Dear Frustrated Superstar
Nerina Pallot Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dear Frustrated Superstar, your mother's waiting in the car
To whisk you off to your new premiere
And all the friends who knew your name
Are waiting, wondering what became
Of the girl that they once knew but never loved
They never loved.

So every city tells the lie
Of beggars, tramps and butterflies
Of all these things, then what am I?
A princess in a threadbare gown,
A gaudy, painted circus clown?
A child who lost her key and can't get home?

All the things I never was
A traitor in the Western Wars
A girl who did it just because.
Do or die, or don't at all

Prepare to suffer for your call
Some things have to hurt or they're not true.

They can't be true
When you die, you'll wonder, "was that it?"
Will you think of how you'd wished you lived?
Well, you're here now
Yes you're here now.
So I only want to be up there
With a hundred others, I don't care
Cause I'm here now
Yes I'm here now.

Papers, books, philosophy
An envelopes eternity
I count each passing minute, hour, day
Wonder how I smile so well,
Wonder how they never tell
There's really no one living here at all.

So here a line from God's own song
To comfort you when things go wrong
My children never visit anymore.
Go searching in my sky at night
They must be there to set alight
Their mothers aching heart is so unsure
I'm so unsure

When you die, you'll wonder, "was that it?"
Will you think of how you'd wished you lived?
Well, you're here now
Yes you're here now.
So I only want to be up there
With a hundred others, I don't care
Cause I'm here now
Yes I'm here now.

Dear Frustrated Superstar, I really hope you get that far




If not, I hope you live
I hope you live.

Overall Meaning

The song "Dear Frustrated Superstar" by Nerina Pallot is a poignant reminder that success and fame do not equal happiness or fulfillment. The lyrics address someone who may have once been a rising star, but who now feels lost and alone, yearning for acceptance and validation. The first verse mentions the subject's mother waiting in the car to take her to a new premiere, which implies that she is still pursuing her dream of fame and success, but her old friends "never loved" her and her career has left her feeling empty and unfulfilled.


The second verse encompasses the feelings of inadequacy that often come with success. The subject compares herself to a "princess in a threadbare gown" and a "gaudy, painted circus clown," feeling like a fraud who is somehow not enough. The repeated refrain of "all the things I never was" speaks to the disappointment that comes with unfulfilled expectations and feelings of unworthiness. The song also touches on the idea that sometimes, in order to create something real and authentic, it has to come from a place of pain, as expressed in the line "some things have to hurt or they're not true."


The last few verses of the song offer a message of hope and encouragement. The line "I hope you live" is a powerful reminder that even if success and fame are not achieved, there is still value in living a fulfilling life. The song ends on an uplifting note, with the subject expressing a desire to be on stage again, not for the fame or validation, but for the joy of creating and sharing an experience with others.


Line by Line Meaning

Dear Frustrated Superstar, your mother's waiting in the car
You may be famous, but to your mother, you're still her child.


And all the friends who knew your name Are waiting, wondering what became Of the girl that they once knew but never loved They never loved.
Your old friends may be interested in your life as a celebrity, but they don't genuinely care about you as a person.


So every city tells the lie Of beggars, tramps and butterflies Of all these things, then what am I? A princess in a threadbare gown, A gaudy, painted circus clown? A child who lost her key and can't get home?
Cities are full of contradictions and false appearances, and that's how the singer feels about her own existence as a celebrity who doesn't feel like she belongs in that world.


All the things I never was A traitor in the Western Wars A girl who did it just because. Do or die, or don't at all Prepare to suffer for your call Some things have to hurt or they're not true. They can't be true
The artist has never been certain about who she is or what she stands for, and believes that if something doesn't hurt or cause struggle, it can't be true or worthwhile.


When you die, you'll wonder, "was that it?" Will you think of how you'd wished you lived? Well, you're here now Yes you're here now. So I only want to be up there With a hundred others, I don't care Cause I'm here now Yes I'm here now.
We all wonder about the meaning of our existence and whether we're really living or just surviving, but the artist is determined to make the most of her time in the spotlight.


Papers, books, philosophy An envelopes eternity I count each passing minute, hour, day Wonder how I smile so well, Wonder how they never tell There's really no one living here at all.
The singer feels trapped and isolated by the celebrity lifestyle, and wonders how her public persona can seem so put-together when her private self is lost and alone.


So here a line from God's own song To comfort you when things go wrong My children never visit anymore. Go searching in my sky at night They must be there to set alight Their mothers aching heart is so unsure I'm so unsure
The singer imagines a shared longing between God and mothers who feel abandoned or forgotten by their famous children.


Dear Frustrated Superstar, I really hope you get that far If not, I hope you live I hope you live.
The artist acknowledges the struggles and pressures of living as a celebrity, but ultimately wishes for the listener to find happiness and satisfaction in whatever path they take in life.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nerina Pallot

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions