The band's figureheads and main songwriters were Jelle Paulusma (lead vocals) and Anne Soldaat (guitar, vocals). Critics often heard echoes of early Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and other sixties bands from the American west in Daryll-Ann's particular blend of indie rock.
After an initial EP (Decibel, 1991) and début album (Renko, 1992) on tiny domestic labels, the band drew the attention of Hut, the indie branch of Virgin Records. The I Could Never Love You and Come Around EP's (1993 and 1994, respectively) were praised by critics in Holland and the U.K. The group toured Europe and their first full-length album for Hut, Seaborne West (1995), even saw a U.S. release. It received rave reviews in the U.K. music press.
Due to disappointing sales, however, the band was dropped by Hut and joined the respected Dutch indie label Excelsior Recordings, for which they continued to release albums to huge critical acclaim (but moderate commercial success). A small international cult following continued to follow the band, so that some of their Excelsior releases were also put out internationally.
Daryll-Ann's studio albums for Excelsior Recordings:
Daryll-Ann Weeps (1996)
Happy Traum (1999)
Trailer Tales (2002)
Don't Stop (2003)
Excelsior also released a limited edition live album, entitled DA Live (2000).
The band decided to call it a day in 2004. Frontman Jelle Paulusma resurfaced two years later with his first solo album, using his his family name Paulusma as his moniker, whereas guitarist Anne Soldaat went on to form the band Do The Undo (self-titled début album released in 2007) and subsequently started recording under his own name, Anne Soldaat.
2014 saw Daryll-Ann's eagerly anticipated re-formation: original line-up, no new new material, old songs only. The band's brief reunion and farewell tour of The Netherlands received rave reviews.
On April 24, 2022, the band reunited once again, this time for one night only, to perform at Paradiso during the 25th anniversary party of Excelsior Recordings.
Pines and Grenadine
Daryll-Ann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll hand them to you
I grew them myself in the yard
Bordered by willows
And slim racketeers
I keep them out with kind regards
I follow the footsteps
Branded by nature itself
I handle the willow
As emperors must
And will keep the crop to myself
Stick to my land
As I hung on to you
Strawberry flavour at hand
Worship each willow
As sweet grenadine
In my garden of love on demand
Speak to me baby
I'll reach out for you
And grow all your friends in the yard
Closing the border
To all enemies
And keep them out with kind regards
Pinetrees and grenadine
Make an easy fight
Team up in time of war
Together alright
Stuck to my land
As I hung on to you
I'll grow all my friends in the yard
Strawberry flavour
To all grenadines
Send them out with kind regards
I follow the footsteps
Of leaders unknown
Branded by nature itself
I handle the willow
As emperors must
And will keep the crop to myself
Pinetrees and grenadine
Make an easy fight
Team up in time of war
Together alright
Pinetrees and grenadine
Make an easy fight
Team up in time of war
Together alright
Together alright
The lyrics of Daryll-Ann's song "Pines and Grenadine" are cryptic, but they seem to revolve around the idea of a garden as a metaphor for a relationship. The singer says they grew the pines and grenadine themselves, but they also try to keep them safe from outside influences with "kind regards". The willows in the garden seem to represent obstacles that the singer can overcome, as they "handle the willow as emperors must". They also tell the listener to stick to their land and grow all their friends in the yard, suggesting a desire for intimacy and exclusivity.
The chorus is where the lyrics get really interesting. The repeated line "pinetrees and grenadine make an easy fight" is puzzling, but "team up in time of war" and "together alright" suggest that the relationship is worth fighting for. The singer uses language associated with conflict and territory ("closing the border", "keep them out") throughout the song, but also emphasizes the sweetness of the garden with "strawberry flavor" and "willow as sweet grenadine". By the end, the implication is that the singer and the listener can overcome any challenges together, as long as they stick to their own space and each other.
Overall, "Pines and Grenadine" is a bit of a mystery, with a blend of abstract and concrete imagery that leaves plenty of room for interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak to me baby
The singer invites someone to talk to them.
I'll hand them to you
The singer is offering something to the person they are talking to.
I grew them myself in the yard
The singer takes pride in growing their own things.
Bordered by willows
The yard is surrounded by vegetation.
And slim racketeers
There may be obstacles around the yard.
I keep them out with kind regards
The singer politely keeps out unwanted things.
I follow the footsteps
The singer does what others have done before them.
Of leaders unknown
The artist does not know who the leaders are.
Branded by nature itself
The artist feels connected to the natural world.
I handle the willow
The artist has experience with willow trees.
As emperors must
The singer takes charge and makes decisions.
And will keep the crop to myself
The artist wants to keep what they have grown.
Stick to my land
The singer is committed to their property.
As I hung on to you
The singer may have a close relationship with the person they are speaking to.
Strawberry flavour at hand
There are strawberries nearby.
Worship each willow
The artist appreciates the beauty of the willow trees on their property.
As sweet grenadine
The artist compares the willows to grenadine, which is sweet.
In my garden of love on demand
The singer has created a space that is nurturing and affectionate.
Closing the border
The singer is taking measures to protect their property.
To all enemies
The artist considers certain things to be threats.
Pinetrees and grenadine
The artist thinks that these things are complementary.
Make an easy fight
The combination of pinetrees and grenadine is a winning strategy.
Team up in time of war
In difficult times, the singer believes in collaboration.
Together alright
The artist believes that a shared effort will lead to success.
Stuck to my land
The singer is committed to staying on their property.
I'll grow all my friends in the yard
The singer wants to cultivate relationships with people they care about.
To all grenadines
The singer wants to share their sweet, nurturing place with others.
Send them out with kind regards
The artist wishes others well as they leave their home.
Pinetrees and grenadine
The artist still believes that these things are complementary.
Make an easy fight
The combination of pinetrees and grenadine is still a winning strategy.
Team up in time of war
In difficult times, the singer still believes in collaboration.
Together alright
The artist still believes that a shared effort will lead to success.
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHANNES A. JELLE PAULUSMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind