What For is the opening track and lead single on the 1988 James album Strip-Mine.
A live version of the song appears on the Come Home live dvd. A GLR session version of the track from 1998 appeared as a b-side on the Sit Down 98 single, whilst a live acoustic version recorded at Glasgow’s Lighthouse in September 1999 appeared on the 2012 The Gathering Sound boxset.
The song began life with Tim’s phonetic singing of “Bonjour, bouncy, bouncy bonjour” as the chorus. The lyrics also referred to Sellafield seas in relation to the pollution from the nuclear reprocessing centre on the North West coast. It was initially titled ‘Bonjour’ on setlists.
The meaning of the song is about a man feeling down on his luck in Manchester City Centre and looking up at the birds (“square starlings dancing on air”) circling above him and making him think the world isn’t as bad as he first thought.
Sire refused to heavily promote the single when it was finally released in March 1988, claiming that it was too indie for Radio 1.
The song returned to the James setlist in semi-acoustic form in 2016 after a long absence.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
What For
Today, I won't think of any sad things
Will not think of torture, or the rape of nature
Just today, I won't touch those sickening papers
Will just let myself get swept away by this beautiful day
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
The sunset tonight is beyond all words
In the sky above the square, starlings spiral, dancing on air.
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
I will pass through the glass into air past those birds
In the square, I am sun, I am sky in my mind's eye
Today, I will dive into foaming seas
Sick fish, myself, and some strange debris.
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
Oh I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
What for, tell me tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
I will pass through the glass into air past those birds
In the square I am sun I am sky
What for, tell me tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
Today, I won't think of any sad things
Will not think of torture, or the rape of nature
Just today, I won't touch those sickening papers
Will just let myself get swept away by this beautiful day
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
The sunset tonight is beyond all words
In the sky above the square, starlings spiral, dancing on air.
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
I will pass through the glass into air past those birds
In the square, I am sun, I am sky in my mind's eye
Today, I will dive into foaming seas
Sick fish, myself, and some strange debris.
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
Oh I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
What for, tell me tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
I will pass through the glass into air past those birds
In the square I am sun I am sky
What for, tell me tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
| Song: | What For |
| Released: | 9th March 1988 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Strip-mine |
| First Heard Live: | Burnley Mechanics Club – 27th October 1986 |
- What For / James Who? :Promo, Single, 1988
- What For :Studio, Single, 1988
- What For :Video, Single, 1988
- Just Say Yo – Volume 2 Of Just Say Yes :Compilation (non James), Album, 1988
- Strip-mine :Studio, Album, 1988
- Futurama Six (VHS) :Compilation (non James), VHS, 1990
- Come Home Live :Live, VHS, 1991
- Sit Down ’98 Apollo 440 Mix :Studio, Single, 1998
- Fresh As A Daisy (Reference CD) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Videos :Studio, DVD, 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
- Justhipper (Compilation) :Compilation, Album, 2017
- Bristol Canons Marsh Amphitheatre- 23rd June 2023
- Wolverhampton Civic Hall – 20th June 2023
- Sheffield Botanical Gardens – 30th June 2016
- Birmingham Barclaycard Arena – 20th May 2016
- Newcastle City Hall – 17th May 2016
- Leeds First Direct Arena – 14th May 2016
- Manchester Arena – 13th May 2016
- Bournemouth Academy – 10th May 2016
- Norwich UEA – 9th May 2016
- London Brixton Academy – 7th May 2016
- London Kentish Town Forum – 6th May 2016
- Tempe The Marquee – 16th April 2012
- Glasgow Lighthouse – 14th September 1999
- GLR Sean Hughes – 6th March 1998
- Lisbon Pavilhao dos Belenenses – 27th November 1993
- Milan City Square – 5th May 1992
- Radio Europe Black Session – 30th April 1992
- Amsterdam Paradiso – 22nd April 1992
- San Francisco Union Square – 15th February 1992
- Cambridge Corn Exchange – 29th October 1991
- London Brixton Academy – 25th October 1991
- London Brixton Academy – 24th October 1991
- Oxford Apollo – 20th October 1991
- Reading Festival – 24th August 1991
- Manchester Piccadilly Hotel Roof – 30th January 1991
- Manchester G-Mex – 8th December 1990
- London Brixton Academy – 6th December 1990
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 4th December 1990
- Paris La Cigale – 18th October 1990
- London Crystal Palace Bowl – 11th August 1990
- Blackpool Empress Ballroom – 4th August 1990
- Glastonbury Festival – 23rd June 1990
- London Kilburn National – 19th June 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
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 5th June 1990
- Nottingham Trent Polytechnic – 2nd December 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
- Halifax Piece Hall – 20th August 1989
- London Marquee Club – 4th July 1989
- London Marquee Club – 3rd July 1989
- Bristol Bierkeller – 19th June 1989
- Nottingham Trent Poly – 17th June 1989
- Liverpool Royal Court – 16th 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 – 14th 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
- Glasgow Queen Margaret Union – 15th October 1988
- Aberdeen The Venue – 14th October 1988
