Ya Ho is track seven on the 1988 James album Strip-Mine and also on the 1989 live album One Man Clapping. It was released as a single in September 1988.
It began life as a primarily acoustic slower number in the early eighties and featured in a Peel Session in 1987.
Ya Ho was originally intended as the first single off the Strip Mine album in 1987 before the decision was made to remix the album, so the eventual release is a different mix to the album version and bears an earlier catalogue number to What For even though it was released six months later.
A live version appears only on the CD version of One Man Clapping.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
I nearly died, when you jumped in
But you had to drown before you could swim
All the people on the beach, they were so impressed
That they wanted to join you
But no, they wouldn't undress
Or let that wetness splash their skin
So they pray for a whirlpool to pull you in
Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho
So they looked away, and they tried to pretend
That it was for you, but no it wasn't for them
So the fear of sinking remains in place
But it's the fear of failure that's a real disgrace
Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho
Let me be the one, let me be the one, let me be the one, let me be the one
To get over your wall, to get over your wall
Head in the sand, sea out of reach
Swept away by the games of the beach
Those people sat and watched your stand
And the weight of their fears
Pulled them underground
Will anyone learn from the stories that are told
Of the tribe who drowned in the grave of gold
Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho
Let me be the one, let me be the one, let me be the one, let me be the one
To take a cool long look with eyes prised wide
To face those fears from which I hide
Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho
Heads down, someone's calling, but your head's down
Someone's drowning
Look up, see what's before your eyes
Someone escaping or someone drowning
Head's down, you can help them, but your head's down
Your head is underground, your head is underground
Your head is underground, your head is underground
Your head is under the ground
But you had to drown before you could swim
All the people on the beach, they were so impressed
That they wanted to join you
But no, they wouldn't undress
Or let that wetness splash their skin
So they pray for a whirlpool to pull you in
Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho
So they looked away, and they tried to pretend
That it was for you, but no it wasn't for them
So the fear of sinking remains in place
But it's the fear of failure that's a real disgrace
Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho
Let me be the one, let me be the one, let me be the one, let me be the one
To get over your wall, to get over your wall
Head in the sand, sea out of reach
Swept away by the games of the beach
Those people sat and watched your stand
And the weight of their fears
Pulled them underground
Will anyone learn from the stories that are told
Of the tribe who drowned in the grave of gold
Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho
Let me be the one, let me be the one, let me be the one, let me be the one
To take a cool long look with eyes prised wide
To face those fears from which I hide
Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho Ya Ho
Heads down, someone's calling, but your head's down
Someone's drowning
Look up, see what's before your eyes
Someone escaping or someone drowning
Head's down, you can help them, but your head's down
Your head is underground, your head is underground
Your head is underground, your head is underground
Your head is under the ground
| Song: | Ya Ho |
| Released: | September 1988 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Strip-mine |
| First Heard Live: | London Hammersmith Riverside – 12th May 1985 |
- Just Say Yes – Sire’s Winter CD Music Sampler :Compilation (non James), Album, 1987
- Ya Ho :Studio, Single, 1988
- Strip-mine :Studio, Album, 1988
- One Man Clapping :Live, Album, 1989
- Fresh As A Daisy (Reference CD) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles :Compilation, Album, 2007
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Justhipper (Compilation) :Compilation, Album, 2017
- Bath Moles Club – 16th November 1988
- Paris La Cigale – 30th October 1988
- London Astoria – 27th October 1988
- Bristol Bierkeller – 26th October 1988
- Sheffield University – 21st 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
- Manchester Ritz – 11th October 1988
- Warrington Legends – 5th October 1988
- Ya Ho – The Other Side Of Midnight – September 1988
- Manchester International 2 – 30th May 1988
- BBC Radio 1 John Peel – 9th September 1987
- Manchester Green Rooms – 10th August 1987
- Manchester Green Rooms – 9th August 1987
- Glasgow Fury Murrays – 6th August 1987
- Birmingham Burberries – 28th July 1987
- Sunderland Poly – 15th May 1987
- London ULU – 9th January 1987
- Liverpool University – 4th December 1986
- Bristol Bierkeller – 26th November 1986
- Frankfurt Batschkapp – 20th November 1986
- Hamburg Logo – 18th November 1986
- Cologne Luxor – 17th November 1986
- Salford University – 24th October 1986
- London ICA – 8th October 1986
- Blackburn King George’s Hall – 19th September 1986
- Dundee Dance Factory – 17th August 1986
- Aberdeen The Venue – 16th August 1986
- Edinburgh Hoochie Coochie – 15th August 1986
- Manchester PSV Club – 15th July 1986
- Leeds Ritzy – 24th June 1986
- Manchester Town Hall – 7th June 1986
- London Porchester Hall – 27th March 1986
- Liverpool System – 23rd August 1985
- Manchester Platt Fields Festival – 2nd August 1985
- London Bloomsbury Theatre – 17th July 1985
- Glastonbury Festival – 23rd June 1985
- Edinburgh Hoochie Coochie – 26th May 1985
- London Hammersmith Riverside – 12th May 1985
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