I Know What I’m Here For is track three on the 1999 James album Millionaires and was released as the lead single from the album in July 1999.
It was jammed at Real World Studios on the night The Best Of went to Number One in March 1998 and apparently Larry was present and took part in the jamming sessions (this story was told to me by Tim).
The song was first aired publicly at the Glastonbury warm-up show at Oxford Brookes University on June 25th 1998 as part of the encore. The lyrics had been finished during the soundcheck as Tim had been trying out different takes on the them. The pronounced keyboard part was added before the December tour.
Tim later explained that the lyrics and in particular the “hanging on to late December” line referred to the internal problems that the band were having at the time and the fact that he was intending to leave the band after the December 1998 tour. Those issues were obviously resolved and the band continued.
Despite the high-tech video and significant MTV rotation, the song only reached number 22 in the charts. Mark won a bet with manager Peter Rudge who said that the single would break the top ten.
The song was used by Ford as their Champions League coverage theme tune around 2011-2.
Details
A trick of light
Then everything returns to the sea
You can have whatever you want
But are you disciplined enough to be free
Turning love into a chore
Promises come cheap dear reader
Another page, another door
Follow, follow me
I know what I'm here for
Hanging on through late December
I know what I'm here for
Follow, follow me
Moving on
Don't belong
My life turned into a morgue
Every line is in the song
Follow me out of the fall
What an actor, what a show
Going through some holy motions
The bands are sharp but the singer's slow
Everything must go
I know what I'm here for
Souvenirs, polygraph tests
Photographs fresh from the wreck
What a poster saint he'll make
In one take, one take
I know what I'm here for
Follow, follow me
Song: | I Know What I'm Here For |
Released: | 19th July 1999 |
Main Associated Album (or Single): | Millionaires |
First Heard Live: | Oxford Brookes University – 25th June 1998 |
- 11 Tracks from Millionaires (CDR) :Promo, Album, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For CD promo :Promo, Single, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For Mexican CD promo :Promo, EP, 1999
- Millionaires (label promo) :Promo, Album, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For 1-track CDR :Promo, Single, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For – Australia 1-track promo :Promo, Single, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For :Studio, Single, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For (Germany) :Studio, Single, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For :Video, Single, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For (VHS) :Promo, VHS, 1999
- Millionaires (CDR) :Promo, Album, 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For and Just Like Fred Astaire – two-track Mercury CDR :Promo, Single, 1999
- 5 Tracks from Millionaires (CDR) :Promo, Album, 1999
- Millionaires album promo :Promo, Album, 1999
- Millionaires album sampler :Promo, Album, 1999
- Live 6 Tracks at The Lighthouse (CDR) :Promo, Album, 1999
- Millionaires Japanese Promo tape :Promo, Album, 1999
- Millionaires Canadian Promo CD UMP09417 :Promo, Album, 1999
- Millionaires (Europe) :Studio, Album, 1999
- Millionaires (Singapore) :Studio, Album, 1999
- Millionaires :Studio, Album, 1999
- Getting Away With It… Live (UK promo) :Promo, Album, 2002
- Getting Away With It… Live :Live, Album, 2002
- The Collection :Compilation, Album, 2004
- 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 (sampler) :Promo, Album, 2011
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- 1999 Singles & B-Sides :Compilation, Album, 2024
- Dundee Slessor Gardens – 28th July 2023
- Halifax Piece Hall – 8th July 2023
- Wolverhampton Civic Hall – 20th June 2023
- Leicester O2 Academy – 5th July 2017
- Teatro Caupolican, Santiago, Chile – 28th April 2012
- Mexico City Arena Ciudad de Mexico – 26th April 2012
- Thessaloniki Ivanofeio – 4th October 2011
- Athens Tae Kwondo Arena – 1st May 2010
- Patras Apollon Basketball Arena – 30th April 2010
- Liverpool University – 17th April 2010
- London Royal Albert Hall – 16th April 2010
- Cambridge Corn Exchange – 10th April 2010
- Preston Guildhall – 9th April 2010
- Sheffield Academy – 8th April 2010
- Dublin Academy – 8th July 2009
- Manchester Central (G-Mex) – 19th December 2008
- London Brixton Academy – 16th December 2008
- London Brixton Academy – 15th December 2008
- Birmingham NIA – 13th December 2008
- Glasgow SECC – 12th December 2008
- Leeds O2 Academy – 11th December 2008
- Brighton Dome – 9th December 2008
- London Camden Proud Galleries – 7th December 2008
- London Wembley Arena – 10th December 2001
- Glasgow SECC – 9th December 2001
- Manchester Arena – 7th December 2001
- Birmingham NEC – 6th December 2001
- Newcastle Telewest Arena – 4th December 2001
- Athens Electron Festival – 21st September 2001
- Liverpool Kings Dock Summer Pops – 8th July 2001
- Grimsby Auditorium – 6th July 2001
- London Leicester Square Sound – 18th June 2001
- London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 8th May 2000
- London Wembley Arena – 12th December 1999
- Manchester MEN Arena – 11th December 1999
- Newcastle Telewest Arena – 8th December 1999
- Birmingham NEC – 5th December 1999
- Brighton Centre – 4th December 1999
- Dublin Olympia – 30th November 1999
- Later With Jools – 23rd October 1999
- Live Aus Berlin – 22nd October 1999
- WDR Kultcomplex – 21st October 1999
- London Embassy Rooms – 11th October 1999
- Norwich UEA – 10th October 1999
- Glasgow Lighthouse – 14th September 1999
- Manchester Heaton Park – 12th September 1999
- Guildford Festival – 24th July 1999
- Blackpool Tower Ballroom – 23rd July 1999
- T In The Park – 11th July 1999
- Liverpool L2 – 9th July 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For + interview – RTP Herman Show – July 1999
- I Know What I’m Here For – Channel 4 TFI Friday – June 1999
- Glasgow SECC – 15th December 1998
- Glasgow SECC – 14th December 1998
- Manchester MEN Arena – 12th December 1998
- Brighton Centre – 9th December 1998
- Newport Centre – 8th December 1998
- Birmingham NEC – 5th December 1998
- Hereford Leisure Centre – 4th December 1998
- Oxford Brookes University – 25th June 1998
A, E, G, D