Having spent 10 years in the hardcore punk scene, touring and singing with the band Frustration, after their split in 2015 vocalist Neal Keating found himself at a creative loss. “As Dublin changed and bandmates emigrated, I found myself creatively stifled. I knew the words were constantly swirling around in there, I just needed a medium to get them out, and rap music has given me that," he said.
In the 10 months that followed Frustration's disbandment, Nealo spent wrote over 50 songs. His debut EP release ‘October Year’ is a sample of four of his favourite and most cohesive tracks from this period. ‘October Year’ is a short run, clocking in at 10 minutes, but it is both the beginning of an artists life and the culmination of a years work with friend and producer, Arbu.
Since releasing 'October Year' and marking it with sold-out record release show in Dublin, Nealo has played support to Californian rapper YG in the Olympia Theatre Dublin and has received praise from prominent music sites like Earmilk, Nialler9, District Magazine, Hot Press, Soul Doubt, Golden Plec and more.
Nationwide radio play, widespread festival bookings and further sold-out headline shows followed, making Nealo one of the hottest new hip-hop acts in Ireland today. His debut album, All The Leaves Are Falling, was released in autumn 2020 on Diffusion Lab.
Under the Weather
Nealo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because a part of me gets hungry
All my demons are on the welfare
And all my friends are lonely
we’re still dying with no healthcare
I was in the kitchen when you told me
I was in Vancouver when you found me
but that might be the old me
And maybe this is a symbol of the way things are,
I’m scraping pennies just to pay the road tax on my car
The housing markets are gone through the roof
And my one-bedroom apartment on the edge of town is proof
That the way things are going is fucked up
The rich are getting richer and it doesn’t look good
You’d want to take a look at the suicide rates in my hood
the answers you can’t find in a bottle bookies or bible
But I was on the late night dial up
Asking Jeeves for answers to the keys to survival,
I might just have to call you when I find them,
They’re buried in the couch or in my mind love,
I was on a seek and you shall find buzz
But I was in the kitchen when you told me
I was in Vancouver when you phoned me
I write songs like old obituaries
but that might be the old me
Yeah, I think that that’s the old me.
Nealo's song "Under the Weather" is a poignant reflection on society's struggles with mental health, poverty, and addiction. The opening lines "Maybe we're just looking for something under the weather, because a part of me gets hungry" suggest that people may be seeking solace in unhealthy behaviors or substances in response to feeling neglected or unfulfilled. This is reinforced by the following lines that describe how the singer's "demons are on the welfare" and how their "friends are lonely." The singer notes that they are "still dying with no healthcare," underscoring the systemic challenges that many people face in accessing adequate mental health support.
The second verse delves deeper into the societal issues that contribute to these challenges. The singer describes how they are "scraping pennies just to pay the road tax on [their] car," highlighting the financial strain that many people experience. They note that "the housing markets are gone through the roof" and that their "one-bedroom apartment on the edge of town is proof." The singer concludes that "the way things are going is f***ed up, the rich are getting richer and it doesn’t look good." The following lines suggest that the singer has been trying to find answers to these challenges, perhaps in addiction, or religion, but that they have not yet found a satisfactory solution. The song ends with the refrain "I write songs like old obituaries, but that might be the old me," suggesting that the singer may be undergoing a period of transformation or growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe we’re just looking for something under the weather
Perhaps we're searching for something that's not easily found or obtained.
Because a part of me gets hungry
Because a part of me is unsatisfied or unfulfilled.
All my demons are on the welfare
All of my problems and issues are being supported or enabled in some way.
And all my friends are lonely
Even though I have people around me, I still feel isolated and disconnected.
we’re still dying with no healthcare
We're still suffering and struggling without access to basic healthcare.
I was in the kitchen when you told me
I was in a familiar or comfortable place when you shared something with me.
I was in Vancouver when you found me
I was in a new or unfamiliar place when you located me.
I write songs like old obituaries
I express my feelings and emotions through a form that reflects death and loss.
but that might be the old me
But perhaps that's a version of me that I'm moving away from or leaving behind.
I’m scraping pennies just to pay the road tax on my car
I'm struggling financially and barely making ends meet.
The housing markets are gone through the roof
The cost of living and basic necessities is becoming unaffordable and unsustainable.
And my one-bedroom apartment on the edge of town is proof
And my living situation is a symbol or example of this larger issue.
That the way things are going is fucked up
That the current state of affairs is deeply troubling and alarming.
The rich are getting richer and it doesn’t look good
The already-privileged are gaining even more wealth and power, and the consequences are dire.
You’d want to take a look at the suicide rates in my hood
The impact of these issues is affecting people's mental health and wellbeing to a dangerous extent.
the answers you can’t find in a bottle bookies or bible
The solutions to these problems can't be found through substances, gambling, or religion alone.
But I was on the late night dial up
But I was searching for something, perhaps even desperate, late at night.
Asking Jeeves for answers to the keys to survival
Actively seeking guidance or insight to navigate and thrive in difficult circumstances.
I might just have to call you when I find them
I might need to reach out for support or help once I've discovered a way forward.
They’re buried in the couch or in my mind love
The solutions or answers might be hidden or obscured in unexpected ways or places, perhaps even inside my own thoughts or emotions.
I was on a seek and you shall find buzz
I was actively pursuing a journey of discovery and exploration, believing that I will eventually uncover something meaningful.
Yeah, I think that that’s the old me
Yes, I believe that I'm changing and shifting towards a new version of myself.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Adam Garrett, Fiachra Kinder, Neal Keating, Rafino Miguel Murphy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind