Say Something is track five on the 1993 James album Laid.
A “New” Version accompanied the release of the song as a double A-side with Jam J in the UK in March 1994. It was also remixed by Utah Saints for a US single release and by Mark Hunter for the Saying Nothing mix on the 2001 reissue.
A live version recorded for BBC Radio 1 appeared on a second Laid cd single in November 1993. Another live version appears on the 2002 Getting Away With It Live CD and DVD.
Originally entitled Carousel, Say Something was written at a time when Larry and Tim were barely on speaking terms. It was debuted at Hamburg Grosse Freiheit on 29 April 1992 and very quickly became a fixture in James set-list. It lost the “hoolaheyray” part in the middle eight stolen from Crescendo and appeared on the Laid album.
Two videos were made, one with Tim in a gorilla outfit in a cage and then a second with the band singing the song at passers by in New York, made at the request of MTV as they felt the original was inappropriate.
The early demo entitled Carousel was given away as a digital download with CD copies of The Morning After album in 2010 and appeared on the Deluxe and Super Deluxe versions of the Laid album.
It fell out of favour with the band until the Best Of tour and is now a regular crowd-pleaser at James gigs, often causing Tim to venture out into the audience.
Details
Hidden well, what are you concealing
Poker face, carved in stone
Amongst friends, but all alone
Why do you hide
Say something, say something, anything
I've shown you everything
Give me a sign
Say something, say something, anything
Your silence is deafening
Pay me in kind
Take a drug to set you free
Strange fruit from a forbidden tree
You've got to come down soon
More than a drug is what I need
Need a change of scenery
Need a new life
Say something, say something anything
I've shown you everything
Give me a sign
Say something, say something, anything
Your silence is deafening
Pay me in kind
Say something, say something anything
I've shown you everything
Give me a sign
I'm open wide, open wondering
Have you swallowed everything
Pay me in kind
BBC Session 1993
The Saying Nothing Mix
Hardkiss Mix
New Version
Orchestral Version
Utah Saints Radio Edit
Carousel
Song: | Say Something |
Released: | 27th September 1993 |
Main Associated Album (or Single): | Laid |
First Heard Live: | Hamburg Grosse Freiheit 36 – 29th April 1992 |
- Laid – Japanese promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid – UK album promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid (Japan) :Studio, Album, 1993
- Laid :Studio, Album, 1993
- Laid :Studio, Single, 1993
- Jam J Single Cassette Promo :Promo, Single, 1994
- Say Something CD promo :Promo, Single, 1994
- Say Something US CD promo :Promo, Single, 1994
- Jam J / Say Something :Studio, Single, 1994
- Say Something (USA) :Studio, Single, 1994
- Say Something (US Version) :Video, Single, 1994
- Say Something (Version 1) :Video, Single, 1994
- Say Something (USA) :Studio, Single, 1994
- James: Live at Whitfield St :Live, Album, 1998
- The Best Of James (promo) :Promo, Album, 1998
- Best Of Promo CD JIM BEST 01 :Compilation, Album, 1998
- The Best Of / Unhinged :Compilation, Album, 1998
- Runaground :Studio, Single, 1998
- The Best Of (USA) :Studio, Album, 1998
- I Know What I’m Here For Mexican CD promo :Promo, EP, 1999
- Laid (reissue CDR) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Getting Away With It… Live (UK promo) :Promo, Album, 2002
- Getting Away With It … Live :Live, DVD/VHS, 2002
- Getting Away With It… Live :Live, Album, 2002
- The Best of James (Canada) :Compilation, Album, 2006
- 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 :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Laid / Wah Wah Super Deluxe Edition :Compilation, Box Set, 2015
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
- 1994 Singles & B-Sides :Compilation, Album, 2023
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Taken from the album Laid
Written and performed by James
Main Riff:
e------------------------------- e--------------------------------------
B------------------------------- B--------------------------------------
G------------------------------- x 2 G--------------------------------------
D--2-----0-----------2---0------ D--2---0----------------------------0--
A-----3-----0--3--3----3---0-3-- A----3---0-3-3--0h3-0----0h3----0-3----
E------------------------------- E---------------------3----------------
Chorus Riff:
e------3------5--- -----3--------------------------------
B----5------5----- ---6---6-5----------------------------
G--5------5------- --------------------------------------
D----------------- --------------------------------------
A----------------- --------------------------------------
E----------------- --------------------------------------
Song Structure:
The Main Riff is played by Larry and appears mostly thoroughout the song, except during the chorus, where the Chorus Riff is played, again by Larry. The bit "tacked on" at the end is an incidental that sometimes appears through the riff. Listen to the song and you'll here it.
The chord progression throughout is C Am F, but if you're only playing chords try playing C
Lyrics/Chords:
C Am
You're as tired as a hunter's trap
F
Hidden well
C
What are you concealing
Am
Poker face carved in stone
F
Almost friends but all alone
C
Why do you hide?
Am
Say something, say something, anything
F
I've shown you everything
C
Give me a sign
Am
Say something, say something, anything
F
Your silence is deafening
C
Pay me in kind
Am
Take a drug to set you free
F
Strange fruit from a forbidden tree
C
You've got to come down soon
Am
More than a drug is what I need
F
Need a change of scenery
C
Need a new life
Am
Say something, say something, anything
F
I've shown you everything
C
Give me a sign
Am
Say something, say something, anything
F
Your silence is deafening
C
Pay me in kind
Am
Say something, say something, anything
F
I've shown you everything
C
Give me a sign
Am
I'm open, wide open, wondering
F
Have you swallowed everything
C
Pay me in kind
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk