Growing up in Harrow, London, Nash first became interested in music during her childhood when she learned to play the piano. She attended St. John Fisher school and moved on to the St. Joan of Arc School in Rickmansworth. Her talents were harnessed further when she wrote songs for her GCSE in Music and her time studying at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon, South London. However, her first love was acting and so in 2005 she made moves to start a career in acting by auditioning at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and was rejected. After her rejection she fell down a flight of stairs, breaking her foot. During her recovery Nash was unable to go anywhere and found solace in song writing. She began to write some new songs, finished old ones and decided that she would book herself a gig at a local bar to showcase her songs. From this experience she decided to start a career in music.
Nash's early live performances saw her play a number of cover versions. After a few gigs, Nash uploaded her music to the popular website MySpace. Her music soon began to receive support from users of the site and Nash found herself a manager, proceeding to look for producers.
Fellow MySpace star Lily Allen has stated that she believes Nash is the "next big thing", and she has also garnered support from publications such as Vogue and NME, the latter dubbing her as "chavtronica". Nash has been compared to Lily Allen, because of their storytelling lyrics, the dry sense of humour that fuels their songs as well as distinctive London accents. Some people have commented that Nash sounds like Catherine Tate when she sings. Others have compared some of her songs to music by Regina Spektor.
Nash has stated that her biggest influence has been Regina Spektor and has an extensive list of influences on her myspace page. Some of her influences include, "London, punk, Bored Teenagers and John Cooper Clarke".
Nash's début release was a double-A side single released through independent record label Moshi Moshi in February 2007. The release was limited to 1000 copies and was available on only 7" vinyl. The first A-side, "Caroline's a Victim", is a synth-fuelled song about Nash's friend Caroline. A video for the song was released and received notable airplay on MTV2. The video, directed by Kinga Burza, featured Nash playing a variety of instruments at the same time that "Caroline" sits in her room "playing killer beats", taking photographs, trying on different outfits and sitting at her computer checking a social networking website.
The second A-side to the single was "Birds", an acoustic number that tells the story of a boy's inept attempts to try and explain to his girlfriend how he feels about her, all the while the girl remains despondent about the situation.
During the promotion for "Caroline's a Victim"/"Birds", Nash supported Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly on his national tour before embarking on her own headlining tour, which took her around the UK.
In April 2007, Nash was signed to the Polydor offshoot Fiction Records. A month later, Nash was mocked through a parody of her song, "Caroline's a Victim" entitled "LDN Is A Victim". The song mocked Nash and Lily Allen, amongst others, for singing in a Cockney-drawl, despite their privileged backgrounds.
Nash's second single and first through Fiction Records, "Foundations", which she co-wrote with producer Paul Epworth, was released on June 25, 2007 and reached number two in the official UK Singles Chart.
Following "Foundations", Fiction announced plans to bring forward the release of Nash's debut album to August 6, 2007. The album, Made of Bricks, produced by Paul Epworth, included many of the tracks she had been performing on her two nationwide tours. The album was leaked to filesharing networks days before its commercial release, and has received mixed reviews, The Independent describing it as being in "pole position for worst album of the year." The album reached number 1 in the UK charts.
During mid-2007, Nash performed at numerous festivals including Wireless Festival, Bestival, the Electric Gardens, Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Leeds, Oxegen and T in the Park. She made her official TV performance debut on Later with Jools Holland.
Nash features on rapper Kano's album London Town, in a song titled "Me & My Microphone". She is also featured in the song "Look What You've Done" from Lethal Bizzle's latest album, Back To Bizznizz.
Regarding the recording of a new album, Nash told NME that she had been inspired by The Supremes and has written a song called "Cat Song" in their honour. She is also set to release a duet single with Billy Bragg, a cover of The Shangri-Las "Give Storey A Great Big Kiss".
On 20 February 2008 she received a BRIT award for Best Female artist.
In April 2010 she released her sophomore album in 'My Best Friend Is You". With the singles "Do-Wah-Doo" and "Kiss that Grrrl" following close behind.
Merry Happy
Kate Nash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't tell me that you didn't try and check out my bum
Cause I know that you did
Cause your friend told me that you liked it
Gave me those pearls and I thought they were ugly
Though you try to tell me that you never loved me
I know that you did
Cause you said it and you wrote it down
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
Sitting in restaurants
Thought we were so grown up
But I know now that we were not the people that we turned out to be
Chatting on the phone can't take back those hours
But I won't regret cause you can grow flowers from where dirt used to be
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
(Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do)
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
(Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do)
The lyrics of Kate Nash's song "Merry Happy" can be interpreted in different ways, but one possible explanation is that it is about a failed relationship and the singer's journey towards self-sufficiency and resilience. The first stanza can be read as the singer addressing her ex-partner or admirer, accusing him of objectifying her and being insincere in his professions of love. The line "I can be alone, yeah / I can watch a sunset on my own" repeats throughout the song as a self-affirmation and a declaration of independence. The chorus juxtaposes carefree activities like dancing and eating with the melancholic realization that the other person did not want to commit to the relationship.
