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.
Junebug
Nerina Pallot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's take off all our clothes
And wander through the fields at night, let's go
That hour just before
The sun comes up is magic, it's magical for sure
We will get old enough in time
So let's just pretend the world is fine, oh fine
How did we know when we met we would feel this?
How did we know it would be so beautiful?
How did we know it would get so serious?
Junebug, junebug
How did we know when we met we would feel this?
How did we know it would be so beautiful?
How did we know it would get so serious?
Junebug, junebug
The broken-hearted trees
Are only needing love from little people like you and me
And the broken hearted sky
Says he'll learn to smile if you and I give it a try
People get old enough in time
Let's just live in the moment
Let's just pretend the world is fine, oh fine
How did we know when we met we would feel this?
How did we know it would be so beautiful?
How did we know it would get so serious?
Junebug, junebug
How did we know when we met we would feel this?
How did we know it would be so beautiful?
How did we know it would get so serious?
Junebug, junebug
How did we know when we met we would feel this?
How did we know it would be so beautiful?
How did we know it would get so serious?
Junebug, junebug
How did we know when we met we would feel this?
How did we know it would be so beautiful?
How did we know it would get so serious?
Junebug, junebug
The lyrics to Nerina Pallot's "Junebug" could be interpreted as an encouragement to live in the present moment, to appreciate the beauty of nature and to cherish the relationships that bring us joy. The song begins with an invitation to shed our inhibitions and wander naked through fields under the moonlight, a symbol of spontaneity and liberation. The singer suggests that this moment, just before the sun rises, is magical: it represents a fleeting opportunity to escape the routines of everyday life and to connect with something more profound.
The refrain of the song poses a series of rhetorical questions about the intensity of a romantic relationship. The repeated use of the word "Junebug" creates a sense of affection and playfulness, and implies that the subject of these questions is someone special. The questions themselves highlight the mystery of love: how can two people know, right from the first moment, that their feelings will become so powerful? How can they anticipate the depths of beauty and seriousness that their bond will assume?
The second half of the song brings nature back into focus. The singer describes trees and skies as "broken-hearted" and in need of love, and suggests that simple actions, such as giving a smile, can help to heal them. The implication is that we should take care of the world around us, not just for our own sake but for the sake of others. The final repetition of the refrain seems to suggest that, despite the complexities and challenges of life, the love and beauty we experience give us a sense of purpose and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's take off all our clothes
Let's be vulnerable and raw with each other
And wander through the fields at night, let's go
Let's explore the unknown and take risks together
That hour just before
The moment right before dawn breaks
The sun comes up is magic, it's magical for sure
There's something magical about new beginnings
We will get old enough in time
The reality of aging will catch up with us eventually
Oh it's not getting easier
Life gets harder with time
So let's just pretend the world is fine, oh fine
Let's ignore our problems and live in the moment
How did we know when we met we would feel this?
The mystery of falling in love
How did we know it would be so beautiful?
The wonder of experiencing something so pure and perfect
How did we know it would get so serious?
The surprise of how deep emotions can run
Junebug, junebug
A term of endearment for the lover
The broken-hearted trees
Nature also experiences heartbreak
Are only needing love from little people like you and me
We have the power to heal and provide love to those around us
And the broken hearted sky
The sky can represent emotions just like people
Says he'll learn to smile if you and I give it a try
We can help brighten the world with our positivity and optimism
Let's just live in the moment
Let's make the most of every second we have together
How did we know when we met we would feel this?
Reinforcing the idea that love is a mystery
How did we know it would be so beautiful?
Love is something that brings joy and beauty to life
How did we know it would get so serious?
Love can also be complex and deeply emotional
Contributed by Liliana N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kate Summers
lovely song, not on the CD but is on 'the graduate' on itunes so downloaded the single song! love her!!