Wisemen

At an interview James Blunt was once asked the meaning of his song Three wise men and he said it was about his childhood and the ‘wise men’ were the kids who bullied him who have now gone nowhere in life except for getting caught up in drugs and wasting their life. Moreover they now regret all the chances they missed because they were ‘just having fun’.

Where are the comments on this song? This is one of James's best... I've no idea what he's talking about in it, especially the line "those three wise men they've got a semi by the sea". So what if three intellectuals have a semi-detached property near the coast? I don't get this at all...

im not sure exactly and this is without thinking about it a great deal but i think its something to do with where people are in their lives. Like three young guys who used a fuck around with drugs and stuff and then they matured a little and now own houses and stuff but then thats just a part of the song. theres whole other sides to it and other levels that need to be explored but i dnt have the time. also sometimes i think its quite nice just to listen to a song that you dont completely understand on all levels, and that you havent ripped to pieces trying to understand. I think its supposed to be a confusing song and you should enjoy it that way because if you rip a song to pieces exploring its meanings then you will lose some of the magic - no matter what.

i love this song. i think sections of it for example the chorus is about looking back at bullies etc saying that you need to take a view on where you got from it as I have got somewhre and you havent. .... Also I think maybe it might be about a rape? the beginning signals to me that she "said go steady on me" etc and she is looking back saying look where I am! Thats just my view on it though! Enjoy this song its brill! x

this is the best song i've heard in a while. i think it's about how shallow people are sometimes and also kind of relates to 3 guys growing up throughout it, thinking of the things they'd done through their lives.......no matter what it means, it's amazing

"they were three wise men, just tryin' to have some fun."
or....the three wisemen may be the three main agonists who james/army were fighting aganist. He appears to use irony to take a stab at them, by saying " just tryin' to have some fun.". As, i feel this suggests how they didn't consider how many lives may be lost, and it's as if they are just playing with people's lives for "fun". Again the irony of "wise" men. I think this suggests total anger on james' behalf, as you have to ask yourself the question 'do wise people start wars without considering consequences?' "where are you now" may also mean, look where starting a war has got you. A huge attack on the staters of grief.

Wow, you've thought about that a lot. Well done. Sorry to spoil it, but James only wrote one song about his experiences of war - No Bravery. Still, good interpretation.

but...perhaps it does still hold meaning to more than one thing. metaphorical and just alternative interpretation in this song. Just coz he's written 'No Bravery' directly about the war, doesn't mean his other songs don't include more than one story.

this might be wrong cos it only seems to make sense in certain places but some of the lyrics smack to me like hes having a go at the whole pop idol thing. three 'wise' people who 'just judge each other and try to impress' might also explain the whole 'were are you now' thing. maybe ? anyway just an idea

"Really sorry now, they want to know, they got caught up in your talent show, With you panikety little bastards and your fancy dress, Who just judge each other, and try to impress"

I love those lines, not just because they're fantastic lyrics but I love the way James sings them too. 'Wisemen' is easily the best song from his album.