The second stanza adds more layers to the song's themes by reflecting on the disillusionment of growing up and the fragility of communication. The lines "Sitting in restaurants / Thought we were so grown up / But I know now that we were not the people that we turned out to be" suggest that the singer and the other person were trying to conform to adult standards without fully understanding themselves or each other. The last lines "But I won't regret cause you can grow flowers from where dirt used to be" offer some hope and resilience, implying that the singer has learned from the relationship and can turn negative experiences into something beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching me like you never watch no one
You were observing me with such great interest that it seemed like nobody else caught your eye in the same way.
Don't tell me that you didn't try and check out my bum
Don't deny that you checked out my rear end; your actions speak louder than words.
Cause I know that you did
I'm confident that you did, no matter how much you make attempts to hide it.
Cause your friend told me that you liked it
Your friend revealed to me that you found my backside appealing.
Gave me those pearls and I thought they were ugly
You gave me pearls as a gift, but I didn't think they were very attractive.
Though you try to tell me that you never loved me
Despite your efforts to convince me otherwise, you never truly stopped loving me.
I know that you did
I can tell that you did love me, based on what you said and wrote to me.
Cause you said it and you wrote it down
Your own words and written records betray the fact that you had feelings for me.
Dancing at discos
We used to dance at nightclubs, enjoying the lively and upbeat atmosphere and music.
Eating cheese on toast
We would snack on a simple but tasty meal of melted cheese on toast.
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
Your presence brought me immense joy and happiness; you had a profound effect on my mood and wellbeing.
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
Despite making me so happy, you ultimately chose to leave and not stay by my side.
So I learnt from you
I learned valuable lessons and grew from our time together, even though it didn't end well.
I can be alone, yeah
I'm capable of being alone and don't need anyone else to be happy or content.
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can find beauty and appreciate the simple things in life by myself, without anyone else's company.
Sitting in restaurants
We used to go out to eat at fancy dining establishments together.
Thought we were so grown up
We believed we were mature and sophisticated, but in hindsight, we were perhaps more naive than we realized.
But I know now that we were not the people that we turned out to be
Looking back, I realize that we were not the people that we believed ourselves to be; we had our own flaws and insecurities.
Chatting on the phone can't take back those hours
No matter how long we spent talking on the phone, we can't go back in time and change anything.
But I won't regret cause you can grow flowers from where dirt used to be
Despite any negative experiences we had, I won't regret our time together because I can learn from it and grow into a better person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KATE MARIE NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@altan.___454
Watching me like you never watch no one
Don't tell me that you didn't try and check out my bum
Cause I know that you did
Cause your friend told me that you liked it
Gave me those pearls and I thought they were ugly
Though you try to tell me that you never loved me
I know that you did
Cause you said it and you wrote it down
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
Sitting in restaurants
Thought we were so grown up
But I know now that we were not the people that we turned out to be
Chatting on the phone can't take back those hours
But I won't regret cause you can grow flowers from where dirt used to be
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
(Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do)
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
(Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do)
@sozeytozey
So we all agree that Abed is easily the best character, right?
@limastall9279
Pierce>>>
@dr.loomis4317
Yup
@SS3Jake.
I went through a HORRIBLE breakup junior year of college in 2009 with my first long term gf. A couple days later I heard this song on Community and it immediately made me smile when I first listened to it in full. I used this song to get through the breakup and now I'm 34, married and the happiest I've ever been in my life. Just rewatched that episode of Community today with my wife and had to come back and listen to the full version again. 😊❤️
@lateralshiftmusic
great story!
@woofwoof1613
Glad that you made it :)
@dr.inkwell1070
I found it from community, too, and my name is Jacob as well.
@beemachine
Just heard it today after watching Abed tap dancing :)
@edkollin
Kate was part of a wave of young talented British women that emerged in the late 2000's who made pop music interesting again after 15 years of same old same old alt/indie rock, nu-metal, techno, hip hop. Florence and The Machine and most notably Adele are still popular. Lily Allen is mostly tabloid fodder, Amy Winehouse is dead, Duffy, Estelle , VV Brown careers imploded and what are the Puppini Sisters and Kate herself doing these days?
@classicdaniel9173
that's so true I miss Amy Winehouse all the artist are great but Adele is most know and people are forgetting the genuine music they all produced