Along with the likes of Lily Allen, Jamie T, Kate Nash, Adele, etc, he is often included in the "Estuary English" pack of UK musicians - the 2006/2007 UK trend of young musicians singing without consciously altering their spoken English accent. (Estuary English being the accent commonly found around the south east of England, most notably in London [and even more notably among the youth], considered a compromise between Cockney and RP)
At 17 he started the band Jack's Basement with his friend Felix White. The band split in two, one half going on to form The Maccabees, the other forming Jack Peñate's band, including Joel Porter (bass) and Alex Robins (drums). Having started a Classics degree at UCL he hooked up with London indie club and label, Young Turks and his studies were dropped in favour of a music career.
His eclectic mix of styles incorporates elements of his varied influences which range from rockabilly and folk to jazz and trip-hop. He lists Prince, Jeff Buckley, Shuggie Otis, Todd Rundgren, JJ Cale, Harry Nilsson and Herbie Hancock among his influences. Yet he delivers a genuine London voice and still manages to sound original.
His live performances are characterised by his much commented, "individualist" style of dancing where he plays guitar and dances simultaneously with a vigorous fluidity - he finds it hard to keep still.
In autumn 2006, Peñate signed to XL Recordings who delivered main-stream success with the release of his debut album Matinée. It was followed up in 2009 with Everything is New.
Torn On The Platform
Jack Peñate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Torn on the platform
Once more just before I'm leaving
Torn on the platform
'Cause I miss you and I love you
And I know this is over for now
'Cause I miss you, oh, how I miss you
A weekend away, leave the city today
Don't want the big smoke to leave me behind
The train leaves at 2, Platform 3 Waterloo
50 p to the tramp makes me feel kind
I get a good seat with a window
My feet are up on the one in front everyone stares
But why do they care? Like there's feelings in chairs
Stuck for 3 hours until I get there
My eyes, eyes, eyes are not dry, dry, dry
As I realize-lize-lize
That in a few minutes this train will be gone
Sighs, sighs, sighs, city flies, flies, flies
Wonder why, why, why
Would anyone want to leave where I come from?
I'm torn on the platform
I'm torn on the platform
I'm torn on the platform
It's 1:58, wish that I had been late
And missed the train and given them an excuse
But what is the use? I've less slack than a noose
Do or die, stay or go, what should I choose?
'Cause my eyes, eyes, eyes are not dry, dry, dry
As I realize-lize-lize
That in a few minutes this train will be gone
Sighs, sighs, sighs, city flies, flies, flies
Wonder why, why, why
Would anyone want to leave where I come from?
I'm torn on the platform
I'm torn on the platform
I'm torn on the platform
Like in a film the motion starts to slow
As the beeping carriage doors begin to close
Momentarily I'm standing froze
Then I jump between the gap, land on the platform flat
I'm not torn on the platform
I'm torn on the platform
I'm torn on the platform
The lyrics to Jack Penate's song "Torn On The Platform" reflect the inner turmoil of a person who is leaving someone and somewhere they love behind. The singer's struggle is evident as he repeats the phrase "once more just before I'm leaving, torn on the platform" indicating his uncertainty about leaving. He admits to missing and loving the person he is leaving, but accepts that they are over for now. He seems to take comfort in knowing that he will always love the town he is departing from and uses the phrase "you're not my girl, you're my town" to emphasize how important it is to him. The singer is going away for a weekend to escape the city, and the train trip leaves him with too much time to think about his emotions. He finds himself emotional, with tears in his eyes, as he contemplates leaving. The lyrics convey a sense of being stuck in a difficult situation and feeling both attached and detached from the people and places around him. However, in the end, he decides not to leave and jumps back on the platform, indicating that his love for the town and the person was too strong to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Once more just before I'm leaving
Right before I depart, one more time
Torn on the platform
Feeling emotionally conflicted on the train station platform
Cause I miss you and I love you
I have strong feelings of love and longing for someone I care about
And I know this is over for now
I am aware that the current situation cannot continue indefinitely
You're not my girl you're my town
You represent the place I am from and love, rather than just being an individual to me
A weekend away, leave the city today
Embarking on a brief vacation, departing from the urban environment
Don't want the big smoke to leave me behind
I do not want to feel left out of the metropolitan lifestyle
The train leaves at 2, Platform 3 Waterloo
The specific details of my departure location and time
50 p to the tramp makes me feel kind
Giving a small amount of money to someone in need makes me feel charitable
My feet are up on the one in front everyone stares
I am drawing attention to myself by resting my feet on the seat in front of me
But why do they care? Like there's feelings in chairs
I am questioning why strangers would care about my actions, as if the chairs themselves have emotions
Stuck for 3 hours until I get there
I will be unable to leave my seat for several hours
My eyes, eyes, eyes are not dry, dry, dry
I am teary-eyed and emotional
As I realize-lize-lize
I come to the sudden realization
That in a few minutes this train will be gone
I am saddened by the fleeting nature of the train ride
Sighs, sighs, sighs, city flies, flies, flies
I am breathing heavily and the city outside is passing by quickly
Wonder why, why, why
I am questioning why anyone would leave the city I come from
I'm torn on the platform
I am feeling extremely conflicted at the train station
It's 1:58, wish that I had been late
I regret not being delayed and missing my train
And missed the train and given them an excuse
I would have preferred if the train left without me and I had a reason for not showing up on time
But what is the use? I've less slack than a noose
I cannot change the situation, as I have limited time before the train departs
Do or die, stay or go, what should I choose?
I am faced with a difficult decision of whether to leave or stay
Like in a film the motion starts to slow
As in a movie, time seems to slow down and everything becomes more dramatic
As the beeping carriage doors begin to close
The doors of the train begin to shut, marked by a beeping sound
Momentarily I'm standing froze
I am frozen in place for a brief moment
Then I jump between the gap, land on the platform flat
I take a risk and jump through the closing train doors, landing safely on the platform
I'm not torn on the platform
After making the decision to jump out of the closing train doors, I am no longer emotionally conflicted
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACK PENATE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ihateyou4everandever
I remember the British music in 2006-2007. It was a brilliant period. A lot of amazing (indie)singers popped in the industry and Jack is definitely one of them.. Sorry about my poor English but that 2 years were like my golden age of music...
Uno Honcho
Such an underated artist... Sheer brilliance
waggishmab
Didn't used to be a fan of him but saw him at reading last year and his live performance was amazing
GEDYBOY
absolutely refreshing track mate .... total real music love ya jack penate more tracks like this mate ... respect
Rosie Mae
my math teacher plays songs in maths and today i heard this and i was like, oh my god! so i had to get my phone out and shazam it, he took my phone away but i found the song and now i haven't stopped listening. well worth the lunch detention.
GIAD1113
I agree. He's amazing live!
Peter Kelly
If there is one band that the critics are wrong about it is him. He is great!!
daconor91
COME ON!!! I SAW HIM LIVE TODAY AND I SHOOK HIS HAND(i wanted to high 5 him but he just shook it, it was as he was walking on to the stage) IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LONG LIVE JACK PENATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
MRJMB94
i love this song he is soo under rated
nikinii98
I love him. So talented