A stunning vocalist, Hannigan regularly performed live with Rice from early 2001 until March 2007 when Rice's official website announced that his professional relationship with Hannigan had "run its creative course". During 2005 Hannigan and Rice co-wrote Unplayed Piano which was released to support the Free Aung San Suu Kyi 60th Birthday Campaign. Hannigan also appeared on backing vocals on Mic Christopher's album Skylarkin, as well as the soundtrack to "Goldfish Memory".
In 2006 Hannigan featured as part of The Cake Sale, a collective of mostly Irish, but featuring some international artists, formed by Brian Crosby of Bell X1. On 3rd November 2006 they released a self-titled album in Ireland to raise money for Oxfam and the Irish Make Trade Fair campaign. The album was so successful that it was given an international release the following year; released 10th September 2007 in the UK and 16th October 2007 in the US.
Hannigan has since gone on to pursue her own solo career, releasing her first album Sea Sew in Ireland on September 12th 2008, debuting at number 4 and earning her a Choice Music Prize nomination, two Meteor Music Award nominations and has been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize 2009. The album's first single was Lille followed by I Don't Know.
Sea Sew got an official US release on February 3rd 2009 and a UK release on May 4th 2009. On 21 July 2009, two days after a triumphant performance in torrential rain at the Latitude Festival, it was announced that Sea Sew had been nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in the UK.
The O Sleep Songfacts reports that Hannigan began writing for her second album in late 2009 and only completed it in March 2011. However, she and producer Joe Henry spent a mere week laying down the tracks in Wales. Passenger was released in the US and Canada on September 20, 2011 and in the Republic of Ireland on October 7, 2011.
http://www.lisahannigan.ie/
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Pistachio
Lisa Hannigan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you feel like your flavor
Has gone the way of a pre-shelled pistachio,
I know you're weighed down
You're fed up with your heavy
Your boots
Laced with melancholy notion's all you own
And I know my demeanor
Has gone the way of a photo left out in the sun,
So I try to keep myself in lillies and flax seeds,
Oh what a folly- fooling just yourself
Sit down and smoke away,I wouldn't knock it till you're in them shoes
Oh watch as ours subtlety blows away as a blusher gives way to a bruise,
But seemly, we'd freely make a trade-off
A dry rot to take the weight off
Swap the boots for red shoes
These lyrics describe a moment of empathy and understanding between two struggling individuals. The singer urges the person they are addressing to sit down and vent their frustrations, acknowledging that it can be difficult to open up when feeling low. They compare the person's emotional state to a pre-shelled pistachio, indicating that they feel exposed and vulnerable. The singer is aware of the weight the person is carrying, both literally and figuratively, as they are weighed down by heavy boots and melancholy emotions.
The singer then turns to introspection, admitting that they too can become brittle and sticky when spun, and that their demeanor has also faded over time like a photo left out in the sun. They try to counteract this by focusing on self-care and healthy eating, but acknowledge that it may not be enough to fully cure their own emotional struggles. Through this mutual honesty, the two are able to connect on a deeper level and build a sense of understanding and solidarity.
Overall, the lyrics of "Pistachio" offer a message of hope and empathy for those struggling with mental health, showing the power of opening up and connecting with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Sit down and fire away, I know it's tricky when you're feeling low,
Take a seat and express what's on your mind, I understand it's difficult when you're not in a good place emotionally.
When you feel like your flavor
Has gone the way of a pre-shelled pistachio,
When you feel like you've lost your unique qualities and become plain and ordinary, like a store-bought pistachio without its shell.
I know you're weighed down
You're fed up with your heavy
Your boots
Laced with melancholy notion's all you own
I understand that you feel burdened and tired; you carry around sadness like it's a part of your identity.
And I know my demeanor
Has gone the way of a photo left out in the sun,
So I try to keep myself in lillies and flax seeds,
Oh what a folly- fooling just yourself
I realize that my attitude and demeanor have faded like a photo left out in the sun. I try to maintain my positive behavior with self-care routines like eating healthily, but it's just a temporary solution and not a real fix.
Sit down and smoke away,I wouldn't knock it till you're in them shoes
Oh watch as ours subtlety blows away as a blusher gives way to a bruise,
Take a break to ease your nerves, I won't judge because I know how it feels. It's like watching a beautiful moment turn into something ugly and painful.
But seemly, we'd freely make a trade-off
A dry rot to take the weight off
Swap the boots for red shoes
It seems like we would willingly exchange one problem for another if it meant that we could feel lighter. We would accept a superficial solution like changing shoes to avoid the real issue at hand.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LISA MARGARET HANNIGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alealj6788
Sit down and fire away, I know it's tricky when you're feeling low,
When you feel like your flavor
Has gone the way of a pre-shelled pistachio,
I know you're weighed down
You're fed up with your heavy
Your boots
Laced with melancholy notion's all you own
I do, like sugar, tend toward the brittle and sticky when spun
And I know my demeanor
Has gone the way of a photo left out in the sun,
So I try to keep myself in lillies and flax seeds,
Oh what a folly- fooling just yourself
Sit down and smoke away,I wouldn't knock it till you're in them shoes
Oh watch as ours subtlety blows away as a blusher gives way to a bruise,
But seemly, we'd freely make a trade-off
A dry rot to take the weight off
Swap the boots for red shoes
@favianestrada4460
Would it be weird to say that whenever I begin to drift away from myself and forget who I am, I see this and remember instantly what I love and the person I'll always be? probably right? I love this song. Thank you for your beautiful music. I'll be watching this throughout my life.
@AbdelwahabMustafa
I hope you are still there after 3 years so you can come back and listen to it again 😊
@edge845
The muted trumpet is largely what makes this song for me. It gives the song such additional character and emotional depth. I, like others, come back and listen to this periodically, and always feel drawn to it. One of their best IMHO.
@Doonie310
edge845 still feels like the first time I’ve heard this, lisa hannigans music will be with me forever
@michaeljamesmccabe
Whatever vibe Lisa was in on this day, makes me want to live there forever.
@macfan545
It's impossible to multitask while listening to Lisa sing. Everytime I put one of her songs on, I have to watch her sing it so I can get hypnotized once again.
@edsenr2101
ive seen her a few times in dublin, every jig you could hear a pin drop, the crowd was so captivated...
@Keep.it_a.hunnit
Omg I was OBSESSED with this when it first got uploaded 13 years agoooooo and for some reason it popped into my head after over a decade since last hearing it. That piano tune is amazing 😄
@Ryan_hey
her vocals always blow me away with every live song
@mwhita
Something about her voice just makes me better whenever I'm down. She has such a gentle touch. Perfect Voice.