Pallot was born in London, but spent most of her childhood on the island of Jersey. Her mother is from India, whilst her father is native born from Jersey. Early in life, she spent some time living in India, but spent most of her early school years in Jersey. From there she won a scholarship to Wellington College, a famous military public school in England. Her time at this school provides much of the personal inspiration behind her single Everybody’s Gone to War as several of her school friends were directly involved in the Iraq war.
Nerina Pallot is classically trained in singing and piano, and then engaged in a peripatetic career around the fringes of the music industry. Outside these various industry-related jobs, Nerina Pallot was an active part-time musician with an ambition to follow a career in performing and song writing. At some point her career took her to her favourite job of this time, as PA to the music industry executive Andrew King; a key figure in the management of Pink Floyd from its earliest days. Still following her ambition to pursue a musical career, Pallot signed to Polydor in her mid-20s, despite misgivings from Andrew King. This signing resulted in the release of an album containing self-penned songs; the ironically titled Dear Frustrated Superstar (2001). However, singles released from this album failed to make a sales mark as did the album. Following this, Nerina Pallot was dropped by Polydor among some bitter recriminations which are documented on her web site. This experience was later to lead to the writing of Mr. King, a touching, and very probably unique tribute to a senior music industry executive.
Following this episode, Nerina Pallot returned to University to study English with a partially formed plan to become an English teacher. However, during her studies she rekindled a love of lyrical English and started to write again. The song Idaho came from this period, using the state as a metaphor for the place where she wanted to actively steer her life, rather than just letting it drift. Idaho, Mr. King, and Everybody’s Gone to War became three of the tracks that made up her second album Fires. This was, in part, financed by money from her publishers, Chrysalis, who had remained faithful, and partly through re-mortgaging her home. As important was the extensive good-will and contacts that she could call upon within the industry in both London and Los Angeles. The eventual album was released under her own label Idaho which, despite rave reviews, failed to make significant sales headway. This, and subsequent activities, lead to an early termination of her degree course, but she has expressed a desire to complete it.
Nerina Pallot persisted by extensively touring the country, and sometimes Europe, supporting acts such as Missy Higgins, Sheryl Crow, James Blunt, Suzanne Vega, Joseph Arthur, and Ray LaMontagne. This, and a very active and acerbic presence on MySpace resulted in a considerable word-of-mouth following. Typical of many of her contemporary artists in the Internet world, she is strongly supported by a group of dedicated fans, connected via so-called social networking sites. Nerina Pallot also benefits from support within influential parts of the media including the BBC.
Eventually this activity and support resulted in Nerina Pallot being signed to the Warner label 14th Floor who specialise in promoting acts with a partially established following. Fires received a slight makeover, and was re-released under the 14th Floor label. Everybody’s Gone to War was released as a single with a video filmed in a Los Angeles supermarket in the style of a Hollywood war film, save being staged as a “food-fight”. A second single, a remixed Sophia, was released in early October 2006. Learning to Breathe is to be released in early 2007 as the third single under the 14th Floor label.
During the summer of 2006 Nerina appeared at many music festivals, promotional and charity events. For the autumn months she is touring intensively in the UK and Europe as a headline act.
During her early 2007 tour of the UK and Ireland, Nerina Pallot reprised several songs from her Dear Frustrated Superstar period, possibly marking a coming to terms with a dark period in her career.
In 2007 Nerina Pallot was nominated for a Brit Award in the Best British Female category won by Amy Winehouse. Such was the unexpected nature of this nomination to her, that she had already set the date, St. Valentine’s day 2007 for her marriage to the music video producer Andrew Chatterley, both briefly leaving the reception in London for the award show.
Nerina Pallot released her third studio album "The Graduate" in 2009, on her own label. Nerina worked with many writers for the album but when it came down to the final tracklist only Pallot written material has made the cut. She wrote in her blog that she had approximately 60 viable songs. The album title refers to Pallot's 2009 graduation from university with a first-class honours English Literature degree.
Nerina Pallot and her husband Andy Chatterly wrote the title track and third single, "Better Than Today" from Kylie Minogue's 2010 studio album, "Aphrodite". Pallot signed with Geffon Records and released "Year Of The Wolf" in 2011. The album's title comes from her son, Wolfie, with whom she was pregnant during the recording of the album. Lead single "Put Your Hands Up" was originally written for Kylie Minogue.
Idaho
Nerina Pallot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the stillicide, silently falling snow,
I have packed everything that I own in a bag,
And I'm driving, I'm driving to Idaho,
A poem for leaving, a reason to go,
So I'm driving, I'm driving to Idaho.
'Cause I can't be anyone but me, anyone but me,
I don't want to fall asleep and watch my life from fifty feet,
My hands are on the wheel so I'm driving to Idaho,
'Cause I hear it's mighty pretty
And oh, I've been dumb, I've been perfectly beautiful,
Lain on my back buying lovers with stealth,
But I'm sick of you all, and I'm sick of opinions,
And I'm sick of this war I wage on myself
I don't know why I'm so gripped to go there
A universe riddle that only I know?
Mr. Robert he says, "It's all in the head!"
Tell me, Phaedrus, what's good, is it Idaho?
