Hey Ma is track two and the title track of the 2008 James album Hey Ma. A live version features on the Live in 2008 album.
It was first played at Edinburgh Corn Exchange in August 2007 and was a regular in the set during the 2008 UK and US tours and the 2011 tour with the Orchestra Of The Swan.
The song is based around the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and the immediate aftermath and consequences such as the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions.
The charity Help For Heroes used the song in a video with the band’s permission to highlight the cause of soldiers returning from war.
Video (Jonathan Ross Show 27.6.2008)
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Now the towers have fallen
So much dust in the air
It affected your vision
Couldn't see yourself clear
From the fall came such choices
Even worse than the fall
There's this chain of consequences
Within
Without
Action cause and reaction
Never follows to plan
Black swans on your picnic table
Knocking over the jam
Please don't preach me forgiveness
You're hardwired for revenge
War is just about business
Within
Without
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Coming home in pieces
War
The dead live on within us
(In the atoms we trust)
Keep your fingers crossed
We were choking on the smoke and the dust
And the lives that were lost
Scratch the surface of liberals
There's a beast underneath
Others hiding their Jekylls
Within
Without
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
War
I can feel the daylight
I can feel the daylight
Raining on me
Raining on me
So much dust in the air
It affected your vision
Couldn't see yourself clear
From the fall came such choices
Even worse than the fall
There's this chain of consequences
Within
Without
Action cause and reaction
Never follows to plan
Black swans on your picnic table
Knocking over the jam
Please don't preach me forgiveness
You're hardwired for revenge
War is just about business
Within
Without
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Coming home in pieces
War
The dead live on within us
(In the atoms we trust)
Keep your fingers crossed
We were choking on the smoke and the dust
And the lives that were lost
Scratch the surface of liberals
There's a beast underneath
Others hiding their Jekylls
Within
Without
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma, the boys in body bags
Coming home in pieces
War
I can feel the daylight
I can feel the daylight
Raining on me
Raining on me
| Song: | Hey Ma |
| Released: | 7th April 2008 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Hey Ma |
| First Heard Live: | Edinburgh Corn Exchange – 10th August 2007 |
- Hey Ma (UK CDR promo 1) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Hey Ma (UK CDR promo 2) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Hey Ma (US CDR promo) :Promo, Album, 2008
- Hey Ma (6-track CDR promo) :Promo, Album, 2008
- Hey Ma (7 tracks CDR promo) :Promo, Album, 2008
- Hey Ma (Europe) :Studio, Album, 2008
- Hey Ma :Studio, Album, 2008
- Hey Ma (US promo) :Promo, Album, 2008
- Hey Ma (USA) :Studio, Album, 2008
- Live in 2008 :Live, Album, 2008
- Hey Ma / The Morning After (Australia) :Studio, Album, 2011
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
- Giffordtown Big Stooshie Festival – 6th May 2012
- Sao Paulo Cine Joia, Brazil – 30th April 2012
- London Royal Albert Hall – 4th November 2011
- Gateshead Sage – 2nd November 2011
- Manchester Bridgewater Hall – 1st November 2011
- Manchester Bridgewater Hall – 31st October 2011
- Liverpool Philharmonic – 29th October 2011
- Liverpool Philharmonic – 28th October 2011
- Nottingham Royal Centre – 27th October 2011
- Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – 25th October 2011
- Birmingham Symphony Hall – 24th October 2011
- Cardiff Millennium Centre – 23rd October 2011
- Chelmsford V Festival – 23rd August 2009
- Stafford V Festival – 22nd August 2009
- Sonorama Music Festival, Burgos – 15th August 2009
- Portimao Rock One Festival – 7th August 2009
- Expofacic Festival, Cantanhede – 1st August 2009
- Thessaloniki Earth Theatre – 17th July 2009
- 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
- Guadalajara Foro Expo – 8th October 2008
- Mexico City Auditorio National – 7th October 2008
- Anaheim House Of Blues – 5th October 2008
- San Diego 94.9 – 3rd October 2008
- San Diego House Of Blues – 3rd October 2008
- Los Angeles El Rey Theatre – 2nd October 2008
- San Francisco Regency Ballroom – 1st October 2008
- Denver Ogden Theatre – 29th September 2008
- Minneapolis Fine Line Cafe – 27th September 2008
- Milwaukee Turner Hall Ballroom – 26th September 2008
- Chicago Vic Theatre – 25th September 2008
- Toronto Phoenix – 23rd September 2008
- Montreal Club Soda – 22nd September 2008
- Asbury Park Stone Pony – 20th September 2008
- New York Radio City Music Hall – 19th September 2008
- Annapolis Ram’s Head – 18th September 2008
- Philadelphia Trocadero – 16th September 2008
- Boston Paradise Rock Club – 15th September 2008
- Boston Paradise Rock Club – 14th September 2008
- Aguedo Largo 1o do Maio – 4th September 2008
- Festival do Norte Alentejano, Crato – 30th August 2008
- Mares Vivas Festival, Porto, Portugal – 19th July 2008
- Hey Ma – BBC1 Jonathan Ross Show – 27th June 2008
- BBC Radio 2 Dermot O’Leary – 21st June 2008
- Isle Of Wight Festival – 15th June 2008
- Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms – 14th June 2008
- KCRW Santa Monica – 6th June 2008
- Los Angeles Spaceland – 6th June 2008
- Braga Municipal Park -11th May 2008
- Coimbra Praca da Cancao – 10th May 2008
- Madrid Riviera – 8th May 2008
- Barcelona Razzmatazz – 6th May 2008
- Later With Jools – 29th April 2008
- Aberdeen AECC – 25th April 2008
- Edinburgh Corn Exchange – 24th April 2008
- Blackpool Empress Ballroom – 22nd April 2008
- Bristol Colston Hall – 21st April 2008
- Oxford New Theatre – 19th April 2008
- Norwich UEA – 18th April 2008
- London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 17th April 2008
- Sheffield Academy – 15th April 2008
- Newcastle Academy – 14th April 2008
- Liverpool University – 12th April 2008
- Lincoln Engine Shed – 11th April 2008
- Derby Assembly Rooms – 10th April 2008
- Bradford St George’s Hall – 8th April 2008
- BBC Radio 2 Radcliffe And Maconie – 7th April 2008
- Manchester HMV Market Street – 7th April 2008
- BBC 6 Music Marc Riley – 4th April 2008
- Radio Aryla Session – April 2008
- London Hoxton Bar And Grill – 31st March 2008
- London Hoxton Bar And Grill – 11th September 2007
- London Hoxton Bar And Grill – 10th September 2007
- Edinburgh Corn Exchange – 10th August 2007
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