Alaskan Pipeline is track thirteen on the James album Pleased To Meet You released in 2001. It was one of the few tracks from the record that was not performed live during the Autumn 2000 tour when most of the new album was previewed. It was resurrected in 2010 at a US soundcheck before being a highlight on the 2011 and 2023 Orchestra tours. It also appeared on the orchestral album Be Opened By The Wonderful.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
You might as well surrender now
You'll never hold that stance
With all my words, I can't find one
To help you understand
It's not too late, take up the cup
Put down your weapons and choose
But you say life's so unfair
All you say is life's so unfair
Oh, you can ill afford to hold to these views
Oh, you need something to blame
But it's you, yes, it's you, it's your truth
Someone made you
I don't know if you're sick
I comfort, you runaway
My sympathy, you twist it
You're reflex, gets in the way
You mother me, I son you
You act up, I can't get through
These footsteps so ancient
In your eyes, I'm your infant
Your ancient full circle
In my eyes, you're my infant
Dead ball in our court
We've got a dead ball in our court
You just say life's so unfair
Yes, you just say, "Life's so unfair"
You need something to blame
But it's you, yes, it's you, it's your truth
You'll never hold that stance
With all my words, I can't find one
To help you understand
It's not too late, take up the cup
Put down your weapons and choose
But you say life's so unfair
All you say is life's so unfair
Oh, you can ill afford to hold to these views
Oh, you need something to blame
But it's you, yes, it's you, it's your truth
Someone made you
I don't know if you're sick
I comfort, you runaway
My sympathy, you twist it
You're reflex, gets in the way
You mother me, I son you
You act up, I can't get through
These footsteps so ancient
In your eyes, I'm your infant
Your ancient full circle
In my eyes, you're my infant
Dead ball in our court
We've got a dead ball in our court
You just say life's so unfair
Yes, you just say, "Life's so unfair"
You need something to blame
But it's you, yes, it's you, it's your truth
Song: | Alaskan Pipeline |
Released: | 2nd July 2001 |
Main Associated Album (or Single): | Pleased To Meet You |
First Heard Live: | London Leicester Square Sound – 18th June 2001 |
- Space (a.k.a Pleased To Meet You) (UK CDR) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Five Tracks From The Forthcoming Album :Promo, Album, 2001
- Pleased To Meet You (US CDR promo) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Pleased To Meet You (UK CDR promo) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Pleased To Meet You (Europe) :Studio, Album, 2001
- Pleased To Meet You :Studio, Album, 2001
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
- Nottingham Royal Centre – 25th October 2023
- Bath Forum – 24th October 2023
- Athens The Odeon Of Herodes Atticus – 10th July 2023
- Leicester De Montfort Hall – 4th July 2023
- London Royal Albert Hall – 17th May 2023
- Manchester Apollo – 10th May 2023
- Liverpool Philharmonic Hall – 7th May 2023
- Birmingham Symphony Hall – 5th May 2023
- Sheffield City Hall – 4th May 2023
- Newcastle City Hall – 2nd May 2023
- Glasgow SEC Armadillo – 1st May 2023
- Edinburgh Usher Hall – 29th April 2023
- York Barbican – 28th April 2023
- Cardiff St David’s Hall – 26th April 2023
- Brighton The Dome – 25th April 2023
- Portmeirion Town Hall, Festival No 6 – 5th September 2015
- London Royal Albert Hall – 4th November 2011
- Gateshead Sage – 2nd November 2011
- Manchester Bridgewater Hall – 1st November 2011
- Manchester Bridgewater Hall – 31st October 2011
- Liverpool Philharmonic – 29th October 2011
- Liverpool Philharmonic – 28th October 2011
- Nottingham Royal Centre – 27th October 2011
- Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – 25th October 2011
- Birmingham Symphony Hall – 24th October 2011
- Cardiff Millennium Centre – 23rd October 2011
- Salford University Robert Powell Theatre – 12th July 2010
- London Leicester Square Sound – 18th June 2001
James - Alaskan Pipeline
Taken from the album Pleased To Meet You
Written and performed by James
Main Riff:
e--1--0--1---1--0--1---1--0--1--0-----------------------
B----------------------------------1--------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Backing Riff:
Dm F C Am
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------3-----3-----3-----3-----5-----5-----2-----2-----
A---5-5---5-5---3-3---3-3---3-3---3-3---0-0---0-0-------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
The song begins with the two guitars playing the two riffs above over a plethora of ambient keyboards. The first bit is an instumental that follows a sort of verse/chorus pattern that is made more obvious when the vocal kicks in. During the "chorus" section the main riff drops out and leaves only the backing riff, which follows the chords of the song, hence I've detailed which part of the riff follows which chord. Chords for the intro are the same as for the first verse/chorus.
Then the song moves into the "chant" section. Again there is no lead part, only the backing which follows the chords. This then leads into another instrumental section like the first part, with the main riff back into action. Then another "chorus" and that's it.
Note: Durig the chorus it sounds really good to play the C's as rather than . Also play all F's as because for some reason the low bass note sounds horrible if you play the bar chord version <133211>.
Lyrics/Chords:
Dm F
You might as well surrender now
C Am
You'll never hold that stance
Dm
With all my words
F
I can't find one
C Am
To help you understand
Dm
It's not too late
F
Take up the cup
C Am
Put down your weapons and choose
Dm
But you say life's so unfair
C
Oh you say life's so unfair
Dm C
You can ill afford to hold to these views
Dm
You need something to blame
Am
But it's you
Dm
Yes, it's you
C Dm
It's your truth
Someone made you
I don't know
F
If you're sick
I comfort
Dm
You run away
My sympathy
F
You twist it
Your reflex
Dm
Gets in the way
You mother me
F
I son you
You act up
C Dm
I can't get through
These footsteps
F
So ancient
In your eyes
C Dm
I'm your infant
You're ancient
F
Full circle
In my eyes
C
You're my infant
Dm
Dead ball in our court
F C
We've got a dead ball in our court
Dm
We just say life's so unfair
C
Yes you say life's so unfair
Dm
You need something to blame
Am
But it's you
Dm
Yes it's you
C Dm
It's your truth
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
Taken from the album Pleased To Meet You
Written and performed by James
Main Riff:
e--1--0--1---1--0--1---1--0--1--0-----------------------
B----------------------------------1--------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Backing Riff:
Dm F C Am
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------3-----3-----3-----3-----5-----5-----2-----2-----
A---5-5---5-5---3-3---3-3---3-3---3-3---0-0---0-0-------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
The song begins with the two guitars playing the two riffs above over a plethora of ambient keyboards. The first bit is an instumental that follows a sort of verse/chorus pattern that is made more obvious when the vocal kicks in. During the "chorus" section the main riff drops out and leaves only the backing riff, which follows the chords of the song, hence I've detailed which part of the riff follows which chord. Chords for the intro are the same as for the first verse/chorus.
Then the song moves into the "chant" section. Again there is no lead part, only the backing which follows the chords. This then leads into another instrumental section like the first part, with the main riff back into action. Then another "chorus" and that's it.
Note: Durig the chorus it sounds really good to play the C's as
Lyrics/Chords:
Dm F
You might as well surrender now
C Am
You'll never hold that stance
Dm
With all my words
F
I can't find one
C Am
To help you understand
Dm
It's not too late
F
Take up the cup
C Am
Put down your weapons and choose
Dm
But you say life's so unfair
C
Oh you say life's so unfair
Dm C
You can ill afford to hold to these views
Dm
You need something to blame
Am
But it's you
Dm
Yes, it's you
C Dm
It's your truth
Someone made you
I don't know
F
If you're sick
I comfort
Dm
You run away
My sympathy
F
You twist it
Your reflex
Dm
Gets in the way
You mother me
F
I son you
You act up
C Dm
I can't get through
These footsteps
F
So ancient
In your eyes
C Dm
I'm your infant
You're ancient
F
Full circle
In my eyes
C
You're my infant
Dm
Dead ball in our court
F C
We've got a dead ball in our court
Dm
We just say life's so unfair
C
Yes you say life's so unfair
Dm
You need something to blame
Am
But it's you
Dm
Yes it's you
C Dm
It's your truth
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk