English Beefcake is track three on James’ 2001 album Pleased To Meet You.
It was premiered at the Norwich show on the 2000 Theatre tour and underwent a radical overhaul to reach the version that appeared on the album. A studio version, with Brian Eno at the helm, was streamed on the old official James website in advance of the album release.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
I wish I could create myself
A cool machine designed to help
Not always hurting
Just plug me in and do the rounds
Impress your friends
Save yourself pounds
I'll not be wanting
I wish that things could be that way
But every dog must have its say
The orchestra's tuning
I understand your suffering
I felt the same sting in my heart
That's why I'm singing
Drifting away as lovers do
Heads you win and tails I lose
Nothing to say
much less to do
Unhappy me unhappy you
I know you want it all to end
Transform a love into a friend
Magicians can do
Gut feelings come
Gut feelings go
Like rivers we have no control
They just keep flowing
Yeah, I wish I could create myself
A cool machine or someone else
A lot less knowing
Drifting away as lovers do
Heads you win
And tails I lose
Nothing to say
Much less to do
Unhappy me
Unhappy you
Love can heal
And love can sting
Heads you lose
And tails I win
Unhappy me
Unhappy you
Nothing to say
And much less to do
There's nothing to say
I get in the way
Unable to break obsession
There's nothing to say
I get in the way
Still unable to break obsession
A cool machine designed to help
Not always hurting
Just plug me in and do the rounds
Impress your friends
Save yourself pounds
I'll not be wanting
I wish that things could be that way
But every dog must have its say
The orchestra's tuning
I understand your suffering
I felt the same sting in my heart
That's why I'm singing
Drifting away as lovers do
Heads you win and tails I lose
Nothing to say
much less to do
Unhappy me unhappy you
I know you want it all to end
Transform a love into a friend
Magicians can do
Gut feelings come
Gut feelings go
Like rivers we have no control
They just keep flowing
Yeah, I wish I could create myself
A cool machine or someone else
A lot less knowing
Drifting away as lovers do
Heads you win
And tails I lose
Nothing to say
Much less to do
Unhappy me
Unhappy you
Love can heal
And love can sting
Heads you lose
And tails I win
Unhappy me
Unhappy you
Nothing to say
And much less to do
There's nothing to say
I get in the way
Unable to break obsession
There's nothing to say
I get in the way
Still unable to break obsession
| Song: | English Beefcake |
| Released: | 2nd July 2001 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Pleased To Meet You |
| First Heard Live: | Norwich UEA – 4th November 2000 |
- Pleased To Meet You (UK CDR promo) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Pleased To Meet You (US CDR promo) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Pleased To Meet You (Europe) :Studio, Album, 2001
- Pleased To Meet You :Studio, Album, 2001
- The Collection :Compilation, Album, 2004
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Live In Extraordinary Times CD/DVD :Live, Album, 2020
- Madrid La Riviera – 11th September 2019
- San Diego North Park The Observatory – 6th August 2019
- Wolverhampton Civic – 7th December 2016
- London Brixton Academy – 7th May 2016
- London Kentish Town Forum – 6th May 2016
- Manchester Arena – 26th April 2013
- Birmingham Academy – 25th April 2013
- London Brixton Academy – 19th April 2013
- Bristol Colston Hall – 17th April 2013
- Newcastle Academy – 15th April 2013
- Athens Ejekt Festival – 27th June 2012
- Mexico City Arena Ciudad de Mexico – 26th April 2012
- Monterrey Arena – 25th April 2012
- San Diego House Of Blues – 19th April 2012
- Tempe The Marquee – 16th April 2012
- Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe – 15th April 2012
- Los Angeles El Rey Theatre – 12th April 2012
- San Francisco Independent – 11th April 2012
- London Royal Albert Hall – 4th November 2011
- Manchester Bridgewater Hall – 1st November 2011
- Liverpool Philharmonic – 29th October 2011
- Nottingham Royal Centre – 27th October 2011
- Birmingham Symphony Hall – 24th October 2011
- Cardiff Millennium Centre – 23rd October 2011
- Istanbul Refresh The Venue – 6th October 2011
- Thessaloniki Ivanofeio – 4th October 2011
- Thessaloniki Earth Theatre – 16th July 2009
- Aguedo Largo 1o do Maio – 4th September 2008
- Barcelona Summercase Festival – 14th July 2007
- Newcastle Academy – 23rd April 2007
- London Wembley Arena – 10th December 2001
- Glasgow SECC – 9th December 2001
- Birmingham NEC – 6th December 2001
- Leeds University – 3rd December 2001
- Brighton Centre – 2nd December 2001
- Porto Coliseum – 24th November 2001
- Athens Electron Festival – 21st September 2001
- Dublin Witnness Festival – 5th August 2001
- Guildford Festival – 4th August 2001
- Liverpool Kings Dock Summer Pops – 8th July 2001
- T In The Park – 7th July 2001
- Grimsby Auditorium – 6th July 2001
- London Leicester Square Sound – 18th June 2001
- London Brixton Academy – 8th November 2000
- Nottingham Rock City – 7th November 2000
- Sheffield City Hall – 6th November 2000
- Norwich UEA – 4th November 2000
James - English Beefcake
Taken from the album Pleased To Meet You
Written and performed by James
Lead 1:
Bm D A Em
e------7-----|-----5-------|-----5-----|----------------------
B----7---7---|-------7-----|-------5---|-----------8--8p7-----
G----------7-|---7-----7---|---6-----6-|---------9--------h9--
D--9---------|-7---------7-|-7---------|-11-11p9--------------
A------------|-------------|-----------|----------------------
E------------|-------------|-----------|----------------------
Lead 2:
D A G
e------5---5-----|-----5---5-----|-----3--3------5-3----5-3---
B--------7---7---|-------5---5---|----------3--------3-----3--
G----7---------7-|---6---------6-|---4--------4---------------
D--7-------------|-7-------------|-5--------------------------
A----------------|---------------|----------------------------
E----------------|---------------|----------------------------
Song Structure:
The song begins on a chord of Bm. When the violin kicks in a chord progression of Bm D A Em
starts up which stays throughout the verses and violin solos. During the chorus the progression
alters slightly to Bm A D Em. During this period the guitar part Lead 1 is played, repeatedly.
The chords are marked so you can follow it during the chorus too (note, the |'s are NOT bar lines,
but a convenient way of distinguishing which part goes with which chord).
After the second violin solo the song is held on an Em until Tim starts singing the
"Unable to break obsession" ending, at which point the chords change to D A G G. After a couple of
repetions of the vocals the guitar part Lead 2 kicks in. Note that when Tim sings "STILL unable to
break obsession" instead of "Unable to break obsession" the chord progression becomes D A A G i.e.
hold the A chord for longer and the G chord for less time. This is why I've again marked the chords
on the Lead line. Towards the end of the ending another guitar kicks in just playing the chords.
And if you're wondering, the original version on the Brixton 2000 bootleg has the same chord structure.
Lyrics/Chords:
Bm
I wish I could create myself
D
A cool machine
Designed to help
A Em
Not always hurting
Bm
Just plug me in
And do the rounds
D
Impress your friends
Save yourself pounds
A Em
I'll not be wanting
I wish that things could be that way
But every dog must have its day
The orchestra's tuning
I understand your suffering
I've felt the same sting in my heart
That's why I'm singing
Bm A
Drifting away as lovers do
D Em
Heads you win and tails I lose
Bm
Nothing to say
A
And much less to do
D
Unhappy me
Em
Unhappy you
I know you want it all to end
Transform a love into a friend
Magicians can do
Gut feelings come
Gut feelings go
Like rivers we have no control
They just keep flowing
Yes I wish I could create myself
A cool machine
Or someone else
A lot less knowing
Drifting away as lovers do
Heads you win and tails I lose
Nothing to say
And much less to do
Unhappy me
Unhappy you
Love can heal
And love can sting
Heads you lose and tails I win
Unhappy me
Unhappy you
Nothing to say
And much less to do
D A
There's nothing to say
G
I get in the way
Unable to break obsession
D A
There's nothing to say
I get in the way
G
Still unable to break obsession
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
Taken from the album Pleased To Meet You
Written and performed by James
Lead 1:
Bm D A Em
e------7-----|-----5-------|-----5-----|----------------------
B----7---7---|-------7-----|-------5---|-----------8--8p7-----
G----------7-|---7-----7---|---6-----6-|---------9--------h9--
D--9---------|-7---------7-|-7---------|-11-11p9--------------
A------------|-------------|-----------|----------------------
E------------|-------------|-----------|----------------------
Lead 2:
D A G
e------5---5-----|-----5---5-----|-----3--3------5-3----5-3---
B--------7---7---|-------5---5---|----------3--------3-----3--
G----7---------7-|---6---------6-|---4--------4---------------
D--7-------------|-7-------------|-5--------------------------
A----------------|---------------|----------------------------
E----------------|---------------|----------------------------
Song Structure:
The song begins on a chord of Bm. When the violin kicks in a chord progression of Bm D A Em
starts up which stays throughout the verses and violin solos. During the chorus the progression
alters slightly to Bm A D Em. During this period the guitar part Lead 1 is played, repeatedly.
The chords are marked so you can follow it during the chorus too (note, the |'s are NOT bar lines,
but a convenient way of distinguishing which part goes with which chord).
After the second violin solo the song is held on an Em until Tim starts singing the
"Unable to break obsession" ending, at which point the chords change to D A G G. After a couple of
repetions of the vocals the guitar part Lead 2 kicks in. Note that when Tim sings "STILL unable to
break obsession" instead of "Unable to break obsession" the chord progression becomes D A A G i.e.
hold the A chord for longer and the G chord for less time. This is why I've again marked the chords
on the Lead line. Towards the end of the ending another guitar kicks in just playing the chords.
And if you're wondering, the original version on the Brixton 2000 bootleg has the same chord structure.
Lyrics/Chords:
Bm
I wish I could create myself
D
A cool machine
Designed to help
A Em
Not always hurting
Bm
Just plug me in
And do the rounds
D
Impress your friends
Save yourself pounds
A Em
I'll not be wanting
I wish that things could be that way
But every dog must have its day
The orchestra's tuning
I understand your suffering
I've felt the same sting in my heart
That's why I'm singing
Bm A
Drifting away as lovers do
D Em
Heads you win and tails I lose
Bm
Nothing to say
A
And much less to do
D
Unhappy me
Em
Unhappy you
I know you want it all to end
Transform a love into a friend
Magicians can do
Gut feelings come
Gut feelings go
Like rivers we have no control
They just keep flowing
Yes I wish I could create myself
A cool machine
Or someone else
A lot less knowing
Drifting away as lovers do
Heads you win and tails I lose
Nothing to say
And much less to do
Unhappy me
Unhappy you
Love can heal
And love can sting
Heads you lose and tails I win
Unhappy me
Unhappy you
Nothing to say
And much less to do
D A
There's nothing to say
G
I get in the way
Unable to break obsession
D A
There's nothing to say
I get in the way
G
Still unable to break obsession
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
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