Festive 50 1988 Number 33

Let me tell you a secret. I preferred James when they were hippy indie folkie types then after they adopted the baggy sound, got remixed and started appearing on Saturday morning kids' TV and flogging t-shirts. Come Home is a great song, but Sit Down gets on my nerves - it's a bit too Shine compilation.

This is a proper song, with a verse, a bridge, a rousing chorus, an instrumental bit, a middle eight, chorus chorus chorus. Harmonies, whistling, jangles.

The lyrics seem pretty apt in these early days of the Dystopia:

Today, I won`t think of any sad things
Will not think of torture, or the rape of nature
Just today, I won`t touch those sickening papers
Will just let myself get swept away by this beautiful day

What for, tell oh me, tell oh me, what for

The sunset tonight is beyond all words, in the sky above the square
The starling spiral dancing on air.

What for, tell oh me, tell oh me, what for

I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
Oh I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here
I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

What for, tell oh me tell oh me, what for?