James Morrison is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Rugby, Warwickshire. In 2006, his debut single “You Give Me Something” became a hit in Europe, Australia, and Japan, peaking in the top five in the UK and claiming the number 1 spot in New Zealand. His debut album, Undiscovered, debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart. In 2007 Morrison won the Brit Award for Best British Male. Morrison released his second album, Songs for You, Truths for Me, in 2008, which entered the top five in the UK as well as topping the Irish Albums Chart. Songs for You, Truths for Me featured the top ten singles “You Make It Real” and his critically acclaimed collaboration with Nelly Furtado titled “Broken Strings”. He has performed with Jason Mraz, Nelly Furtado, and others in concerts and in songs. Morrison wrote a song for Italian singer Marco Carta entitled “Quello che dai”, which debuted at number one in the official chart. Wikipedia®.
When James Morrison broke onto the scene as a soulful singer-songwriter in 2006 even he couldn’t have predicted that he would become the template that allowed a wave of likeminded musicians to enter the field. Now, almost ten years on, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra and James Bay are all crowding the charts, following the same format; one guy with a great, soulful voice and a guitar. They’ve all cited him as an influence but does Morrison take some credit for paving the way? “I don’t really see it like that, I was just lucky to be one of the first”. Despite his self-deprecation and humble nature, he really was the first to take that format and not only make it work but also became an overnight success story. Pop gems like ‘You Give Me Something’ from his first record ‘Undiscovered’, made him anything but and he won the 2007 BRIT Award for Best Male when he was still just 21 years old. He was also told by the veteran soul producer Jerry Wexler that his raspy, gravelly voice, the product of a childhood illness, had its “own thumbprint” and was so distinctive that “once heard, never forgotten”.
James Morrison: Demons
The 31-year-old singer-songwriter has now sold 4.5 million copies of his three albums, performed four world tours including sold-out shows to thousands at London’s Hyde Park, supporting both Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder and appeared on Herbie Hancock’s Grammy-winning album ‘The Imagination Project’. 2008’s ‘Songs for You, Truths for Me’ brought with it a string of Top Ten singles, including the phenomenally catchy ‘Broken Strings’ with Nelly Furtado, with his last album, 2011’s ‘Awakening’ shooting straight to number one, selling over one million copies worldwide. But in spite of his phenomenal success, the singer-songwriter from Rugby, Warwickshire has never really been able to appreciate how well he’s done. The songs on the new album (due to be released later this year) create a subtle balance between revealing Morrison’s pain and difficulties in his personal life and that soundtrack to those lazy Sunday mornings that, despite the tendency towards dark subject matter, will make you dance, smile and reflect.
James Morrison: Demons Lyrics:
I close my eyes and talk to God
And pray that you can save my soul
I look to you to shine a light
Before the darkness takes a hold
I won’t break
And I won’t run
This time I won’t be afraid ooohhh
I got demons
I got demons tryin’a get to me
But they’ll never take me down
I’m only human
Underneath my skin the cuts run deep
I just need a little time to work em out
To work them out
I got Demons….
I can hear them now and then when I try to make a stand
They try their best to pull me under
That’s when I reach for your hand
Never bow because we’re all kings
We are rulers of our minds, yes we are
I know that there’s an angel watching over me
I see your wings are open wide
I won’t break
And I won’t run
This time I won’t be afraid ooohhh
We’re only saved when we, come undone
It’s just the way that we’re made ooohhh
I got demons
I got demons tryin’a get to me
But they’ll never take me down
I’m only human
Underneath my skin the cuts run deep
I just need a little time to work them out
I’m only human
I just need a little time to work them out
I got Demons….
I got Demons….
