What’s The World is the lead track on the 1983 James debut EP Jimone.
Live versions of the track feature on the Come Home Live cd and dvd and a 1984 Discreet Campaigns fanzine tape.
It appeared on the first two demo tapes and was played at a Fall support show at Manchester Poly as early as 1980. The first version featured lyrics by Paul, which were substituted on the second 1982 version by Gavan and Jennie Ingram’s lyrics, before Tim joined and rewrote it completely.
The original lyrics featured the lines “Oh why can’t you see / What you’re doing to me / Between the pleasure and the pain / It really fucks up my brain”
The song was covered by The Smiths and was released on their I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish cassette single then a US Sweet And Tender Hooligan single and finally the two-disc version of The Sound Of The Smiths.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
What will he sell, in the glasses and suit, heart and soul that won’t wear out. That’s not enough I want what’s inside, took a fish fillet knife and cut right through my eyes.
I’ve been looking for some words to call my own, not worn out phrases and hand me downs. They’ll mark me and where I stand, a bug on its back in a corned beef can.
Going under, you can feel them stripping you down to the rust inside.
This is the way, Frankie’s star is born. From those bits and pieces others have worn. All held together by management glue, too much glue, and the stars turn blue.
Going under, you can feel them pulling you down to the holes inside.
I’ve been looking for some words to call my own, not worn out phrases and hand me downs. They’ll mark me and where I stand, a bug on its back in a corned beef can.
Going under, you can feel them stripping you down to the rust inside.
This is the way, Frankie’s star is born. From those bits and pieces others have worn. All held together by management glue, too much glue, and the stars turn blue.
Going under, you can feel them pulling you down to the holes inside.
Live Version (Discreet Campaigns cassette)
| Song: | What's The World |
| Released: | 1st November 1983 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Jimone EP |
| First Heard Live: | Unknown Venue – 22nd November 1982 |
- Side B – Factory Demo Tape :Promo, Album, 1983
- Jimone EP :Studio, EP, 1983
- Village Fire – Five Offerings From James EP :Compilation, EP, 1985
- Discreet Campaigns Vol 1 (What’s The World live) :Compilation (non James), Album, 1985
- Come Home Live :Live, VHS, 1991
- Fresh As A Daisy (Reference CD) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles :Compilation, Album, 2007
- The Gathering Sound (full promo) :Promo, Box Set, 2012
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Manchester Castlefield Bowl – 2nd July 2022
- Warrington Parr Hall – 29th June 2022
- Lisbon MEO Arena – 29th November 2014
- London Brixton Academy – 21st November 2014
- London Royal Albert Hall – 19th November 2014
- New York Webster Hall – 21st October 2014
- Athens Theatro Vrachon – 15th July 2014
- Manchester Castlefield Bowl – 11th July 2014
- Anaheim House Of Blues – 12th October 2010
- Vancouver Commodore Ballroom – 7th October 2010
- Manchester Apollo – 11th April 1998
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 14th March 1997
- Manchester Free Trade Hall – 17th December 1992
- London Town And Country Club – 16th December 1992
- New Britain, CT, The Sting – 25th October 1992
- Alton Towers – 4th July 1992
- Frankfurt Live Music Hall – 3rd May 1992
- Hamburg Grosse Freiheit 36 – 29th April 1992
- Paris Bataclan – 23rd April 1992
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 6th November 1991
- Cambridge Corn Exchange – 29th October 1991
- London Brixton Academy – 25th October 1991
- London Brixton Academy – 24th October 1991
- Portsmouth Guildhall – 22nd October 1991
- Nottingham Royal Concert Hall – 8th October 1991
- Hultsfred Festival – 10th August 1991
- Seinajoki Festival – 8th June 1991
- Manchester G-Mex – 8th December 1990
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 4th December 1990
- Newcastle Mayfair – 3rd December 1990
- Blackpool Empress Ballroom – 4th August 1990
- Norwich UEA – 17th June 1990
- Liverpool Royal Court – 15th June 1990
- Sheffield University – 14th June 1990
- Bristol Studio – 10th June 1990
- Exeter University – 9th June 1990
- Hull City Hall – 8th June 1990
- Lancaster University – 6th June 1990
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 5th June 1990
- St Andrew’s University – 4th June 1990
- Brighton The Event – 14th May 1990
- Cambridge Corn Exchange – 13th May 1990
- Nottingham Trent Polytechnic – 2nd December 1989
- London Town And Country Club – 28th November 1989
- Liverpool University – 25th November 1989
- Edinburgh Carlton – 17th November 1989
- Bradford Futurama Festival – 1st October 1989
- London Town And Country Club 2 – 28th September 1989
- London Marquee Club – 4th July 1989
- Bristol Bierkeller – 19th June 1989
- Liverpool Royal Court – 16th June 1989
- Bath Moles Club – 16th November 1988
- Bath Moles Club – 15th November 1988
- Bath Moles Club – 14th November 1988
- Paris La Cigale – 30th October 1988
- Bristol Bierkeller – 26th October 1988
- Liverpool Polytechnic – 20th October 1988
- Stirling University – 16th October 1988
- Glasgow Queen Margaret Union – 15th October 1988
- Aberdeen The Venue – 14th October 1988
- Newcastle Riverside – 12th October 1988
- Manchester Ritz – 11th October 1988
- Manchester International 2 – 30th May 1988
- London Town And Country Club – 10th April 1988
- Birmingham University – 3rd October 1987
- London Astoria – 2nd October 1987
- Manchester Green Rooms – 10th August 1987
- Birmingham Burberries – 28th July 1987
- Sheffield University – 28th May 1987
- Northampton Old Five Bells – 10th January 1987
- Manchester Capri Rooms – 1st December 1986
- Hamburg Logo – 18th November 1986
- London ICA – 9th October 1986
- Blackburn King George’s Hall – 19th September 1986
- Aberdeen The Venue – 16th August 1986
- Glasgow Daddy Warbucks – 14th August 1986
- Bristol Clevedon Kenn Moor WOMAD – 19th July 1986
- London LSE – 26th June 1986
- Leeds Ritzy – 24th June 1986
- Manchester Town Hall – 7th June 1986
- London Porchester Hall – 27th March 1986
- Leeds Astoria – 23rd November 1985
- Bristol Ashton Court Festival – 3rd August 1985
- Manchester Platt Fields Festival – 2nd August 1985
- London Bloomsbury Theatre – 17th July 1985
- Edinburgh Hoochie Coochie – 26th May 1985
- London Hammersmith Riverside – 12th May 1985
- London Royal Albert Hall – 6th April 1985
- Middlesbrough Town Hall – 23rd March 1985
- London ICA – 19th March 1985
- Leeds Fforde Grene – 14th August 1984
- Bournemouth Town Hall – 2nd December 1983
- London Brixton Academy – 1st December 1983
- Liverpool State Ballroom – 23rd March 1983
- Unknown Venue – 22nd November 1982
Chords:
E
"that's not enough..." : G#, A
E
"that's not enough..." : G#, A
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