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John Martyn — Glory Box
Album: The Church With One Bell
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3905









Released: 1998
Length: 5:37
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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I'm so tired, of playing
Playing with this bow and arrow
Gonna give my heart away
Leave it to the other boys to play
Been tempted for too long
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to wanna your man
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason if you can
From this time, unchained
We're all looking at a different picture
Through this new frame of mind
A thousand flowers could bloom
Move over, move over, and give us some room
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to wanna be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Reason
Don't you stop looking like some woman
Take a little look from the outside if you can
Saw a little tenderness
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to want to be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Oh please, give me a reason if you can
This is the beginning of forever and ever, ever, ever
I'm so tired of playing
Of playing with this bow and this arrow
Gonna give my heart away
Gonna leave ti to the other boys to play
I've been tempted too long
Too long
I've been tempted every day
Tempted too long
Oh please
Give me a reason too love you
Give me a reason to want to love you
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason every day
Reason every day
Comments (423)add comment
thanks Bill, cover of Teardrop (Massive Attack) followed by this :^)
Posted 4 hours ago by walk2k    [ Reply ]
 IvanTheMediocre wrote:

Portishead-ish?




uh yeah, a cover
Posted 4 hours ago by walk2k    [ Reply ]
This is quite simply and totally why I listen to RP for my RADIO needs...to hear music/artists IDK about...wow! this is a perfect example. So great! Hell yeah! I look forward to delving deeper into John Martyn. TY RP! Y'all are the shit...
Posted 1 month ago by CryLove    [ Reply ]
A stunning version of a wonderful song. Sits right with the original. 
Posted 2 months ago by peterblair    [ Reply ]
Portishead-ish?
Posted 2 months ago by IvanTheMediocre    [ Reply ]
 danmc wrote:

If you like this version, the Avener remix of it is also a lot of fun. Martyn's acoustics redigitized. I enjoy both, and the original, too.

looked it up; thanks. 
the avener remixes alot, fun stuff; give them slow songs a beat
Posted 5 months ago by dischuckin    [ Reply ]
 TrevorWGoodchild wrote:

Every time I hear this cover I think, no. Just stop. Without the range of octaves Portishead has you can't do this song justice with the tone inflection and emotion 



I am hearing this song for the first time. I've never heard the Portishead version. I find Martyn's version riveting. His voice sounds as worn as his body probably was, at the time. His voice comes out of the music in an almost surreal way: wanting, agonized, insistent, almost desperate. A stellar version, regardless of whatever other takes there are out there of this song.
Posted 5 months ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
 linden wrote:


I had it in the hospital when I was pregnant. Wonderful stuff. Too wonderful -- I hope I never need it again.


While it worked okay when I was a teen and broke my leg (nasty, nasty break) it did nearly nothing for me but take the edge off when I had a kidney stone. Oxycodone worked better without doing much but make me sleepy as a side effect.
Posted 1 year ago by jpfueler    [ Reply ]
 itsme_bygolly wrote:



Have you tried morphine? I hear it's great.


I had it in the hospital when I was pregnant. Wonderful stuff. Too wonderful -- I hope I never need it again.
Posted 1 year ago by linden    [ Reply ]
This version by (our beloved) John Martyn works so well precisely because he missed the point of  Beth Gibbon's so widely. Her story here was a coming of age, certain unresolved questions and an implied criticism of blind masculinity.

Being of a generation and possibly a disposition that could not perceive these things, John's rebuttal here falls down and rather makes Beth Gibbon's point for her. 

Which is pretty poetic. Plus, the production values are lush and I love a bit of blues noodling. This version of Glory Box, when juxtaposed with the original, elevates them both, in my opinion.
Posted 1 year ago by SECA_Alan    [ Reply ]
 Michaeljcovel wrote:

GD! Really,  of all the covers they did this morphine drip of a song?




Have you tried morphine? I hear it's great.
Posted 1 year ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
 cbhutchinson50 wrote:




Those were the days! 
Posted 1 year ago by countryrds    [ Reply ]
GD! Really,  of all the covers they did this morphine drip of a song?
Posted 1 year ago by Michaeljcovel    [ Reply ]
 Signwrtr61 wrote:
I can only wonder....if all your past employers got together, and gave YOU a "mediocre" summary of your work....how you'd feel.  Seems beyond your capacity to give credit where due. Switch to country, and quit ragging on artists that, many others here seem to appreciate. sheesh!


I'm very happy to give credit where it's due.  I'm a massive fan of John Martyn (whom I saw live at least a dozen times) but his version shows up the song for the dull plodding progression that it is, outwith Portishead's production.
Posted 2 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
You are great with Mellow Mix. Salutations from Montréal, Québec. 
Posted 2 years ago by PierreRobert    [ Reply ]
Every time I hear this cover I think, no. Just stop. Without the range of octaves Portishead has you can't do this song justice with the tone inflection and emotion 
Posted 2 years ago by TrevorWGoodchild    [ Reply ]
Come on, sing it... "I just want to be a woman"... come on, let's hear it...
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
I cannot decide whether I like this or not. Maybe next time.?
Posted 2 years ago by bogi.udvarhelyi    [ Reply ]
this will never loose its freshness. 

(portishead did)
Posted 2 years ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
 Edweirdo wrote:

Problem with a great artist covering a mediocre song is that the song gets shown up.

I can only wonder....if all your past employers got together, and gave YOU a "mediocre" summary of your work....how you'd feel.  Seems beyond your capacity to give credit where due. Switch to country, and quit ragging on artists that, many others here seem to appreciate. sheesh!

Posted 2 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 nicknt wrote:

Hey, it's John Martyn, not Duran Duran.
Nice retort! Appropriate!

Posted 2 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 danmc wrote:

If you like this version, the Avener remix of it is also a lot of fun. Martyn's acoustics redigitized. I enjoy both, and the original, too.

Wow! Just listened to Aveners version....every bit as good, albeit different but, EACH version is diff, each artist/band, doing it in their own style! All get 9's across the board!

Posted 2 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 69Grace_M wrote:


Look after the king of R n R please 
Isthis your response to ANYTHING RP plays? Sheesh! To each their own "king"! Give it a break, already! If it's the king I believe YOU'RE referring to....been dead for years! Many others risen and fallen since the 50's!

Posted 2 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 justin4kick wrote:

Shoulda leave it to Portishead to play

I gave a 👎, only because I truly enjoy BOTH versions! Portisheads...bcuz it rocks....Martyns, bcuz of it's "bluesy" leaning. BOTH are equally awesome in their own right!

Posted 2 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 justin4kick wrote:

Shoulda leave it to Portishead to play



I 'kinda' agree, but seeing as he's a friend of Beth's - I'll allow it!! 
Posted 3 years ago by Johnny_Alpha    [ Reply ]
 rbrise wrote:


nice version...along side Portishead...more acoustical...more stripped down...well done

I like the wobbly momentum and roomy arrangement: sometimes just bass, sometimes just drum, voice. Imagine staying out in town too late at night and hearing this, a reason to ...
Posted 3 years ago by mrsquid    [ Reply ]
 spaceman wrote:

Since I haven't seen it mentioned here yet... Yes, this song is a cover of Portishead's "Glory Box", but that song draws heavily from Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap II". So much so that I would consider Glory Box a Hayes cover; the whole loop (strings and all) was sampled, only the vocal part (and some drum machine acrobatics) were added by Portishead. If I remember correctly, Tricky (or was it JJ Johanson?) also used the same loop in one of his songs. That said, I still like the Portishead version best, but this one isn't bad at all. It's fun to play all four versions one after the other, and let your friends wonder who stole from whom :-)



That was Tricky's Hell Is Round the Corner. Legend has it one of the Portishead boys played an early demo of Glory Box for him and the dude went and used the Hayes sample in a song of his own. I like both songs tho, so I'm glad he stole their idea to steal Hayes' hook. :P
Posted 3 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
 justin4kick wrote:

Shoulda leave it to Portishead to play



nice version...along side Portishead...more acoustical...more stripped down...well done
Posted 3 years ago by rbrise    [ Reply ]
 nicknt wrote:
I disagree, he doesn't try to imitate the original, and the song is well in his chords.


"is well in his chords"?


Nah, this cover doesn't work.
Posted 3 years ago by MattRudely    [ Reply ]
 justin4kick wrote:

Shoulda leave it to Portishead to play



I disagree, he doesn't try to imitate the original, and the song is well in his chords.
Posted 3 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
A great artist, a great cover and a great song!
Posted 3 years ago by walterbenozzi    [ Reply ]
 Edweirdo wrote:
Problem with a great artist covering a mediocre song is that the song gets shown up.
 

Look after the king of R n R please 
Posted 3 years ago by 69Grace_M    [ Reply ]
If you like this version, the Avener remix of it is also a lot of fun. Martyn's acoustics redigitized. I enjoy both, and the original, too.
Posted 3 years ago by danmc    [ Reply ]
such a gorgeous cover of a favorite of mine. I immediately recognized that Portishead intro and hook. I don't like the blues, but I love this. 
Posted 3 years ago by MavenofMayhem    [ Reply ]
 justin4kick wrote:
Shoulda leave it to Portishead to play
 
Hey, it's John Martyn, not Duran Duran.
Posted 3 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
The late great man RIP John
Posted 4 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
Problem with a great artist covering a mediocre song is that the song gets shown up.
Posted 4 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
 radioparadise wrote:
is he drunk or on drugs? and WHY  it is on again?
 
Maybe neither....maybe both. I don't mind which, just loving it.
Posted 4 years ago by Racquel    [ Reply ]
Today, right now, it's an 8.5
Posted 4 years ago by sheeelaaa    [ Reply ]
Portishead version much better
Posted 4 years ago by orthomd    [ Reply ]
R.I.P. JM
Although a fan anyway; this is one awesome cover version, better than the original (which I like) IMO
LLRP
Posted 4 years ago by LoudshirtsBand    [ Reply ]
The first few notes always make me think of Emerson Lake and Palmer. Without Keith Emerson, the remaining band members probably could have made some decent trip hop.
Posted 4 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
 cbhutchinson50 wrote:
Brilliant performer. I saw him at Dundee university in 1971. I sat right at n the front row and he asked me if I could roll joints (I could). He gave me a lump of  Lebanese hashish and said, “Just keep passing them up”

 

Posted 4 years ago by cbhutchinson50    [ Reply ]
 alfsghost wrote:
Excellent, wished he was still around...……….
 

Posted 4 years ago by cbhutchinson50    [ Reply ]
No, no no. Please pay the original as penance.
Posted 4 years ago by javelipix    [ Reply ]
Met him and his band in a transport cafe on the A1 many years ago. That’s my main claim to fame!
Posted 4 years ago by Lyndont    [ Reply ]
is he drunk or on drugs? and WHY  it is on again?
Posted 4 years ago by radioparadise    [ Reply ]
Lo siento pero no se puede superar a Beth... mucho menos en este team.
Posted 4 years ago by etherized-dj    [ Reply ]
Have loved JM  for years.  A great cover - so laid back.  It really is a reinterpretation of a great song.
Posted 4 years ago by Dorkus    [ Reply ]
I know that church, that church with just one bell. It never even rings, but it looks great. Those who visit the town that built me, they find some kind of glory here. My box is empty. Image result for empty box
Posted 4 years ago by jahgirl8    [ Reply ]
Wow! Soulful, smoky interpretation. Makes me want to listen to the original, but this was very good too!
Posted 5 years ago by szpowell    [ Reply ]
This cover really ought not to work - but somehow it does - maybe I'm just a heavily biased JM fan.
Posted 5 years ago by RobN    [ Reply ]
Ok, have to play the original right now. This doesn't work for me.
Posted 5 years ago by user4176    [ Reply ]
Wow.Not a fan of this version but it is making the Pinnacle II IEMs I received as a gift really shine!
Posted 5 years ago by chuck.b.meyers    [ Reply ]
I like alcohol too.
Posted 5 years ago by moogmatt    [ Reply ]
Shoulda leave it to Portishead to play
Posted 5 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
Fantastic tune performed by a remarkable man. I like this muchly.
Posted 5 years ago by Steelydan1969    [ Reply ]
Serious bass.  I love this CD.
Posted 5 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
This probably had everything going against it but it works, good job
Posted 5 years ago by TerrorGovernor    [ Reply ]
Dare I say, better than the original.
Posted 6 years ago by cptbuz    [ Reply ]
Excellent, wished he was still around...……….
Posted 6 years ago by alfsghost    [ Reply ]
<First seconds of the song>

Nina Simone?   - Nah..

