Sit Down

James

About Sit Down

"Sit Down" is a song by English band James, originally released in 1989 by Rough Trade Records. The song's lyrics were written in the autumn of 1988 as a homage to author Doris Lessing and singer Patti Smith, who had inspired the lead singer of James, Tim Booth. In its seven-and-a-half-minute original form, the song only reached number 77 on the UK Singles Chart (although it did make number eight in John Peel's Festive Fifty of that year). After experiencing success as part of the Madchester music scene, a new version was released in March 1991 that was shorter and with new lyrics. It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks there. It was the 20th best-selling single of 1991 in the UK. In 2013, the song placed 4th in a poll by BBC Radio 2 and the Official Charts Company to find the greatest track to miss out on the number one spot in the UK charts. In the same year, James performed the song with Peter Kay for Comic Relief. On March 30, 2017 a version of the song was used in the promo of the seventh season of the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. 


Year:
1991
4:06
4,183 
#8

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I sing myself to sleep
A song from the darkest hour
Secrets I can't keep
In sight of the day
Swing from high to deep
Extremes of sweet and sour
Hope that God exists
I hope, I pray

Drawn by the undertow
My life is out of control
I believe this wave will bear my weight
So let it flow

Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Now I'm relieved to hear
That you've been to some far out places
It's hard to carry on
When you feel all alone

Now I've swung back down again
And it's worse than it was before
If I hadn't seen such riches
I could live with being poor

Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they're touched by madness
Sit down next to me
Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me

In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate

Down
Down

Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Down

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James

James is a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American college radio hit "Laid". Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the band became inactive but re-formed in January 2007, returning for a new album and international tour. Up to 2010, the band had sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. more »

1 fan

Written by: Gavan Michael Whelan, James Lawrence Gott, James Patrick Glennie, Timothy Booth

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Formation & Release
"Sit Down" is a song by English rock band James that was originally recorded for their 1989 album, Live at the Big Top. It was subsequently re-recorded and released as a single in 1991.
Chart Success
Upon its release in 1991, "Sit Down" climbed to number two on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's highest-charting single in the UK.
Relevance
The song has become symbolic of the Madchester era in British music, and it remains one of James' most popular songs.
Inspiration
Drawing from folk music, the song's lyrics have been interpreted as a tribute to author Doris Lessing and activist Rosa Parks, who are stated in the lyrics.
Live Performances
"Sit Down" is a staple of James' live performances, often accompanied by a sea of fans sitting down during the song's iconic chorus in unity.
Legacy
The Britpop band Blur cited "Sit Down" as an inspiration, with frontman Damon Albarn saying it influenced their UK number one hit "Country House."
Cover Versions
Various artists have covered "Sit Down" including The Wonder Stuff and Matt Cardle, indicating its enduring popularity in the music world.
Music Video
The song's official music video was directed by renowned photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn, noted for his work with other bands like U2 and Depeche Mode.
Reissues
"Sit Down" has seen various reissues over the years, with the 2001 version charting at number seven in the UK singles chart and a 2018 version recorded live with the Manchester Camerata orchestra for the album "Many Faces."
Song Writing
Band members Tim Booth and Jim Glennie penned the lyrics for "Sit Down," with the music composed by the entire band, demonstrating the collaborative nature of their songwriting process.

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