I KNOW WHAT I’M HERE FOR
First released : 1999
I Know What I'm Here For was jammed at Real World Studios on the night The Best Of went to Number One and apparently Larry was present and took part in the jamming sessions (this story was told to me by Tim).
The song was first aired publically at the Glastonbury warm-up show at Oxford Brookes University on June 25th 1998 as part of the encore. The lyrics had been finished during the soundcheck as Tim had been trying out different takes on the them. The pronounced keyboard part was added before the December tour.
Tim later explained that the lyrics and in particular the "hanging on to late December" line referred to the internal problems that the band were having at the time and the fact that he was intending to leave the band after the December 1998 tour. Those issues were obviously resolved and the band continued.
Despite the high-tech video and significant MTV rotation, the song only reached number 22 in the charts.
WHERE TO GET
Studio Version : I Know What I’m Here For CASS (JIMMC 22), CDS1 (JIMCD 22), CDS2 (JIMDD22)
Studio Version : CDS promo (JIMCJ 22), I Know What I’m Here For Mexican promo (CDP 337-2)
Studio Version : Millionaires CAS (546 386-4), CD (546 386-2), 2CD (546 789-2)
Studio Version : James - The Collection CD (9824088)
Studio Version : Fresh As A Daisy - The Singles (1 disc version)
Studio Version : Fresh As A Daisy - The Singles (2 disc version)
Album Version : The Gathering Sound boxset USB stick
Live Version (Guildford 24.7.99) : Millionaires 2CD (546 789-2)
Acoustic Version (Glasgow Lighthouse 14.9.99) : Live Mercury CDR (no catalogue number)
Live Version - Getting Away With It Live CD (SANDD119)
CHORDS
A, E, G, D
LYRICS
What a life, a trick of light
Then everything returns to the sea
You can have whatever you want,
But are you disciplined enough to be free
Turning love into a chore
Promises come cheap dear reader
Another page
Another door
Follow, Follow me
I know what I'm here for
Hanging on through late December
I know what I'm here for
Follow, Follow me
Follow me
Moving on
I don't belong
My life turned into a mall
Every line is in the song
Follow me out of the fall
What an actor
What a show
Just going through some holy motions
The band are sharp
But the singer's slow
Everything must go
I know what I'm here for
Hanging on through late December
I know what I'm here for
Follow, follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me...
Souvenirs
Polygraph tests
Photographs fresh from the wreck
What a poster saint he'll make
In one take, one take
I know what I'm here for
Hanging on through late December
I know what I'm here for
Follow, Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me...