A drunk Nina Simone?......  - Uh, neither

Oh!  Some drunk guy

Still gave it a 7.
Posted 6 years ago by alain.brault    [ Reply ]
No more for this guy, bartender. He's had enough
Posted 6 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
I'm so tired. Tired of hearing. Hearing 'bout your bow and arrow. Gonna PSD away, leave it to the other groups to play.
Posted 6 years ago by nmcvaugh    [ Reply ]
Okidoki then.
Posted 6 years ago by kz1300a1    [ Reply ]
Oh dear. The only cover of this I've ever liked was Faith No More live at the Phoenix Festival near Stratford on Avon in about 1996. This sucks balls.
Posted 7 years ago by redmachine    [ Reply ]
john missed greatly     lovely the few times i seen him live    brilliant      guy   {#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 7 years ago by heeps    [ Reply ]
 jimmunn wrote:
Sounds like a bad lounge singer...  {#Frustrated}

 

More like Drunken Karaoke Night on Skid Row....{#Stop}
Posted 7 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Nice{#War}
Posted 7 years ago by dkwalika    [ Reply ]
 klass.vavere64117 wrote:
fantastic track from fantastic musician. one of the greats.
 
My first exposure to this man, and Wow. What soul.

{#Neutral} to the nay-sayers...
Posted 7 years ago by k-man    [ Reply ]
 {#Yes} this is smooth  maxjboxer wrote:
I have the Portishead version in my song rotation but this is a nice change 

 


Posted 7 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
 jimmunn wrote:
Sounds like a bad lounge singer...  {#Frustrated}

 
That has had a few too many...
Posted 7 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a bad lounge singer...  {#Frustrated}
Posted 7 years ago by jimmunn    [ Reply ]
Wow! Thought this was the original.Boy was I wrong. Both versions are great.
Posted 7 years ago by dig    [ Reply ]

Yikes!  I'm not sure exactaly what a 'Glory Box' is - hopefully not even close to a 'Glory Hole' - and I find it odd that the words "Glory Box" do not appear in the lyrics at all - in fact no reference of any sort of box.

I like the guitar work on this track, although I think I've heard better from John Martyn on RP recently.  I'll rate this a 6 and maybe in one of my 'cool relaxed evening' modes I'll up it to a 7 or 8. 

Happy Friday y'all - Peace, Drugs, Love and RocknRoll - all at once or whatever order. 


Posted 7 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Hadn't heard this song before & hadn't listened to John Martyn for I don't know how long. Sounds great!
 
Posted 7 years ago by rkr629186    [ Reply ]
I don't typically like remakes but this is very good if not better than the original...voice sounds better than the original anyway.
Posted 7 years ago by rpdevotee    [ Reply ]
very, very good song!
Posted 7 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
This man was a damaged soul, but he could certainly write and perform music. Have a listen to his many other albums.
Posted 7 years ago by Gerry941    [ Reply ]
 sfyi2001 wrote:

AFTER
 

 
thank you.
Posted 7 years ago by LonnyGaramont    [ Reply ]
First I've ever heard from this artist and found it worthy of 8.  His slow, slurred voice singing those lyrics...it just hit a nerve.
Posted 7 years ago by LonnyGaramont    [ Reply ]
quite wonderful never heard of him
Posted 7 years ago by mudman8    [ Reply ]
John Martyn concerts were superb :)
 
Posted 7 years ago by garrettb    [ Reply ]
{#Music}   Thanks Bill and Rebecca!!!
Posted 7 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
Its almost hardly about the actual song. this man gave so much and recieved so little in his career.  
 I love it because it is John Martyn.
Posted 8 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
 otaznick wrote:
Very baaaad performance. Is he sang this before he committed suicide? {#Wall}

 
AFTER
 
Posted 8 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
Very baaaad performance. Is he sang this before he committed suicide? {#Wall}
Posted 8 years ago by otaznick    [ Reply ]
It's quite likeable.. Perfect for my dark lonely walk to union station tonight.
Posted 8 years ago by Tylersmyler    [ Reply ]
Interesting version, a little away from the original Portishead but nevertheless interesting! Not all covers are brilliant... there are some exceptions though!
Posted 8 years ago by yanniz    [ Reply ]
 PaoloManana wrote:
This is what happens when you cut the heart out of a song..... 
 
Yes. Exactly. The soul of the thing leaks right out behind it.
Posted 8 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
Greatly prefer the Portishead version to this one. PSD! Away!!!!!!
Posted 8 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
This is what happens when you cut the heart out of a song..... 
Posted 8 years ago by PaoloManana    [ Reply ]
great
Posted 8 years ago by irma_in_goma    [ Reply ]
this sounds like the drunken version, and I like it. I also like the Portishead version.
Posted 8 years ago by geofinnis    [ Reply ]
 zerosomething wrote:
Yea this version is good but.....

 
I know, right. I mean George Michael, Lyle Lovett, Wille Nelson, David Sylvian could all do a version of this song, but something lacks from the original pathos.
Posted 8 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
Yea this version is good but.....
Posted 8 years ago by zerosomething    [ Reply ]
I was lucky enough to see John play a good number of times. After a lifetime of seeing live music with all kinds of artists, I can say John stands out as one of the most, if not the most, amazing performers I have witnessed. 

It still gives me chills when I hear his voice and distinctive style.  

Do we still have such talent out there performing now? Obviously, there must be some, but I am struggling to think of an artist who can currently compare. . . 
Posted 8 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
 1wolfy wrote:
give me  the freedom to destroy..give me  radioactive toy

 

Jong Un, is that you?


Posted 8 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Ah, yes, Mumbles Martyn.
Posted 8 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
John Martyn aces it, time after time. While it's sad there's no more to come, thankfully he's left a fantastic body of recordings to enjoy.

I'll never forget seeing him, for the first time, on BBC's OGWT and being wowed by the music he was producing with only a guitar (albeit with three pickup feeds and tape delay).
Posted 8 years ago by vaiodon    [ Reply ]
 leathepea wrote:

I was thinking the same thing. Is this the original version? Please put down the bottle before singing.

 
That's like saying that the vocals on Great Gig in the Sky are not real words.    John Martyns soulful style of vocal later in his career is purposefully slurred to obfuscate the lyrics.    A vocal glissando if you will.   No, this isn't the original, just a cover he did regularly live and made it on to this fantastic electronic triphoppy album.    
Posted 8 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
 leathepea wrote:

I was thinking the same thing. Is this the original version? Please put down the bottle before singing.

 
This is a portishead song.
Posted 8 years ago by Bert7    [ Reply ]
Pay some respect to a person who really deserves.

He lost his wife, he lost his leg, after all he lost his life. But his music never got lost of spirit and soul, and I'm not talking about the the spirit of alcohol.

Desolation Row.
Posted 9 years ago by palatin8    [ Reply ]
 By_The_Bay wrote:
Drunk Karaoke 

 
I was thinking the same thing. Is this the original version? Please put down the bottle before singing.
Posted 9 years ago by leathepea    [ Reply ]
give me  the freedom to destroy..give me  radioactive toy
Posted 9 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Hummmmmm....... Not so sure.   
Posted 9 years ago by Vickibitch    [ Reply ]
Drunk Karaoke 
Posted 9 years ago by By_The_Bay    [ Reply ]
 ChrisVIII wrote:

agree ! only 2 points from me...

 
Have Mercy, he forgot putting his teeth in.
Posted 9 years ago by Pitjes    [ Reply ]
DAMMIT RP STOP BLOWING MY FUCKIN MIND!  AAAAAGGHHHHHH!!!!!
Posted 9 years ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
Interesting version - but much prefer Portishead's version
 
Posted 9 years ago by Timbo080    [ Reply ]
Lot of soul in it!
Posted 9 years ago by JBarDom    [ Reply ]
Very interesting version.... but, no way, don't love his way of mumbling it
Posted 9 years ago by CoYoT51    [ Reply ]
I have the Portishead version in my song rotation but this is a nice change 
Posted 9 years ago by maxjboxer    [ Reply ]
I like it a lot, but I miss the high strings from the original.
Posted 9 years ago by aaronm    [ Reply ]
There's a version on the very excellent soundtrack to film 'Stealing Beauty' that I like a bit better.
Posted 9 years ago by inklip    [ Reply ]

Anything J.M. is glorious.....glorious fool.
Posted 9 years ago by funkyalfonso    [ Reply ]
WOOOOOW - IS THAT TERRIBLE!
Nearly laughable! 
Posted 9 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
not his best, but what a brilliant composer/guitarist. One of a kind. Richie Havens did a cover of one of his great songs.
Posted 9 years ago by ecojot    [ Reply ]
nice geetar, cool song
Posted 9 years ago by yippee    [ Reply ]
 jimmunn wrote:
Sounds like a bad lounge singer to me... 

 
agree ! only 2 points from me...
Posted 10 years ago by ChrisVIII    [ Reply ]