Born on born 9th January 1987 in Paisley, Scotland, his father is of Italian descent and his mother Glaswegian, although his father's family have been in Scotland for four generations. Nutini had no formal music training, and was expecting to follow his father into the family fish and chip shop business. He was first encouraged to sing by his music-loving grandfather and a teacher at his school who recognised his talent. He left school to work as a roadie and to sell T-shirts for Speedway and spent three years learning the music business, performing live, alone and with a band, and working as a studio hand at Glasgow's Park Lane Studio.
His big chance came when he attended a concert for David Sneddon's return to his home town of Paisley at the beginning of 2003. Sneddon was delayed, and as the winner of an impromptu pop quiz, Nutini was given the chance to perform a couple of songs on stage during the wait. The favourable reaction of the crowd impressed another member of the audience, who offered to become his manager.
A Daily Record journalist, John Dingwall, saw him performing at the Queen Margaret Union, and invited him to appear live on Radio Scotland. Still only seventeen, he moved to London, and performed regularly at the Bedford pub in Balham whilst still legally too young to drink alcohol himself. Other radio and live appearances followed, including two live acoustic spots on Radio London, The Hard Rock Cafe, and support slots for Amy Winehouse and KT Tunstall.
His debut album, These Streets, produced by Ken Nelson (Coldplay/Gomez), was released on 17th July 2006, and immediately entered the U.K. album charts at number three. Many of the songs on the album, including "Last Request" and "Rewind", were inspired by a turbulent relationship with a girlfriend, and "Jenny Don't Be Hasty" is a true story about encounters with an older woman.
On 29th May 2009 Nutini released his second studio album, Sunny Side Up, after the first single from that album, "Candy", was released on 18th May. In July, he appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, performing "Coming Up Easy". This was released as the second single from the album on 10th August.
Alloway Grove
Paolo Nutini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To see a girl that's prettier than a diamond 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
Getting off the train
To see a girl that'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
Arriving at the door
Just to be told that the girl I'm missing has been in London for a while
No more northern skies for her
They say she's left a letter up the stairs for everyone
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
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
"Alloway Grove" is a song about a young man who is returning home after some time away, eager to see his girlfriend, whom he describes as being prettier than a diamond in the sun and sweeter than an apple picked from Adam's tree. As he makes his way to her house, he wonders if she's been missing him as much as he's been missing her, and if she's been engaging in any secret activities in his absence. He recalls their past interactions, and specifically a line that she said to him, "However much you use me baby, come on use me more," which he finds both alluring and troubling. When he finally arrives at her house, he's disappointed to learn that she's not there, but has left a letter declaring that he will always love her more, no matter how much she loves him.
The lyrics of "Alloway Grove" are filled with contradictory emotions and desires, reflecting the complicated nature of relationships. The singer's infatuation with his girlfriend, expressed through his vivid descriptions of her beauty and sweetness, is tempered by his insecurity and jealousy, as evidenced by his suspicion that she may have been engaging in sexual activity with other men. Similarly, his desire for her is balanced by his wariness of being used by her, as indicated by his recollection of her provocative line. Ultimately, the song acknowledges the inevitability of unequal love and the pain that it can cause, but also suggests that there is something noble in the effort to love more deeply than one's partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Coming home again
Returning to a familiar place after being away
To see a girl that's prettier than a diamond in the sun
Excited to reunite with a beautiful girl
Oh what fun!
Expressing joy and pleasure
I wonder if she's been naked in her room since I've been gone
Curiosity about the girl's actions while away
I wonder if she said to them as she said to me before
Wondering if the girl has made similar statements to others
However much you use me baby, come on use me more
Letting the girl know a desire to be fully utilized
Getting off the train
Arriving at the destination
To see a girl that's sweeter than an apple picked from Adam's tree
Eager to see a girl who is like the perfect fruit
Oh glory be!
Expressing excitement and wonder
And I wonder if she's been pressed against an unfamiliar wall
Curiosity about the girl's actions while away
And said to all those men as she has said to me before
Questioning if the girl gave men the same attention as the singer
However much you want me, I swear I'll make you want me more
Assurance of the artist's ability to increase the girl's desire
Arriving at the door
Reaching the girl's house
Just to be told that the girl I'm missing has been in London for a while
Discovering that the girl has been away in London
No more northern skies for her
The girl has moved on from her past
They say she's left a letter up the stairs for everyone
People know the girl left a letter
It's pinned against her bedroom door for all the world to see and she says
The girl's message is accessible to everyone and she reveals
However much I love you, you will always love me more
The girl believes the singer loves her more than she loves him
And I guess it's true
Acknowledgement of the statement's truth
However much she loves me I will always love her more
The artist's claim of loving the girl more regardless of her feelings
I'll love you more and more, I'll love you more
Continued declaration of love and intent to love more
I'll love you more and more, I'll love you more
Reiteration of the desire to love even more
I'll love you more and more, I'll love you more
Further reiteration of the strong emotions
I'll love you more and more, and more and more
Affirmation of growing emotions and love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROLLO ARMSTRONG, PAOLO GIOVANNI NUTINI, MARTIN PAUL MCCORRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind