Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)

This song is very much open to interpretation, and depending on they way you process the words, it could can be a warning against overindulgence, a look at surviving life on the edge, or a commentary on how you can always turn your life around. James vocalist Tim Booth, who wrote the lyrics, has explained that the character Daniel in the song saves a woman named Grace from drowning, and adds, "He doesn't realize that in saving her he's really saving himself."

James is known in America mostly for their song "Laid," but they've had far greater success in their native England. "Getting Away with It (All Messed Up)" was the only single released on their ninth studio album, Pleased to Meet You, which came out on Mercury Records. It hit #22 on the UK charts and helped the LP go to #11 on the UK Album charts. The band's publicist hyped it in a press release this way: "The single is the perfect introduction to the sound of the album. Honed into shape live and perfected in the studio, the song builds and builds into another timeless classic James single."

James splits the writing credits on most of their songs, which is the case with this one, as it's credited to David Baynton-Power (Drums), Tim Booth (Vocals), Saul Davies (Guitar/Violin), Jim Glennie (Bass), and Mark Hunter (Keyboard). The album was produced by the music legend Brian Eno, who was a member of band Roxy Music. Eno, as a producer, has worked with such influential artists as David Bowie, Depeche Mode, Genesis, Coldplay, and U2.