James Colley is a singer/songwriter who brings together southern roots and a California upbringing to create a sound that is part rock and part alt. country. Raised in Bakersfield, James found his musical inspiration in the works of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, The Stones and Lou Reed. James’ vocal style is rebellious, reminiscent of many of country music’s greats, but his true musical talent rests squarely in his songwriting abilities. The debut album, California Skin, brings superb lyrical arrangements that flaunt a youthful enthusiasm along with true Americana grit.
Lyrics - Songs 7-9
ROUND I GO
Well it’s night time and I’m
I’m alone again
And these melancholy songs
Are driving me to the end
Well it’s
Round I go
Again and again
Round and round I go
Up to the end
Well dressed in my Sunday best
I went out to drink
Well I laughed all night long
Then I watched my self sink
Well it’s
Round I go
Again and again
Round and round I go
Up to the end
Round I go
Again and again
Round and round I go
Up to the end
CARELESSLY
Well I told you this
And I told you that
Probably all were lies
Well I put on my smile at the dinner table
Never looking you in the eye
Well I said I was fine
All of the time
Let me just make it through the day
Let’s just wait
Till the week is done
And we’re on the run out of here
But we both know
It doesn’t work that way
Cuz we lost our selves long ago
Oh so let’s just sit
And count the minutes away
Feel the wind sway
Back and fourth
Through your hair
And on your neck
Let’s save the rest
For the road
Carelessly falling into your eyes again
Carelessly falling into your eyes again
BAKERSFIELD
Comin’ to the end
The lights are so bright
Comin’ to the end
Of the road
Green turned to brown
The weather got cold
While running round
While running round
Do you really feel good?
Cuz you’re not fooling anyone
No you’re not fooling anyone
Around
And your tattooed smiled face
Maybe a real laugh
Maybe you’ll slam the door and walk away
Maybe you’ll slam the door and walk away
So you better look around
You better cut your hair
You better go to bed right now
Do I really want to be here?
Does it really feel good?
I can’t decide right now
No I can’t decide right now
Lyrics - Songs 4-6
AUGUST
I’m walking back
The way that I came
I’m walking back, cuz
I don’t want to miss anything
Like the way you looked
Standing by the water
Smile on your face
Looking at me
Laughing in the hot spring
As the sun beat down
Making love in the night
Under our stars
Waking up with you
Mellow from our nap
Trying to keep those flies away
On a summer’s day on a summer’s night
On a summer’s day on a summer’s night
I remembered you shared your poems
Down by the river
I remember seeing you sweat
Looking at the skyline
I can’t forget
What your lips felt like on mine
Ten miles in
We were finally alone
I’m walking back
The way I came
I’m walking back, cuz
I don’t want to miss anything
Like you reading to me
As I sat on the floor
Drinkin’ Meridian
And locking the door
On a summer’s day on a summer’s night
On a summer’s day on a summer’s night
3 CHORD GIRL
Down on the beach with you
You know, I feel the sand in my hair
There’s nothing that I don’t
Like about you
But all I see is your far away eyes
All I see is you smiling through your lies
Every time oh every time we’re alone
But you’re my three chord girl
Singing your heart away
Changing oh everyday
Just trying to make your way
Ah honey back home
Somewhere back home
With your cigarettes
And your open-toed shoes
You know we walk till the day is done
Maybe some coffee for the stars
And then later goodbye in my car
Oh but all I see is you running away
And you never want to hear what I have to say
To you honey
To you
But you’re my three chord girl
Singing your heart away
Changing oh everyday
Just trying to make your way
Ah honey back home
Somewhere in the end we’ll laugh
Of times that we never shared
Of lines that we never cared
But made believe that we did
Lovin’ you is such a sin
Cuz I know that I’ll never win
But I’ll try honey until the end
Cuz you’re my three chord girl
Singing your heart away
Changing oh everyday
Just trying to make your way
Back home
SANTA RITA
Santa Rita baby
Won’t you take me home
Where the whiskey’s warm
And so is the sun
Santa Rita baby
Won’t you take me in your arms
And carry me to the sky
Carry me till I die
California baby
You know your water is so warm
And your skin is so brown
And the lights are turned down
And I’ve been on the road all day
With the sun pouring down on everything
I got my radio loud and my window down
Cruising through town after town
Coming home
To you
Lord I’m coming home
To you
Lyrics - Songs 1-3
CITY SONG # 12
I heard you comin’
Round my door
With false invitations
On the floor
I wish you saw past
The sun and the sky
I wish you saw past
Right here and now
And I saw you
Walking the streets alone
With your purple wardrobe
And your portable phone
I saw your nails scrape the wall
Unknowingly bound to fall
And the city keeps a rollin’
Every night and every day
‘Hard times in New York town’
Ain’t nothing compared with today
So take that last drag
Off your cigarette
And flick it to the ground
And walk away with no regrets
Laughing the whole way
Out of town
Just two more hours
Before day break
My window was full of rain
I saw your face in every drop
And every drop you know it felt like pain
And the city keeps a rollin’
Every night and every day
‘Hard times in New York town’
Ain’t nothing compared with today
MOVING FASTER
You and I both knew that
It would come to this one day
All your cards on the floor
Nothing left to say
Washing your windows
Waxing your floors
Your mind is in the hallway
Knocking on the door
Finally alone
So you can have your piece of mind
But you haven’t been home in three days
Boards on your mirror
Boards in your mind
You shouldn’t waste all your precious time
I’m moving faster than I ever did before
But I don’t see
To clearly now
I’m moving faster than I ever did before
But I don’t see
To clearly now
But when I saw you just the other night
I couldn’t help but just burn
I got lost in my own world again
Asleep at your door step but not wanting in
I’m moving faster than I ever did before
But I don’t see
To clearly now
I’m moving faster than I ever did before
But I don’t see
To clearly now
No I don’t see to clearly now
THE WHITE LINE
Many years from now
We’ll be sitting round
With the lights in our eyes
And our hands in the air
Thinking about things gone by
But looking ahead before we die
Oh but just to go back one more time
To see it all in the sands of time
To hear your mother
Singing nursery rhymes
Before you followed the white line
And all those times we ran to hide
Bailing out in mid stride
Hanging on to summer days
That were so full of color
You had nothing more to say
Everybody goes their own way
Oh but just to go back one more time
To see it all in the sands of time
To hear your mother
Singing nursery rhymes
Before you followed the white line
Many years from now
We’ll be sitting round
With the lights in our eyes
And our hands in the air
Thinking about things gone by
But looking ahead before we die
Oh but just to go back one more time
To see it all in the sands of time
To hear your mother
Singing nursery rhymes
Before you followed the white line
Biography
James Colley is a singer/songwriter who brings together southern roots and a California upbringing to create a sound that is part rock and part classic country. Raised in Bakersfield, James found his musical inspiration in the works of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, The Stones and Lou Reed. James’ vocal style is rebellious, reminiscent of many of country music’s greats, but his true musical talent rests squarely in his songwriting abilities. The debut album, California Skin, brings superb lyrical arrangements that flaunt a youthful enthusiasm along with true Americana grit.
At 18, James left Bakersfield and moved north to San Francisco in pursuit of a career in music. Arriving at the height of the infamous dot.com boom, James made his home in a resident’s hotel inside the Tenderloin district. It was during that time when he met fellow singer/songwriter Manny Bernal, who invited James to play bass in an experimental music band called Fleeting Trance. For almost five years James played with the band as they toured regularly throughout the West Coast. The band released numerous live and studio recordings and has the distinction of being among the most frequently featured local groups in San Francisco.
In early 2003, James decided to leave Fleeting Trance to concentrate on his own musical efforts. He teamed up with long-time friend and producer Alex James Muscat and the two began recording tracks for James’ debut album. The resulting nine song record was released on August 7th, 2004 and includes contributions from former Fleeting Trance band mates, Scott Robertson and Robert Johnson as well as Jesse Dyen and Jen Faith, of local San Francisco fame. Released on Muscat’s label, Last Stop Records, California Skin, is an eclectic blend of California country and good honest rock and roll.