Why So Close is track nine on the 1986 James album Stutter and track six on the 1989 live album One Man Clapping.
It is a semi-acoustic rendition of the Fire So Close track off James’ debut single Jimone and the Village Fire EP. The song was brought back into the setlist for the 2011 orchestra tour.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Why so close
Big boys in black hats
Cowboys with white guns
White guns shoot blue white
Blue white baptism
No buffaloes
No Indians
No more buffaloes
Red sky is falling
Blue blood no stalling
White heat will strip you
No time to run far
Ivan's built a wall of lead round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why so close, so close
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hand on his gun waiting for the storm
One false move and we all fall down
No funeral games, no such fun
Here's your ticket to the party
That's what you get for playing with a gun
Six-gun so close
Ivan's got a wall of lead round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hands on his gun waiting for the storm
Why stand the fire so close
Why stand the fire so close
Why stand the fire so close
Why?
Big boys in black hats
Cowboys with white guns
White guns shoot blue white
Blue white baptism
No buffaloes
No Indians
No more buffaloes
Red sky is falling
Blue blood no stalling
White heat will strip you
No time to run far
Ivan's built a wall of lead round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why so close, so close
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hand on his gun waiting for the storm
One false move and we all fall down
No funeral games, no such fun
Here's your ticket to the party
That's what you get for playing with a gun
Six-gun so close
Ivan's got a wall of lead round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hands on his gun waiting for the storm
Why stand the fire so close
Why stand the fire so close
Why stand the fire so close
Why?
| Song: | Why So Close |
| Released: | 21st July 1986 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Stutter |
| First Heard Live: | London Bloomsbury Theatre – 17th July 1985 |
- Stutter acetate :Promo, Album, 1986
- Stutter promo tape :Promo, Album, 1986
- Stutter :Studio, Album, 1986
- One Man Clapping :Live, Album, 1989
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Justhipper (Compilation) :Compilation, Album, 2017
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
- Brighton The Dome – 25th April 2023
- London Brixton Academy – 20th April 2013
- London Town And Country Club 2 – 28th September 1989
- GLR London Radio – June 1989
- London Dominion Theatre – 22nd March 1989
- Birmingham Powerhouse – 21st March 1989
- Sheffield University – 15th March 1989
- Newcastle Riverside – 14th March 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
- London Astoria – 27th October 1988
- Stirling University – 16th October 1988
- Aberdeen The Venue – 14th October 1988
- Newcastle Riverside – 12th October 1988
- Manchester International 2 – 30th May 1988
- Birmingham University – 3rd October 1987
- London Astoria – 2nd October 1987
- Manchester International 2 – 1st October 1987
- Manchester Green Rooms – 10th August 1987
- Manchester Green Rooms – 9th August 1987
- Birmingham Burberries – 28th July 1987
- Sheffield University – 28th May 1987
- Sunderland Poly – 15th May 1987
- London ULU – 9th January 1987
- Liverpool University – 4th December 1986
- Bristol Bierkeller – 26th November 1986
- Swansea University – 25th November 1986
- Frankfurt Batschkapp – 20th November 1986
- Hamburg Logo – 18th November 1986
- Cologne Luxor – 17th November 1986
- Birmingham Burberries – 4th November 1986
- Salford University – 24th October 1986
- London ICA – 11th October 1986
- London ICA – 9th October 1986
- Edinburgh Hoochie Coochie – 15th August 1986
- Glasgow Daddy Warbucks – 14th August 1986
- Manchester PSV Club – 15th July 1986
- London LSE – 26th June 1986
- London Porchester Hall – 27th March 1986
- London Bloomsbury Theatre – 17th July 1985
James - Why So Close
Taken from the album Stutter
Written and performed by James
Riff:
e-10-10-10-10-10--8-8-8-8-8--10-10-10-10-10--3-5-8------
B-10-10-10-10-10--8-8-8-8-8--10-10-10-10-10--3-5-8------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
Well, this is a no-brainer! Two chords, Dm and G, repeat themselves throughout
this very folky number, only briefly pausing to allow some rather nice vocal harmonies
before coming back in. And when they do, a "riff" appears instead of the relentless
chords until the fade-out.
Lyrics/Chords:
Why so close
Dm G
Big boys in black hats
Dm G
Cowboys with white guns
Dm G
White guns shoot blue white
Dm G Dm
Blue white baptism
G Dm
No buffaloes
G Dm
No Indians
G Dm
No more buffaloes
Red sky is falling
Blue blood no stalling
White heat will strip you
No time to run far
Ivan's built a wall of lead round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why so close, so close
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hand on his gun waiting for the storm
One false move and we all fall down
No funeral games, no such fun
Here's your ticket to the party
That's what you get for playing with a gun
Six-gun so close
Ivan's got a wall of lead round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hands on his gun waiting for the storm
Why stand the fire so close
Why stand the fire so close
Why stand the fire so close
Why?
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
Taken from the album Stutter
Written and performed by James
Riff:
e-10-10-10-10-10--8-8-8-8-8--10-10-10-10-10--3-5-8------
B-10-10-10-10-10--8-8-8-8-8--10-10-10-10-10--3-5-8------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
Well, this is a no-brainer! Two chords, Dm and G, repeat themselves throughout
this very folky number, only briefly pausing to allow some rather nice vocal harmonies
before coming back in. And when they do, a "riff" appears instead of the relentless
chords until the fade-out.
Lyrics/Chords:
Why so close
Dm G
Big boys in black hats
Dm G
Cowboys with white guns
Dm G
White guns shoot blue white
Dm G Dm
Blue white baptism
G Dm
No buffaloes
G Dm
No Indians
G Dm
No more buffaloes
Red sky is falling
Blue blood no stalling
White heat will strip you
No time to run far
Ivan's built a wall of lead round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why so close, so close
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hand on his gun waiting for the storm
One false move and we all fall down
No funeral games, no such fun
Here's your ticket to the party
That's what you get for playing with a gun
Six-gun so close
Ivan's got a wall of lead round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hands on his gun waiting for the storm
Why stand the fire so close
Why stand the fire so close
Why stand the fire so close
Why?
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
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