The Parachutes Songfacts states that Charlie Simpson has a strong musical pedigree dating back to one of his mother's ancestors, Sir William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875), who was a distinguished classical music composer of the romantic school. Charlie attended public school Uppingham, along with the likes of Harry Judd from McFly and his ex-girlfriend Camilla Smith. He was selected as the third member of Busted, beating Tom Fletcher (now lead singer and guitarist in McFly), after responding to an advert placed by Matt and James in NME magazine in 2001. He plays guitar, piano, drums and bass, and sings vocals.
He is renowned for his distinguished eyebrows, which he says are "...the biggest and best in the business", and his guitar playing style. He loves Nirvana and The Deftones and considers Kurt Cobain his idol.
On 14 January 2005, Charlie caused Busted to split after deciding to leave the band to concentrate on his other band, Fightstar. The name "Fightstar" was created when bassist Dan Haigh came up with the name "Evenstar" and Charlie thought of the name "A Time To Fight", these names were combined to give the name Fightstar.
Following three studio albums, Fightstar initiated an extended hiatus in 2010, allowing Simpson to focus on his solo career. Parachutes, the lead single from his debut solo full-length album entitled Young Pilgrim, was released on August 15, 2011.
He met the other guys in the band through Camilla when Alex's sister moved in with her as a flatmate, and Fightstar was born. He has two other brothers who are also in bands, Will in Brigade and Edd in Union Sound Set (formerly Prego); both have supported Fightstar on recent tours/gigs.
Farmer & His Gun
Charlie Simpson Lyrics
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My feet are forwards but I think I'm going backwards I'm still
So far away from you
I called my brothers on the phone just to say goodbye
'Cause I don't need another reason not to survive on my own
I'm moving on from here
Then I realize that I'll be on my own tonight
Run run rabbit run
Just don't get caught out by the farmer and his gun
Well hide hide rabbit hide
It's best to lose yourself before you ever lose your pride
Spoken like a true man trying to make his way through the fields
My back is heavy and my heart is feeling empty but still
I'm so far away from you
There's no use complaining to myself
I made these shoes to walk in
And they'll walk until the end
And then I realize that I will dream of you tonight
Shadows fold out like blankets on the ground
Run run rabbit run
Just don't get caught out by the farmer and his gun
Well hide hide rabbit hide
It's best to lose yourself before you ever lose your pride
Then I realize that I will dream of you tonight
Shadows fold out like blankets on the ground
Run run rabbit run
Just don't get caught out by the farmer and his gun
Well hide hide rabbit hide
It's best to lose yourself before you ever lose your pride
Just never lose your pride
Just never lose your pride
Oh, never lose your pride
The song "The Farmer & His Gun" by Charlie Simpson has lyrics that are full of metaphors and imagery that reflect the human experience of trying to make one's way through life. The opening lines seem to suggest that the singer is a young man who is struggling to find his footing in the world. He speaks of moving forward but feeling like he's going backward and being far away from someone he cares about. He's reached out to his brothers to say goodbye, suggesting that he's embarking on a journey or a new chapter in his life.
As the song progresses, the singer's thoughts turn to running away from danger--represented metaphorically by a farmer with a gun. The idea of running away suggests that the singer is afraid of something, perhaps unsure of his ability to face the challenges of life on his own. This is reinforced by the repeated references to being far away from someone he cares about and dreaming of that person at night.
The repeated refrain of "run run rabbit run, just don't get caught out by the farmer and his gun, well hide hide rabbit hide, it's best to lose yourself before you ever lose your pride" reinforces the idea of running away from danger, but also suggests a need for self-protection. The idea of "losing oneself" suggests that the singer is willing to sacrifice his own identity or sense of self in order to stay safe.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Farmer & His Gun" can be seen as a meditation on the struggles of growing up and finding one's place in the world. The imagery of running away and hiding, combined with the singer's thoughts of being far away from someone he cares about, create a sense of isolation and uncertainty that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Spoken like a young man trying to get himself on the wheel
The singer is talking like a young person trying to move forward in life and make progress.
My feet are forwards, but I think I'm going backwards I'm still
Even though the singer is moving forward, they feel like they're not making any progress.
So far away from you
The singer is physically distant from someone they care about.
I called my brothers on the phone just to say goodbye
The artist called their siblings to say goodbye, possibly implying that they're leaving or going on a journey.
'Cause I don't need another reason not to survive on my own
The artist doesn't want to rely on others and wants to be self-sufficient.
I'm moving on from here
The singer is leaving their current location or situation to move forward.
Then I realize that I'll be on my own tonight
The singer comes to the realization that they'll be alone later.
Shadows fold out like blankets on the ground
It's getting dark, and the shadows on the ground look like blankets.
Run run rabbit run
The artist is warning someone, possibly themselves, to run and get away quickly.
Just don't get caught out by the farmer and his gun
The artist is warning about the danger of being caught by a farmer with a gun, which could be metaphorical or literal.
Well hide hide rabbit hide
The singer is encouraging someone to hide and not be seen.
It's best to lose yourself before you ever lose your pride
It's better to go unnoticed than to be humiliated or lose one's dignity.
Spoken like a true man trying to make his way through the fields
The singer presents themselves as a mature man who is trying to navigate through life's challenges.
My back is heavy and my heart is feeling empty but still
The singer is carrying a heavy load and feels emotionally drained, but they are still moving forward.
There's no use complaining to myself
The singer acknowledges that complaining won't solve the problems they're facing.
I made these shoes to walk in and they'll walk until the end
The artist has the resources they need to keep moving forward and they plan to use them.
Then I realize that I will dream of you tonight
The artist knows that they will dream about the person they care about later on.
Run run rabbit run
The singer repeats their earlier warning to avoid danger and get away quickly.
Just never lose your pride
The singer reminds themselves or someone else to maintain their dignity.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CHARLES SIMPSON, JOHN FORTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Years later, I still connect, what a song ❤
Martin Miller
such a beautiful video and story with an amazing song to go with it! Watched this 5 times in the last 12 hours :-)
NOTAHEROMUSIC
Brilliant, he's seriously proven himself to write songs of different genres.
Michael Edwards
Its just amazing, no other words to describe it.
patchworkgirl3015
such beautiful music and lovely lyrics
Dani Elle
So full of meaning. I love all of your videos Charlie, you're a true artist, beside being a phenomenal singer !
Ch4rlie
brilliant song and video. well done charlie :)
Gerrianne90
I already thought the first version of the song was brilliant, but I love this one too! Great job Charlie, as usual!
Jose Alfaro
This song and vid have me captivated. Been going through some changes and I feel the same way as the singer.
Aimée Hopkinson
I love your solo stuff so much you're one my favourite artist!!