Talk:Wisemen

Discussion on what the lyrics of 'Wisemen' mean?
What does "those 3 wise men, they have a semi by the sea" mean to you?

To me it means that they have a semi trailer that they probably live out of... but others have other ideas...

...you? [unsigned question left by 210.54.239.237 on 13 March 2006] I believe it refers to a semi-detached house. Risker 03:38, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

I thought the "semi by the sea" was a metaphor for prison.--Splashen (talk) 19:23, 28 September 2017 (UTC)

My own guess would be that it is a religious reference: that the three wise men referred to are, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.

You have to go to Don McLean's 'American Pie' for this. "...and the three men I admire most, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, they caught the last train for the coast, the day the music died, and they were singing..."

The wise men come down from heaven (Blunt). Having caught the last train for the coast (McLean), those three men buy a semi (i.e. =a semi-detached house, in UK parlance) by the sea (Blunt).

On this basis, this song may be a general rant against human nature, mankind having mainly turned their backs on God.

On earth, the 'wise men' (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) can't escape from bad human beings, and are actually sorry to have created mankind in the first place (mankind generally being "pernickety little bastards in your fancy dress / Who just judge each other and try to impress".)

God only made man because he was "trying to have some fun", but he made a mess of the product (i.e. human nature is imperfect) and now he can't 'escape from' mankind, can't 'be free from' mankind, And has 'no way out' of the problem that mankind is, and the imperfect creation God has made on earth. So God takes refuge from us on the coast. As individuals, and as the human race collectively, if we proceed in a godless way, we have to ask ourselves the question "Where are we now?"

Blunt isn't alone however, as he himself has God.

Only my guess. Pure speculation. Probably well wide of the mark, I suppose someone else will tell me.

Colin McLaughlin 11:56, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

My first instinct was the religious one with "semi" as simply a trailer or a house. But there's also this definition that suggests something a lot more primal, when combined with "sea" as used in The Bad Touch.

The discussion here largely points to meanings involving past failed relationships.

At any rate, it seems clear that it would be irresponsible to include an "interpretations" section without specific citations to external analysts (or Blunt himself).

Mikepurvis 05:48, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:James-Blunt-Wisemen-Re-release.jpg
Image:James-Blunt-Wisemen-Re-release.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 09:46, 5 June 2007 (UTC)