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.
Neil Armstrong
Allo Darlin' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We just needed someone to prove all this floating's worth doing"
Then why did you say that you miss a simpler time
Well so do I and I find myself pining for you
These days can a question be asked
When the hero comes in last
Well I am tired of feeling confused
And lest my words be construed
I can't separate what's real, but I know that I believe in you
There you go, out on the pavement walking alone
They could name a star after you and you'd still be complaining
And now it's clear
Now that you know why I wanted you here
There's a southern constellation that shines with your name on it
And I won't fly until the day that I die
But we can't keep out dreams in jars so I'll keep yours close to mine
Well I am tired of feeling confused
And lest my words me construed
I can't separate what's real, but I know that I believe in you
I can't separate what's real, but I know that I believe in you
The song "Neil Armstrong" by Allo Darlin' is a contemplative tune that initially appears to be about someone who denies the moon landing occurred, but soon reveals its deeper meaning to be about the complexity of belief, heroism, and love. The song starts with a conversation about the moon landing being a hoax, with the response being that we need someone to prove that floating is worth doing. This line can be interpreted as a metaphor for our search for meaning in life, as we need proof that our day-to-day struggles are worthwhile. The next verse addresses the past, with the singer and another person seemingly discussing nostalgia for a simpler time, but the singer actually admits to pining for this person. The bridge poses the question of who is winning when a hero arrives too late, suggesting that time may be the true victor in our search for meaning. Then the chorus is repeated twice, with the line "I can't separate what's real, but I know that I believe in you" being a powerful ode to the idea of unfaltering faith in someone, even in the midst of confusion and uncertainty.
Overall, "Neil Armstrong" is a song about the different facets of belief and our search for meaning. The moon landing serves as a jumping off point for this meditation on the complexity of our lives, as we struggle to make sense of it all. The singer's pining for another person serves as another example of how belief and love can intertwine in unexpected ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Heard you say "They didn't put a man on the moon
You expressed skepticism about the moon landing
We just needed someone to prove all this floating's worth doing"
You believe that there should have been a greater purpose to the moon landing
Then why did you say that you miss a simpler time
You expressed nostalgia for a different era
Well so do I and I find myself pining for you
I also long for a simpler time and miss being with you
These days can a question be asked
Life today is complicated and ambiguous
When the hero comes in last
When even our heroes fail, what does that say about the world?
Who is winning?
It's hard to tell who is succeeding in this world
Well I am tired of feeling confused
I'm exhausted by the complexity of life
And lest my words be construed
I don't want to be misunderstood
I can't separate what's real, but I know that I believe in you
I'm uncertain about the truth, but I trust in you
There you go, out on the pavement walking alone
You're always alone, even in crowded places
They could name a star after you and you'd still be complaining
You're always unhappy, even when good things happen
And now it's clear
It's finally obvious
Now that you know why I wanted you here
I've explained why I needed you in my life
There's a southern constellation that shines with your name on it
You're special and important, even if you don't always feel like it
And I won't fly until the day that I die
I won't achieve my goals in life
But we can't keep out dreams in jars so I'll keep yours close to mine
We may not achieve our dreams, but we can still hold onto them and support each other
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: JESSICA ELIZABETH MORRIS, MICHAEL PETER COLLINS, PAUL ASHLEY RAINS, WILLIAM DAVID BOTTING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind