In that time, they've been signed to one of the great indie labels, played sold-out shows in Germany and Sweden, wowed the crowds at the Indietracks and Swn festivals, toured the UK and recorded an album. They've received airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 music and XFM, and had glowing reviews in places such as the Metro, The Fly and The Guardian, the latter calling their Henry Rollins Don't Dance single on WeePOP! Records "the best indiepop song for years".
Their first single for Fortuna Pop!, The Polaroid Song, was released in December 2009. That song made it into the Drowned in Sound Top 50 Singles of the Year, and garnered them further great reviews. "I'm sort of scared at how brilliant Allo Darlin' are, and could be. Disarming and self-effacing they might be, but when they smack you square on the nose with a pop song so instantly loveable as The Polaroid Song it makes my jaw drop in awe." (A Layer of Chips blog)
Their debut album Allo Darlin' was released in June 2010, and another single Dreaming was preceded this in March. The album was recorded at Soup with producer Simon Trought, underneath the Duke of Uke shop in Brick Lane.
The band amicably disbanded in 2016.
Heartbeat Chilli
Allo Darlin' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You came in with an onion and got dicing
It seems silly, but this chilli has two heartbeats in the recipe
So come over, give your heart to me
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
On a warm summer's evening in the lido
Your hands touched my feet on the fifteenth lap
Treading water, through my goggles I can see
Your hands wrinkled like an old man's
Come over, give your heart to me
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
It's funny how things change
I'm smoking cigarettes again
Drink black coffee to hide the smell
Of smoke on my breath but when you take my hand in your hand
I feel so whole again
I was in the kitchen on my own making spaghetti
You came in with an onion and got dicing
It seems silly, but spaghetti has two heartbeats in the recipe
So come over, give your heart to me
So come over, give your heart to me
I adore you, give your heart to me
The song "Heartbeat Chilli" by Allo Darlin' is a charming and intimate tune that speaks of love and the simple joys of everyday life. The lyrics describe a scene in which the singer is cooking chilli in the kitchen when their lover joins them and helps them by dicing an onion. The chilli recipe has "two heartbeats," implying that the singer and their lover's hearts are intertwined, and they invite their lover to give their heart to them. This suggestion is repeated again in the last lines of the song that professes the singer's adoration for their significant other.
The second verse shifts to a memory of a warm summer evening at a lido, where the lover touches the singer's feet while they are treading water. The image of the lover's hands wrinkling "like an old man's" brings a sense of the passing of time and emphasizes the ephemeral nature of our experiences. This memory is juxtaposed with the present moment in the kitchen, where the lovers are reunited and their hearts beat as one. The chorus repeats the sentiment of the singer keeping a close watch on their heart and the implied promise from their lover to give their heart to them.
The lyrics of "Heartbeat Chilli" celebrate the small moments shared between two people in love and demonstrate how mundane activities can be transformed by that love. The song offers a sweet and endearing message of commitment and devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
I was in the kitchen on my own making chilli
I was cooking chilli by myself in the kitchen
You came in with an onion and got dicing
You entered the kitchen and began to chop an onion
It seems silly, but this chilli has two heartbeats in the recipe
Although it may sound strange, this chilli recipe has a lot of love in it
So come over, give your heart to me
So come to me and share your love with me
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I am careful and cautious with my own emotions
On a warm summer's evening in the lido
On a pleasant summer evening at the pool
Your hands touched my feet on the fifteenth lap
Your hands brushed against my feet on the fifteenth lap of swimming
Treading water, through my goggles I can see
While swimming and keeping myself afloat, I can see through my goggles
Your hands wrinkled like an old man's
Your hands were wrinkly, like those of an old man
Come over, give your heart to me
Come see me and share your love with me
It's funny how things change
It is strange how things can transform
I'm smoking cigarettes again
I have started smoking cigarettes once more
Drink black coffee to hide the smell
I am drinking black coffee to conceal the scent of cigarettes on my breath
Of smoke on my breath but when you take my hand in your hand
Although I smell of smoke, when you hold my hand
I feel so whole again
I feel complete once more
I was in the kitchen on my own making spaghetti
I was cooking spaghetti by myself in the kitchen
So come over, give your heart to me
So come to me and share your love with me
So come over, give your heart to me
So come to me and share your love with me
I adore you, give your heart to me
I love you very much, please give me your love
Contributed by Evan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.