Skindiving is track thirteeen from the 1993 James album Laid.
A 1-3-4 Remix version of the song appeared on a Volume No 8 CD magazine in 1994. There is also an instrumental demo version of the track called Falsetto on the deluxe and super deluxe versions of the Laid album released in 2015.
Tim explained that this track which includes a beautiful falsetto, which Tim joked he needed helium injections to achieve, is about someone sinking deeper and deeper into a mood, being quite scary and quite peaceful at the same time.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Put your hands inside this dream
Unzip the skin, release the steam
Going down, I'm growing wings
Hope I can fly before I hit the ground
I can hear your thoughts arise
From these depths to creamy skies
Drifting down the water's cool
Let the weeds cover you
The surface storms show nothing here
The surface storms, the water's clear
The water's clear
Unzip the skin, release the steam
Going down, I'm growing wings
Hope I can fly before I hit the ground
I can hear your thoughts arise
From these depths to creamy skies
Drifting down the water's cool
Let the weeds cover you
The surface storms show nothing here
The surface storms, the water's clear
The water's clear
Song: | Skindiving / Falsetto |
Released: | 27th September 1993 |
Main Associated Album (or Single): | Laid |
First Heard Live: | Bath Moles Club – 21st March 1993 |
- Laid – Japanese promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid – UK album promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid (Japan) :Studio, Album, 1993
- Laid :Studio, Album, 1993
- Volume 8 :Compilation (non James), Album, 1994
- In Concert : New Rock (Westwood One) 10 Track Version :Promo, Album, 1994
- Laid (reissue CDR) :Promo, Album, 2001
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Laid / Wah Wah Super Deluxe Edition :Compilation, Box Set, 2015
- Las Vegas Huntridge Theatre – 25th March 1994
- San Diego SU Montezuma Hall – 24th March 1994
- Los Angeles Hollywood Palace – 22nd March 1994
- Los Angeles Hollywood Palace – 21st March 1994
- San Francisco Warfield Theatre – 17th March 1994
- Sacramento Crest Theatre – 16th March 1994
- Boston Orpheum – 9th March 1994
- Dallas Deep Ellum Live – 4th March 1994
- Chicago Vic Theatre – 20th February 1994
- Milwaukee Marquette University Varsity Theatre – 19th February 1994
- Cleveland Peabody’s Down Under – 17th February 1994
- New York Irving Plaza – 15th February 1994
- Washington WUST Music Hall – 14th February 1994
- Philadelphia Trocadero – 12th February 1994
- Providence The Strand – 9th February 1994
- Toronto Opera House – 6th February 1994
- Portsmouth Guild Hall – 11th December 1993
- London Brixton Academy – 9th December 1993
- Manchester G-Mex – 4th December 1993
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 1st December 1993
- Paris, Casino de Paris – 23rd November 1993
- Marseille Theatre du Moulin – 19th November 1993
- Besancon Montjoye – 16th November 1993
- Frankfurt Music Hall – 13th November 1993
- Cologne Live Music Hall – 12th November 1993
- Bath Moles Club – 21st March 1993
James - Skindiving
Taken from the album Laid
Written and performed by James
Main Riff:
e--1/5--6--6/8-----8/10--85----------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Riff 2:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B--3/6-6-3--1/3-----------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Backing Riff:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----3-3----3---3---------------------------------------
A--5------5---5---5-------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Brixton '93 Riff:
e--15---1312-------------------------------------------
B--------------13/15------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
Hey, this is your standard Larry-slidy-jobby, sir. The Main Riff runs throughout the song in some form or another, and the Backing Riff does too, although this is probably played by Jim on his bass. Riff 2 crops up just before a guitar comes in playing a D5 power chord. At about that time on the version on the Brixton '93 bootleg Larry plays the Brixton '93 Riff. Saul also joins in on his violin too, if you care. And the song never deviates from a chord of Dm either, in a typical James swagger.
Lyrics/Chord:
Dm
Put your hands inside this dream
Unzip the skin, release the steam
Going down, I'm growing wings
Hope I can fly before I hit the ground
I can hear your thoughts arise
From these depths to creamy skies
Drifting down the water's cool
Let the weeds cover you
The surface storms show nothing here
The surface storms, the water's clear
The water's clear
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
Taken from the album Laid
Written and performed by James
Main Riff:
e--1/5--6--6/8-----8/10--85----------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Riff 2:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B--3/6-6-3--1/3-----------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Backing Riff:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----3-3----3---3---------------------------------------
A--5------5---5---5-------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Brixton '93 Riff:
e--15---1312-------------------------------------------
B--------------13/15------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
Hey, this is your standard Larry-slidy-jobby, sir. The Main Riff runs throughout the song in some form or another, and the Backing Riff does too, although this is probably played by Jim on his bass. Riff 2 crops up just before a guitar comes in playing a D5 power chord. At about that time on the version on the Brixton '93 bootleg Larry plays the Brixton '93 Riff. Saul also joins in on his violin too, if you care. And the song never deviates from a chord of Dm either, in a typical James swagger.
Lyrics/Chord:
Dm
Put your hands inside this dream
Unzip the skin, release the steam
Going down, I'm growing wings
Hope I can fly before I hit the ground
I can hear your thoughts arise
From these depths to creamy skies
Drifting down the water's cool
Let the weeds cover you
The surface storms show nothing here
The surface storms, the water's clear
The water's clear
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk