaby is track twelve on the 1993 James album Laid.
Originally entitled Just Human until just before the album release, Lullaby is a poignant reflection of child abuse which some of Tim’s friends had suffered earlier in their lives.
Bizarrely, the band chose to start many encores with this track. It has also made sporadic appearances in set-lists in later years, even opening the set at some lower-key shows.
It appears on the Live in 2008 album with an introduction by comedian Peter Kay. Apparently it is one of his favourite James songs.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Since your mother cast her spell
Every kiss has left a bruise
You've been reading too much meaning from existence
Now your head is used and sore
And the forecast is for more
Memories falling, like falling rain
Falling rain
Every view they hold on you's
A piano, out of tune
You're an angel
You're a demon
You're just human
Now your world has turned to trash
Broken windows on the past
Take that child and teach him senseless
Damage the dream, damage the dream
I feel nothing, I feel nothing at all
I feel nothing at all
In this gloomy, haunted place
All the feelings are of shame
All the windows have been broken by the children
So the wind screams up the stairs
Slams doors and rattles chairs
I wish we weren't conceived in violence
Damage the dream, damage the dream
The magic is broken
The house is in ruins
Your memory's one-sided
The side that you're choosing feels nothing
Feels nothing at all
We feel nothing at all
Every kiss has left a bruise
You've been reading too much meaning from existence
Now your head is used and sore
And the forecast is for more
Memories falling, like falling rain
Falling rain
Every view they hold on you's
A piano, out of tune
You're an angel
You're a demon
You're just human
Now your world has turned to trash
Broken windows on the past
Take that child and teach him senseless
Damage the dream, damage the dream
I feel nothing, I feel nothing at all
I feel nothing at all
In this gloomy, haunted place
All the feelings are of shame
All the windows have been broken by the children
So the wind screams up the stairs
Slams doors and rattles chairs
I wish we weren't conceived in violence
Damage the dream, damage the dream
The magic is broken
The house is in ruins
Your memory's one-sided
The side that you're choosing feels nothing
Feels nothing at all
We feel nothing at all
| Song: | Lullaby |
| Released: | 27th September 1993 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Laid |
| First Heard Live: | Los Angeles WOMAD – 18th September 1993 |
- Laid – Japanese promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid – UK album promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid (Japan) :Studio, Album, 1993
- Laid :Studio, Album, 1993
- In Concert : New Rock (Westwood One) 10 Track Version :Promo, Album, 1994
- In Concert : New Rock (Westwood One) 8 Track Version :Promo, Album, 1994
- Live 6 Tracks at The Lighthouse (CDR) :Promo, Album, 1999
- Laid (reissue CDR) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Live in 2008 :Live, Album, 2008
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Laid / Wah Wah Super Deluxe Edition :Compilation, Box Set, 2015
- Southampton Guildhall – 14th March 2019
- Pretoria National Botanical Garden – 25th November 2018
- Brisbane Tivoli – 17th November 2018
- Melbourne Forum – 14th November 2018
- Leeds First Direct Arena – 23rd November 2014
- BBC 6 Music Now Playing – 15th June 2014
- Absolute Radio – 8th June 2013
- Teatro Caupolican, Santiago, Chile – 28th April 2012
- Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe – 15th April 2012
- Absolute Radio – 24th June 2011
- Anaheim House Of Blues – 12th October 2010
- Denver Bluebird Theatre – 4th October 2010
- Fort Lauderdale Culture Room – 20th September 2010
- Oxford O2 Academy 2 – 12th June 2010
- Edinburgh Corn Exchange – 5th April 2010
- Thessaloniki Earth Theatre – 18th July 2009
- Birmingham NIA – 13th December 2008
- Glasgow SECC – 12th December 2008
- London Camden Proud Galleries – 7th December 2008
- San Diego House Of Blues – 3rd October 2008
- Philadelphia Trocadero – 16th September 2008
- Boston Paradise Rock Club – 15th September 2008
- Boston Paradise Rock Club – 14th September 2008
- KCRW Santa Monica – 6th June 2008
- Los Angeles Spaceland – 6th June 2008
- Liverpool University – 12th April 2008
- London Brixton Academy – 27th April 2007
- Glasgow Academy – 20th April 2007
- Carlisle Sands Centre – 18th April 2007
- Glasgow Lighthouse – 14th September 1999
- Bolton Octagon Theatre – 16th May 1999
- Glasgow SECC – 14th December 1998
- Carlisle Sands Centre – 21st August 1998
- Oxford Brookes University – 25th June 1998
- Minneapolis First Avenue – 24th May 1994
- Cleveland Agora Theatre – 21st May 1994
- Toronto Ontario Place Forum – 20th May 1994
- New Haven Toad’s Place – 9th May 1994
- San Diego SU Montezuma Hall – 24th March 1994
- Los Angeles Hollywood Palace – 22nd March 1994
- Los Angeles Hollywood Palace – 21st March 1994
- San Francisco Marriott Hotel – 19th March 1994
- San Francisco Warfield Theatre – 17th March 1994
- Sacramento Crest Theatre – 16th March 1994
- Dallas Deep Ellum Live – 4th March 1994
- Chicago Vic Theatre – 20th February 1994
- Milwaukee Marquette University Varsity Theatre – 19th February 1994
- New York Irving Plaza – 15th February 1994
- Washington WUST Music Hall – 14th February 1994
- Philadelphia Trocadero – 12th February 1994
- Boston Avalon – 10th February 1994
- Providence The Strand – 9th February 1994
- New York Radio City Music Hall – 13th January 1994
- Portsmouth Guild Hall – 11th December 1993
- London Brixton Academy – 9th December 1993
- Manchester G-Mex – 4th December 1993
- Paris, Casino de Paris – 23rd November 1993
- Lyon Transbordeur – 22nd November 1993
- Marseille Theatre du Moulin – 19th November 1993
- Besancon Montjoye – 16th November 1993
- Frankfurt Music Hall – 13th November 1993
- Cologne Live Music Hall – 12th November 1993
- 102.1 The Edge – 1st November 1993
- Los Angeles Roxy – 28th October 1993
- Los Angeles WOMAD – 18th September 1993
James - Lullaby
Taken from the album Laid
Written and performed by James
Main Riff:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----4---5-4------0------2------------------------------
A--5---5-----5--2---2--4---4----------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
The Main Riff tabbed above is actually played by Jim, but it's the only real
guitar part in the song so it's transcribed for guitar for your viewing
"pleasure." Larry's only contribution is merely chord playing (and
mimicking the riff by using the old hammer-on/pull-off between D, Dsus4 and
Dsus2 on the D chord), and Saul, as usual, is fiddling.
Lyrics/Chords:
D G A
Since your mother cast her spell
D G A
Every kiss has left a bruise
D G A D
You've been reading too much meaning from existence
Bm A
Now your head is used and sore
Bm G
And the forecast is for more
D A Bm A
Memories falling, like falling rain
D
Falling rain
Every view they hold on you's
A piano, out of tune
You're an angel
You're a demon
You're just human
Now your world has turned to trash
Broken windows on the past
Take that child and teach him senseless
Damage the dream, damage the dream
I feel nothing, I feel nothing at all
I feel nothing at all
In this gloomy, haunted place
All the feelings are of shame
All the windows have been broken by the children
So the wind screams up the stairs
Slams doors and rattles chairs
I wish we weren't conceived in violence
Damage the dream, damage the dream
The magic is broken
The house is in ruins
Your memory's one-sided
The side that you're choosing feels nothing
Feels nothing at all
We feel nothing at all
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
sweezely@hotmail.com
Taken from the album Laid
Written and performed by James
Main Riff:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----4---5-4------0------2------------------------------
A--5---5-----5--2---2--4---4----------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
The Main Riff tabbed above is actually played by Jim, but it's the only real
guitar part in the song so it's transcribed for guitar for your viewing
"pleasure." Larry's only contribution is merely chord playing (and
mimicking the riff by using the old hammer-on/pull-off between D, Dsus4 and
Dsus2 on the D chord), and Saul, as usual, is fiddling.
Lyrics/Chords:
D G A
Since your mother cast her spell
D G A
Every kiss has left a bruise
D G A D
You've been reading too much meaning from existence
Bm A
Now your head is used and sore
Bm G
And the forecast is for more
D A Bm A
Memories falling, like falling rain
D
Falling rain
Every view they hold on you's
A piano, out of tune
You're an angel
You're a demon
You're just human
Now your world has turned to trash
Broken windows on the past
Take that child and teach him senseless
Damage the dream, damage the dream
I feel nothing, I feel nothing at all
I feel nothing at all
In this gloomy, haunted place
All the feelings are of shame
All the windows have been broken by the children
So the wind screams up the stairs
Slams doors and rattles chairs
I wish we weren't conceived in violence
Damage the dream, damage the dream
The magic is broken
The house is in ruins
Your memory's one-sided
The side that you're choosing feels nothing
Feels nothing at all
We feel nothing at all
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
sweezely@hotmail.com
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