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.
Pictures
Dan Wilde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Using string and an old piece of cane
You hid in the backwoods
Your feet were a giveaway
Through the leaves and the branches I'd aim
You marched me up to the shelter
I ambled the rest on my own
You'd check that I got there
When I came home you'd tell me I'd grown
If I had to pick but a few
Well these are some pictures of you
No book do I need to look through
They're with me always
I always had eyes on the sidelines
And the signs I won't ever forget
Look he's off his line
So if you get the time
Send one over and into the net
You never heard my arrival
I crept my way into your arms
And stories were told
As the jokes would unfold
Yes and you kept them going
Through thick and through thin
And if I had to pick but a few
Well these are some pictures of you
No book do I need to look through
They're with me always
The song "Pictures" by Dan Wilde is a nostalgic tune about memories and the people who made them. The opening verse describes a game between two people, where they made a bow and arrow using string and a piece of cane. The singer is trying to aim at the other person hidden in the backwoods. We can interpret this as a metaphor for how people create their own games and adventures to make their childhood memorable. The line "When I came home you'd tell me I'd grown" suggests that the other person helped him grow and develop from the experiences they had together.
In the second verse, the singer remembers being guided to a shelter and how the other person would check if he arrived. It symbolizes the need for guidance and companionship when we embark on new experiences. The lines “If I had to pick but a few, Well these are some pictures of you, No book do I need to look through, They're with me always” illustrates how memories are captured in our minds and we carry them with us. The line "Look he's off his line" suggests the person cheering the singer on and encouraging him.
The final verse reveals the relationship between the two individuals in the song. The singer sneaks up on the other person and they sit together to tell stories and make jokes. The last line, "Through thick and through thin," emphasizes the bond between the two people and how they have each other’s backs.
Line by Line Meaning
We made a bow and an arrow
We crafted a weapon with string and an old piece of bamboo
Using string and an old piece of cane
We utilized string and an aged bamboo stick to create the weapon
You hid in the backwoods
You concealed yourself in the forest
Your feet were a giveaway
I was able to track your movements based on the clues your feet left in the forest floor
Through the leaves and the branches I'd aim
I aimed my bow through the forest foliage to hit my target
You marched me up to the shelter
You led me to the hiding place
I ambled the rest on my own
I moved slowly on my own to reach the shelter
Through the gaps in the houses
I moved through the cracks between the houses
You'd check that I got there
You ensured that I reached the shelter safely
When I came home you'd tell me I'd grown
You complimented me on my personal growth when I returned home
If I had to pick but a few
If I had to choose only a small number
Well these are some pictures of you
These are memories of you that I cherish
No book do I need to look through
I do not require a book to remember you
They're with me always
These memories are always present in my mind
I always had eyes on the sidelines
I was constantly observant from the sidelines
And the signs I won't ever forget
I will always remember the indications and symbols
Look he's off his line
Look, the opposing player is positioned poorly
So if you get the time
If you ever have some spare time
Send one over and into the net
Please send the ball into the goal for a score
You never heard my arrival
You did not hear me approaching you
I crept my way into your arms
I moved slowly and gently into your embrace
And stories were told
We shared tales with one another
As the jokes would unfold
As the humorous anecdotes were recounted
Yes and you kept them going
And you continued the entertaining stories
Through thick and through thin
Even through difficult times
And if I had to pick but a few
And if I could only select a small number
Well these are some pictures of you
These are the cherished memories of you that I hold dear
No book do I need to look through
I do not need any reference material to recollect
They're with me always
These memories will always be with me
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
scenicviews
Lovely video, Dan - and a fine tribute to your grandfather and the time you spent together