- Newcastle Riverside – 12th October 1988
- Manchester Ritz – 11th October 1988
- Warrington Legends – 5th October 1988
- Manchester International 2 – 30th May 1988
- Manchester Ritz – 12th April 1988
- London Town And Country Club – 10th April 1988
- What For – ITV The Other Side Of Midnight – March 1988
- Birmingham University – 3rd October 1987
- London Astoria – 2nd October 1987
- Manchester International 2 – 1st October 1987
- BBC Radio 1 John Peel – 9th September 1987
- Manchester Green Rooms – 9th August 1987
- Glasgow Fury Murrays – 6th August 1987
- Sheffield University – 28th May 1987
- Sunderland Poly – 15th May 1987
- Northampton Old Five Bells – 10th January 1987
- London ULU – 9th January 1987
- Cardiff Chapter Arts Centre – 9th November 1986
- Burnley Mechanics Club – 27th October 1986
James - What For
Taken from the album Strip Mine
Written and performed by James
Main Riff Version 1:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3-2--------2------------------
A--3------------------5-------5-3h5----5p3-3------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Main Riff Version 2:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3-2----3-2--------------------
A--3------------------5-------5------5h7p5-3------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Main Riff Version 3:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3h5p3-2---2--3h5p3-2----------
A--3------------------5-----------5------------5-3------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Chorus Riff:
e----------------------------------------3--------------
B----5-3------5-3---------5-3------5-3------------------
G--5-----5--5-----5-----5-----5--5-----5----------------
D-------------------5-----------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
The song starts with the Main Riff, after a fashion. The Riff appears in a number of guises with a number of endings, and all of them are tabbed above. These are played throughout the song. During the verses the odd slashes of appropriate chord are all that are played. During the chorus the Chorus Riff is played. And these chords shouldn't be too hard, C F G is the progression that repeats for the entire song.
The song ends with a long IMPROVISATION. This means YOU MAKE IT UP YOURSELF, I DON'T HAVE TO TAB IT FOR YOU.
Lyrics/Chords:
C F G
Today, I won't think of any sad things.
C F G
Will not think of torture or the rape of nature.
C F G
Just today, I won't touch those sickening papers.
C F G
Will just let myself get swept away by this beautiful day.
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
The sunset tonight is beyond all words
In the sky above the square, starlings spiral, dancing on air.
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
I will pass through the glass into air past those birds
In the square, I am sun, I am sky in my mind's eye
Today, I will dive into foaming seas
Sick fish, myself, and some strange debris.
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
Oh I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
What for, tell me tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
I will pass through the glass into air past those birds
In the square I am sun I am sky
What for, tell me tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
Taken from the album Strip Mine
Written and performed by James
Main Riff Version 1:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3-2--------2------------------
A--3------------------5-------5-3h5----5p3-3------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Main Riff Version 2:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3-2----3-2--------------------
A--3------------------5-------5------5h7p5-3------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Main Riff Version 3:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3h5p3-2---2--3h5p3-2----------
A--3------------------5-----------5------------5-3------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Chorus Riff:
e----------------------------------------3--------------
B----5-3------5-3---------5-3------5-3------------------
G--5-----5--5-----5-----5-----5--5-----5----------------
D-------------------5-----------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
The song starts with the Main Riff, after a fashion. The Riff appears in a number of guises with a number of endings, and all of them are tabbed above. These are played throughout the song. During the verses the odd slashes of appropriate chord are all that are played. During the chorus the Chorus Riff is played. And these chords shouldn't be too hard, C F G is the progression that repeats for the entire song.
The song ends with a long IMPROVISATION. This means YOU MAKE IT UP YOURSELF, I DON'T HAVE TO TAB IT FOR YOU.
Lyrics/Chords:
C F G
Today, I won't think of any sad things.
C F G
Will not think of torture or the rape of nature.
C F G
Just today, I won't touch those sickening papers.
C F G
Will just let myself get swept away by this beautiful day.
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
The sunset tonight is beyond all words
In the sky above the square, starlings spiral, dancing on air.
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
I will pass through the glass into air past those birds
In the square, I am sun, I am sky in my mind's eye
Today, I will dive into foaming seas
Sick fish, myself, and some strange debris.
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
Oh I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
What for, tell me tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
I will pass through the glass into air past those birds
In the square I am sun I am sky
What for, tell me tell me, what for
What for, tell me, tell me, what for
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
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