'Cause I can't be anyone but me, anyone but me,
And I can't keep dreaming that I'm free, dreaming that I'm free,
I don't want to fall asleep and watch my life from fifty feet,
My hands are on the wheel so I'm driving to Idaho,
'Cause I hear it's mighty pretty
In Idaho.
The lyrics to Nerina Pallot's song Idaho tell the story of someone who feels trapped by their current life and is searching for freedom and a new beginning. The singer is leaving everything behind and taking a journey to Idaho, a place that is said to be "mighty pretty". The lyrics in the song are written in a deeply personal, reflective and philosophical tone. The phrase "In the stillicide, silently falling snow" gives an image of a serene but somewhat melancholic atmosphere. The singer states that they have packed everything that they own in a bag and are driving there because they can't continue living as someone they are not. The singer is tired of buying love, opinions of others, and fighting a war with themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
In the back of a car on a road in the dark,
I'm leaving in secret, under the cover of darkness.
In the stillicide, silently falling snow,
The snow is falling so softly that even the sound is hushed.
I have packed everything that I own in a bag,
I'm leaving everything behind and starting fresh.
And I'm driving, I'm driving to Idaho,
I've heard that Idaho is a beautiful place, so I'm going there.
A poem for leaving, a reason to go,
I wrote a poem to say goodbye and give myself a reason to leave.
So I'm driving, I'm driving to Idaho.
I'm taking control of my own life and setting out on a new path.
'Cause I can't be anyone but me, anyone but me,
I need to be true to myself and not try to be someone else.
And I can't keep dreaming that I'm free, dreaming that I'm free,
I need to actually be free and not just keep dreaming about it.
I don't want to fall asleep and watch my life from fifty feet,
I want to actively participate in my own life and not just watch it pass me by.
My hands are on the wheel so I'm driving to Idaho,
I'm taking control and driving towards what I hope will be a better future.
'Cause I hear it's mighty pretty
I've heard good things about Idaho and I hope it lives up to my expectations.
And oh, I've been dumb, I've been perfectly beautiful,
I've made mistakes and been naive, but I've also been attractive and charming.
Lain on my back buying lovers with stealth,
I've used my physical attributes to manipulate people and get what I want.
But I'm sick of you all, and I'm sick of opinions,
I'm tired of being judged and criticized by others.
And I'm sick of this war I wage on myself
I'm tired of struggling with my own self-doubt and insecurity.
I don't know why I'm so gripped to go there
I'm not sure why I feel such a strong pull towards Idaho.
A universe riddle that only I know?
Is the reason for my desire to go to Idaho something mysterious that only I understand?
Mr. Robert he says, "It's all in the head!"
Someone named Mr. Robert told me that my problems are all in my head.
Tell me, Phaedrus, what's good, is it Idaho?
I'm asking myself and others what makes Idaho so special and whether it will be good for me.
In Idaho.
I have arrived in my new home of Idaho.
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Nerina Pallot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hansieeee
In the back of a car on a road in the dark,
In the stillicide, silently falling snow,
I have packed everything that I own in a bag,
And I'm driving, I'm driving to Idaho,
A poem for leaving, a reason to go,
So I'm driving, I'm driving to Idaho.
'Cause I can't be anyone but me, anyone but me,
And I can't keep dreaming that I'm free, dreaming that I'm free,
I don't want to fall asleep and watch my life from fifty feet,
My hands are on the wheel so I'm driving to Idaho,
'Cause I hear it's mighty pretty
And oh, I've been dumb, I've been perfectly beautiful,
Lain on my back buying lovers with stealth,
But I'm sick of you all, and I'm sick of opinions,
And I'm sick of this war I wage on myself
I don't know why I'm so gripped to go there
A universe riddle that only I know?
Mr. Robert he says, "It's all in the head!"
Tell me, Phaedrus, what's good, is it Idaho?
'Cause I can't be anyone but me, anyone but me,
And I can't keep dreaming that I'm free, dreaming that I'm free,
I don't want to fall asleep and watch my life from fifty feet,
My hands are on the wheel so I'm driving to Idaho,
'Cause I hear it's mighty pretty
In Idaho.
@Angel-xu8ii
Chris Vernon is still your biggest fan after all these years!!!!❤❤❤
@viliamelikh444
🎶 Homesick for Idaho
Fits my current thoughts and feelings.
Beautiful. Slightly haunting. Thank you for this beautiful creation of a song 🎵
@stevecowdry
Surely our most talented, yet under-rated, singer-songwriter - such clever lyrics, such wonderfully clear vocals and such a beautiful woman (inside & out)!
@mattwaters9008
great song. Need more.songs like this on the radio
@richnfamous59
she is so underrated. this is just one of her beautiful songs
@constantvictory9158
Praise the Most High! My house here in crazy Denver is sold and I will soon be driving BACK to Idaho. It is mighty pretty.
@Pipistrelle
This is my favourite song ever. not just by Nerina Pallot. In the world.
@missw6693
Great song. 👌
@erinmylungs8711
Truly one of my all time favourite songs
@rieleyg92
i lived in idaho for a year and had to move back to may home town. i always swore i would go back to idaho.. now four years later its looking like it will happen! i just have a lot of reservations about going...... still want to though! the most beautiful place ive ever been!