“Laid” Was Rock Band James’ Ultimate Needle-Drop Moment

Even if you don’t think you’ve heard “Laid” by James, well, trust us, you probably have. The song, released originally in 1993 by the British band, keeps popping up again and again in different forms of media.

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Because of its opening lines, “Laid” works as a kind of storytelling shorthand to depict passion between couples. But a deeper dive into the song reflects frustration and anguish about the endless to-and-fro of a romantic relationship.

Mancunian Magic

The road for James to get from when they first formed to charming American audiences with “Laid” was a long and somewhat convoluted one. They based their name on founding member Jim Glennie, even though he didn’t usually go by that moniker himself. Although they formed in 1982 in Manchester, England, it would be four years before they released their first full-length album.

It’s actually a bit of a surprise that it took them that long to go the album route. They’d already achieved buzz-band status in England by that time. James toured with The Smiths and found themselves on the cover of top British music magazines.

As the 80s wore down, some of that buzz wore off, and the band underwent major personnel changes that left just Glennie and singer Tim Booth as the only original members. As the decade turned, so did their fortunes. The albums Gold Mother and Seven shot to the British Top 5 and turned out to be a bevy of hit singles.

An American Breakthrough

For their 1993 album, which would be titled Laid after the song of the same name, the band hired their dream producer in Brian Eno. The fact that Eno, known for his production work with top-line bands such as Talking Heads and U2, would come on board displays how the status of James had grown.

“Laid” was written by Tim Booth as a way of commenting on the ups and downs of couples that he knew. It’s a deceptively simple track, with just a couple of chords and relatively straightforward instrumentation. The song’s title isn’t in the lyrics, and the chorus consists of Cook singing the word “pretty” in a playful falsetto.

It didn’t exactly set the charts on fire in America, hitting No. 63. But “Laid” earned them MTV exposure. More importantly, television producers and filmmakers keep returning to the song. Even though most of the band’s catalog remains somewhat obscure to American audiences, “Laid” sustains its hold.

Behind the Lyrics of “Laid”

Things start promisingly enough in “Laid”. “This bed is on fire with passionate love,” Booth howls. “The neighbors complain about the noises above.” But it isn’t long till this guy is whining to his therapist about the girl, overdoing it in the process: “She said I’m so obsessed that I’m becoming a bore.”

The passion turns volatile in subsequent verses, but the guy can’t seem to quit her. “I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone,” he admits. That leads to the ultimate can’t-live-with, can’t-live-without realization: “You’re driving me crazy, when are you coming home?”

James briefly broke up in 2001, but just six years later, they reunited. They remain active, with many of the members from their 90s heyday still in the fold. In Great Britain, they can call on any number of hit singles to draw major recognition. “Laid” deserves special mention for also earning James their toehold in the US. And the song’s ability to project bliss while suggesting angst should keep it in the needle-drop mix for many years to come.

Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns