| Paolo Nutini – Alloway Grove/Northern Skies Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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The track Alloway Grove is a brilliant composition on every level I can think of. It starts with a novel and exemplary drum sequence which I think would make Cosy Powell envious. This is followed by a fun tune (4:4 timing in major key) invoking and optimism and happy, bouncy return to home after a great adventure. There is then a blatently naive implication that the prodigal return will find a girl waiting expectantly. However what is waiting is a note to say something quite different and apparently unexpected. This leads to a realisation that the world is bigger and more complex in a way, perhaps suspected, but not consciously realised. The next part, which is sometimes regarded as separate and called "Northern Skies", but to my interpretation is an integral part of this track and is a lament (changes to 6:8 timing and minor key), but a release at the same time. The popular interpretation as: "sombre grace" is actually what I hear as, "songbird graves" - what this really means I think only Paolo will ever know unless he shares or has shared his meaning with someone. Something quite personal I suspect, but may be to do with Nick Drake (who I have not heard of) as some contributors have suggested. The reference to green being blacker and blue darker still is clearly (in my opinion) a reference to the sectarian divide in the North. And possibly an allusion to the fact wider opportunities and cultures exist but have previously not been embraced. The line about, "...roots lying deeper..." is a fantastic example of ontological realisation. The third part is an uncomfortably long period of silence, which used to irritate me intensely until I realised why is is there. It is an important part of this magnificent and amazing piece of artistry. Finally, there is a repeat of another track on the same album, last request. In a musical representation of recursion, it speaks for itself. A work of genius. Someone said to me recently, "...he (Paolo) sounds like he should be fifty" - because his music is so fresh, innovative and novel I hadn't considered that before, but it fits the facts. Let's hope his music gives us as much to think about as it has so far and I for one hope I will be privileged to grow up beside him. |
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| Paolo Nutini – Alloway Grove/Northern Skies Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Whoah, woah a na da da Coming home again to see a girl that's prettier than a diamond shining in the sun. Oh what fun! I wonder if she's been naked in her room since I've been gone. I wonder if she said to them as she said to me before, however much you use me baby, come on use me more. However much you use me baby, come on use me more. Hey, hey, hey, hey Oh, getting off the train to see a girl t hat's sweeter than an apple picked from Adam's tree, oh glory be! And I wonder if she's been pressed against an unfamiliar wall And said to all those men as she has said to me before. However much you want me, I swear I'll make you want me more, however much you want me, I swear I'll make you want me more, and more and more and more. Whoa, Lord. La-la-la, la la la la... Arriving at the door just to be told that the girl I'm missing's been in London for a while, no more northern skies for her. they say she's left a letter up the stairs for ev'ry one, it's pinned against her bedroom door for all the world to see and she says, however much I love you, you will always love me more. However much I love you, you will always love me more. And i guess i's true. However much she loves me i will always love her more la-la-la, la la la la... And I'll love you more and more, I'll love you more. I'll love you more and more, I'll love you more. I'll love you more and more, I'll love you more. I'll love you more and more and more and more. I'll love you more and more, I'll love you more I'll love you more and more, I'll love you more I'll love you more and more, and more and more... (strange distant music) I have returned to the northern skies. where the summer had not touched the clouds that pass above. Oh, and I have returned to the songbird graves. Of the days too early to come to hurry to stay. And I have left a million stars in an ocean so lightly, so clearly blue. And i have left the warmth of the sun and a million adventures not yet begun The great sense of passing through. The great sense of passing through, The great sense of passing through. Oh for once there was beauty yeah, for me under these white northern skies. And I felt the green was blacker and the blue was darker still. My roots are lying deeper then I ever think they will again. Heartache and poetry, under these northern skies. The great sense of passing through. The great sense of passing through. The great sense of passing ....through. Oo, oo oo. |
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