Chain Mail is the lead track and single on the Sit Down EP, James’ first release for Sire Records in March 1986. A live version also appeared on the 1989 One Man Clapping album.
Chain Mail appeared under various titles such as Tin Can, Sea Shanty ans Sea Song on demo tapes and in radio sessions dating back to 1983.
It was resurrected in acoustic form between 1992 and 1994 and brought back into the set as a regular on the 2007 reunion tour.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
High voice, deep inside
Witness what you think you hide
I will race you through emotions
If you let me in
I made an armour plated suit
You put your lips to helmet slits
Tried to suck me out the tin
I can't get out, I'm welded in
Oh look at the chain mail and his bodyguard
Look at the chain mail and his shoddy bodyguard
Look at the chain mail and his bodyguard
Chain mail, chain mail, chain mail
High voice, deep inside
Witness what you think you hide
I will race you through emotions
If you let me in
That body's naked as the mind
The bruises mark the site of blows
Inside my suit my body's fine
When I last looked it looked like mine
I'd run away to pray for tears
Or sitting still to see
What lives behind at the back of the mind
When you have peeled the onion leaves
I'm going deeper and deeper in debt
Deeper and deeper in debt
Deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper in debt
I'm not the only one in chains
I hear you creaking in the rain
Under pressure, under stress
I see you through your holy vest
That body's naked as the mind
When I last looked, it looked like mine
Oh look at the chain mail and his body guard
Look at the chain mail and his shoddy body guard
Look at the chain mail and his body guard
Chain mail
Chain mail
Chain mail
Chain mail
Witness what you think you hide
I will race you through emotions
If you let me in
I made an armour plated suit
You put your lips to helmet slits
Tried to suck me out the tin
I can't get out, I'm welded in
Oh look at the chain mail and his bodyguard
Look at the chain mail and his shoddy bodyguard
Look at the chain mail and his bodyguard
Chain mail, chain mail, chain mail
High voice, deep inside
Witness what you think you hide
I will race you through emotions
If you let me in
That body's naked as the mind
The bruises mark the site of blows
Inside my suit my body's fine
When I last looked it looked like mine
I'd run away to pray for tears
Or sitting still to see
What lives behind at the back of the mind
When you have peeled the onion leaves
I'm going deeper and deeper in debt
Deeper and deeper in debt
Deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper in debt
I'm not the only one in chains
I hear you creaking in the rain
Under pressure, under stress
I see you through your holy vest
That body's naked as the mind
When I last looked, it looked like mine
Oh look at the chain mail and his body guard
Look at the chain mail and his shoddy body guard
Look at the chain mail and his body guard
Chain mail
Chain mail
Chain mail
Chain mail
Song: | Chain Mail |
Released: | 15th March 1986 |
Main Associated Album (or Single): | One Man Clapping |
First Heard Live: | Liverpool State Ballroom - 23rd March 1983 |
- Chain Mail :Studio, Single, 1986
- One Man Clapping :Live, Album, 1989
- In Concert : New Rock (Westwood One) 10 Track Version :Promo, Album, 1994
- In Concert : New Rock (Westwood One) 8 Track Version :Promo, Album, 1994
- Fresh As A Daisy (Reference CD) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles :Compilation, Album, 2007
- Justhipper (Compilation) :Compilation, Album, 2017
- Cavfest, Didsbury – 17th September 2011
- Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival – 11th August 2007
- Edinburgh Corn Exchange – 10th August 2007
- Sudoeste Festival, Zambujeira – 5th August 2007
- Positivus Festival, Salacgriva, Latvia – 28th July 2007
- Madrid Summercase Festival – 13th July 2007
- Oxegen Festival, Punchestown, Ireland – 8th July 2007
- London Hoxton Bar And Grill – 25th June 2007
- Manchester Hilton Cloud 23 Bar – 11th May 2007
- Manchester Club Academy – 30th April 2007
- Manchester HMV Market Street – 30th April 2007
- Manchester MEN Arena – 28th April 2007
- London Brixton Academy – 26th April 2007
- Newcastle Academy – 23rd April 2007
- Glasgow Academy – 21st April 2007
- Carlisle Sands Centre – 18th April 2007
- Dublin Olympia – 17th April 2007
- London Nambucca – 12th April 2007
- Minneapolis First Avenue – 24th May 1994
- Las Vegas Huntridge Theatre – 25th March 1994
- San Diego SU Montezuma Hall – 24th March 1994
- San Francisco Warfield Theatre – 17th March 1994
- Boston Orpheum – 9th March 1994
- New York Irving Plaza – 15th February 1994
- London Brixton Academy – 9th December 1993
- Manchester G-Mex – 4th December 1993
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 1st December 1993
- Paris, Casino de Paris – 23rd November 1993
- Bath Moles Club – 21st March 1993
- London Town And Country Club – 16th December 1992
- Newcastle Riverside – 14th March 1989
- Bath Moles Club – 16th November 1988
- Bath Moles Club – 15th November 1988
- Bath Moles Club – 14th November 1988
- Stirling University – 16th October 1988
- Manchester Ritz – 12th April 1988
- Manchester Green Rooms – 9th August 1987
- Glasgow Fury Murrays – 6th August 1987
- Sunderland Poly – 15th May 1987
- Northampton Old Five Bells – 10th January 1987
- Liverpool University – 4th December 1986
- Manchester Capri Rooms – 1st December 1986
- Bristol Bierkeller – 26th November 1986
- Hamburg Logo – 18th November 1986
- Salford University – 24th October 1986
- London ICA – 11th October 1986
- Glasgow Daddy Warbucks – 14th August 1986
- Manchester PSV Club – 15th July 1986
- London LSE – 26th June 1986
- Leeds Ritzy – 24th June 1986
- Manchester Town Hall – 7th June 1986
- London Porchester Hall – 27th March 1986
- Manchester Boardwalk – 15th December 1985
- Leeds Astoria – 23rd November 1985
- Bristol Ashton Court Festival – 3rd August 1985
- Manchester Platt Fields Festival – 2nd August 1985
- Mersea Island WOMAD – 21st July 1985
- London Bloomsbury Theatre – 17th July 1985
- Glastonbury Festival – 23rd June 1985
- Edinburgh Hoochie Coochie – 26th May 1985
- Piccadilly Radio Last Music Programme – May 1985
- BBC Radio 1 Janice Long – 25th April 1985
- Manchester Palace Theatre – 31st March 1985
- Middlesbrough Town Hall – 23rd March 1985
- Sheffield City Hall – 22nd March 1985
- London ICA – 19th March 1985
- Bournemouth Town Hall – 2nd December 1983
- London Brixton Academy – 1st December 1983
- Manchester Hacienda – 24th November 1983
- Liverpool State Ballroom – 23rd March 1983
Unavailable