His distinctive voice and finger-picking guitar style has taken him across the UK and USA playing to a multitude of people, all the while never forgetting his roots. Wilde is currently in full swing promoting his debut album ‘This is The Place’ an exploration of distinctly English folk-pop but finds time to chat with us about growing up in the North, his influences and what we can expect from him in 2011
This Is The Place is the debut album from Blackpool-based singer-songwriter Dan Wilde and it's a pretty impressive place to start.
The opener, Nearest I Have To A Home', marries a memorable tune to a fine lyrics, which is the definition of a good song, and it's followed by Broke My Heart Alright' featuring an exuberant fiddle somewhat at odds with the sentiment of the song. Nevertheless, it works. These two tracks feature a full band and give Dan's voice an opportunity to soar. Elsewhere there is just voice and guitar or combinations of instruments including banjo, mandolin and ukelele.
Lyrically, the album explores themes of loss and confusion and can sometimes seem naive to the world weary ear. Others would call it honest. The arrangements, by a small cast of supporting musicians, are excellent and Dan's voice is strong and full of character - there is even a hint of the young Paul Simon about him. Listen to 'Be Gone' and you'll hear it. Dan Wilde is a name we'll be hearing a lot more of.
Demons
Dan Wilde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she sits on the floor while her dog's on a throne
And she spends all night talking
I never know what it is that she's trying to say
She tells me her stories
All of them tall
With a full glass in hand
But I know her excuses, I've heard them all
So I'm doing my best to pretend
She calls me up when she's feeling well
With some brand new ideas that she's keen to sell
The smile on her face makes it hard to tell
Just how long this is going to last
All her demons come back to her fast
They always do
She recommends books that I really should read
If I plan to make changes in the life that I lead
But in her situation it's hard to believe
She's the one to be giving advice
It's late and I realise there's no more to say
So I drink till I'm dry, I get on my way
At the end of the night, at the end of the day
There's a chance to start over again
She calls me up when she's feeling well
With some brand new ideas that she's keen to sell
The smile on her face makes it hard to tell
Just how long this is going to last
All her demons come back to her fast
They always do
The song “Demons” by Dan Wilde is a story about a woman who is struggling with her inner demons, and how she copes with them. The lyrics begin with the singer being invited over to the woman’s beautiful home, where she sits on the floor while her dog is on a throne. Throughout the night, she talks relentlessly, and the singer doesn’t understand what she’s trying to say. She tells him her stories, which are all tall tales, as she drinks from a full glass that she’s bound to let fall. The singer knows her excuses and has heard them all, so he’s forced to pretend he’s interested in what she’s saying.
As the song continues, the woman calls the singer when she’s feeling well, with some new ideas that she’s keen to sell. Her smile makes it difficult for the singer to tell how long her moment of happiness is going to last before all her demons come rushing back. She gives him book recommendations, advising him to make changes in his life, but he finds it hard to believe that she is the one giving advice. At the end of the night, he drinks himself dry and heads on his way, knowing that there’s a chance to start over again.
Line by Line Meaning
She invites me over to her beautiful home
Dan is going to her friend's house which is beautiful.
And she sits on the floor while her dog's on a throne
While he is there, she is sitting on the floor while her dog sits on a fancy throne.
And she spends all night talking
His friend talks for an extended period of time.
I never know what it is that she's trying to say
Dan has trouble understanding his friend's message.
She tells me her stories
His friend tells him stories.
All of them tall
Her stories are exaggerated.
With a full glass in hand
She's drinking while talking.
That she's bound to let fall
Her glass is going to spill.
But I know her excuses, I've heard them all
Dan is familiar with her excuses.
So I'm doing my best to pretend
Dan is just pretending to listen.
She calls me up when she's feeling well
Dan's friend contacts him when she feels good.
With some brand new ideas that she's keen to sell
She wants to share her new ideas with Dan.
The smile on her face makes it hard to tell
Her facial expression doesn't show how long her good mood will last.
Just how long this is going to last
Dan doesn't know how long her good mood will last.
All her demons come back to her fast
No matter how good she feels, her problems always come back quickly.
They always do
Her demons always come back.
She recommends books that I really should read
His friend suggests books for Dan to read.
If I plan to make changes in the life that I lead
His friend thinks that the books will help him change his life.
But in her situation it's hard to believe
Dan doesn't think that his friend can take her own advice.
She's the one to be giving advice
Dan thinks that his friend should not be the one giving advice.
It's late and I realize there's no more to say
The night's over and there's nothing left to talk about.
So I drink till I'm dry, I get on my way
Dan drinks and leaves.
At the end of the night, at the end of the day
The night is over.
There's a chance to start over again
A new day represents a chance to start over.
Contributed by Brayden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Danielle Lowe
Love this. Great guitar work! :) hugs♡dani