Oh, can I, can I be him? Can I be the one? James Arthur: No, it sucks. Were there any specific sounds you were going for, musically? Written by: Richard Parkhouse, George Tizzard, James Andrew Arthur, Negin Djafari Publisher: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Do you still identify with the songs and with this music? Musically, I tried to make it as organic as possible, putting a lot of live instruments on it. His is a personal tale of recovery and redemption: Of clawing his way back to the top after hitting rock bottom; of proving his self-worth; of not letting go, and never giving up. Won't you sing it again Oh, when you sing it again Can I be him Won't you sing it again Oh, when you sing it again Can I be him I swear that every word you sing You wrote them for me Like it was a private show But I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there, will you be there Can I be the one you talk about in all your stories Can I be him? Atwood Magazine wishes James Arthur the best in his continuing career. I heard there was someone But I know he don't deserve you If you were mine, I'd never let anyone hurt you, no no I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips It's all I've been thinking about 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song And I want you to sing it again I swear that every word you sing, You wrote them for me Like it was a private show But I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there to sing it again? Oh, can I, can I be him? No matter where you go, what you do or who you are with, you can always learn something new and inspire something amazing.
He currently works at Universal Music Group in New York City. During the process of making this album, I definitely learned self-discipline and grew up quite a lot, because I wanted to prove everybody wrong. If you had to sum up Back from the Edge in as few words as possible, how would you describe it? We aim to showcase not only incredible creation, but also the stories behind them. Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories Can I be him? Did you have any difficulties incorporating the theme of love on this album? James Arthur: The only goal, really, was to make sure it sounded like a band — the right blend of electronic and real instruments. Basically, I smoked weed every day of my life for about eight years. James Arthur: A bit more extroverted, more confident, I think. I wanted to write the type of song that guys would want to play for their girlfriends.
In his off hours, Mitch may be found songwriting, wandering about one of New York's many neighborhoods, or writing an article on your next favorite artist for Atwood. Holding their hair back when you get drunk with somebody… You have one drink too many, and you fall in love in that unauthorized situation. Is that what you look for in your music — that kind of sincerity? Usually, I think I come up with the fundamentals and foundations of most things. But yeah, I love this way more than the first album. Also, we kept in mind the — they do this John Lewis Christmas advert every year, which is always amazing, and it always has this song in the background.
Chart-topping British artist James Arthur offers an intimate glimpse into the music, emotions, and struggles that come to life on his new album, Back from the Edge. I was genuinely in a super rough place. Can I be the one? James Arthur - Can I Be Him You walked into the room and now my heart has been stolen You took me back in time to when I was unbroken Now you're all I want And I knew it from the very first moment 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again I swear that every word you sing, you wrote them for me Like it was a private show, I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there to sing it again? Can I be the one Can I be the one Can I be the one Oh, can I, can I be him? I kind of tried to take that role and tried to fill that void as much as I could; she lived with me for a while. I swear that every word you sang, You wrote them for me Like it was a private show But I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there, will you be there? I heard there was someone but I know he don't deserve you If you were mine I'd never let anyone hurt you I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips It's all that I've been thinking about 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song And I want you to sing it again I swear that every word you sing You wrote them for me Like it was a private show But I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there to sing it again? But with this one, I felt like I could do whatever I wanted, because it was for me and it was like a journal — you know, so I could jot down songs and they could be whatever style I wanted them to be. Hopefully the song can act as a gateway to the rest of the album, but James Arthur is nothing but grateful to be where he is now. James Arthur: It was two years in the making.
I was really venting about that, but as time went on, it sort of evolved into a positive thing. Oh, sing it again Oh, when you sing it again Can I be him? I wanted to write the type of song that guys would want to play for their girlfriends. James Arthur: I have an addictive personality; I can get addicted to nasal spray if I let myself. I was like, think whatever you want. Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories? Unrequited love was more interesting to me than natural love, at that point. I made history on the show. He came from the X Factor, but he was the one that was supposed to go out on Week 5, but he won! Can I be the one you talk about in all your stories Can I be him? Self-medication has been a theme of my life.
. Won't you sing it again? Can I be the one? Music that could not have gone on this album. Back From the Edge — James Arthur At 29, James Arthur has come full circle. Won't you sing it again? Say I shouldn't be here but I can't give up his touch It is him I love It is him Don't you try and tell me that God doesn't care for us It is him I love It is him I love Oh, I love No, No I love I love Him I love Him I love Him I love Him I love Holy Father Judge my sins I'm not afraid of what they will bring I'm not the boy that you thought you wanted I love him. Oh, when you sing it again Can I be him? Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories? I really like that song — that really is a confessional, I was literally just writing down what was happening and what had happened.
It feels like my real first album! Can I be the one? We should also discuss your balladry. The Atwood team is made up of individuals from all over the world that are passionate about art and innovation. I wrote and recorded that in my flat. But you want to be a gentleman… and I thought that was the most relatable thing. You walked into the room And now my heart's been stolen You took me back in time to when I was unbroken Now you're all I want And I knew it from the very first moment 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song And I want you to sing it again I swear that every word you sing You wrote them for me Like it was a private show But I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there to sing it again? I heard there was someone but I know he don't deserve you If you were mine I'd never let anyone hurt you, no, no I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips It's all that I've been thinking about 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again I swear that every word you sing, you wrote them for me Like it was a private show, but I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there to sing it again? Do you have a favorite song on the album? You talk about dealing with the spotlight, headlines, and this inner incompletion. You walked into the room And now my heart has been stolen You took me back in time to when I was unbroken Now you're all I want And I knew it from the very first moment 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song And I want you to sing it again I swear that every word you sing You wrote them for me Like it was a private show I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there to sing it again Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories Can I be him I heard there was someone but I know he don't deserve you If you were mine I'd never let anyone hurt you I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips It's all that I've been thinking about 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song And I want you to sing it again I swear that every word you sing You wrote them for me Like it was a private show I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there to sing it again Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories Can I be the one Can I be the one Can I be the one Oh, can I, can I be him Won't you sing it again Oh, when you sing it again Can I be him Won't you sing it again Oh, when you sing it again Can I be him I swear that every word you sing You wrote them for me Like it was a private show I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there, will you be there Can I be the one you talk about in all your stories Can I be him Can I be him Can I be him Can I be him.
I think I used the platform effectively, and I get a sense of people not really associating me too much from it. I tried to keep it soulful, but because I had a real concept and a theme with Back From the Edge, I felt like I had more artistic license to be more eclectic in doing different styles. Can I be the one you talk about in all your stories? Does the album allow you to move on from The X Factor, etc? I swear that every word you sang, you wrote 'em for me Like it was a private show, but I know you never saw me When the lights come on and I'm on my own Will you be there, will you be there? James Arthur: Yeah, I think it does. Holy Father We need to talk I have a secret That I can't keep I'm not the boy that You thought you wanted Please don't get angry Have faith in me Say I shouldn't be here but I can't give up his touch It is him I love It is him Don't you try and tell me that God doesn't care for us It is him I love It is him I love I walk the streets of Mississippi I hold my lover by the hand I feel you staring when he is with me How can I make you understand? Mitch's words of wisdom to fellow musicians and music lovers are thus: Keep your eyes open and never stop exploring. Oh, sing it again, yeah Oh, when you sing it again Can I be him? If I can get up in the morning and talk about myself all day, you can go and get a pint of milk from the shop and do regular things that a lot of people struggle with! Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories? Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories? Once I realized that, my entire life — all of my brainpower — ran towards not doing it… Just trying to deal with it by myself, and in doing that, I got closer to getting to know my mind.