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.
The Long Tall Grass Of Summer
Nerina Pallot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What did we know? What did we think?
There was nothing there to warn us
Our life was in bloom
We were just looking out the window for a sign
And I will love you till I die
Won't question it or wonder why
As it does
Oh the heart of men is heartless
People don't know all of the beauty in their hearts
They can't let go
But I will love you till I die
Won't question it or wonder why
The Earth turns as it does
Yes I will love you till I die
Won't question it or wonder why
The Earth turns as it does
'Cause we can't go back
No we can't go back
'Cause we can't be sure that we'd get here
So we don't go back
No we don't go back
Just be thankful for what we have today
Just be thankful for what we have today
And I will love you till I die
Won't question it or wonder why
The Earth turns as it does
Yes I will love till I die
Won't question it or wonder why
The Earth turns as it does
As it does
In the long tall grass of summer...
The lyrics of "The Long Tall Grass of Summer" by Nerina Pallot are melancholic yet beautiful. Pallot takes us through a nostalgic journey of the past, the longing for the present, and the acceptance of the future. The song starts with the opening line, "In the long tall grass of summer, what did we know? What did we think?" It's a manifestation of the singer's memories of her past, a time when everything seemed to be in bloom, and nothing could stop her from experiencing it. She reflects on how innocence and carefree nature dominated her thoughts while looking out the window for a sign. The dreamy and wistful nature of the lyrics imply that her memories have been treasured and cherished, as she takes herself back to that moment.
As the song progresses, Pallot makes the bold statement, "Oh the heart of men is heartless, people don't know all of the beauty in their hearts, they can't let go." This statement is a reflection of how society operates. As time passes, people tend to forget the importance of the things they once held dear. People tend to lose themselves in the complexities of life, and their callousness towards others is evident. But, despite all of it, Pallot persists in her love for her partner. "And I will love you till I die, won't question it or wonder why, the earth turns as it does," she sings. The song ends with Pallot accepting the present and the future with gratitude and thanks for what she has today.
In conclusion, the song's heart-wrenching lyrics allow the listeners to reminisce about their past and the present while fondly remembering the love they had, have, or will have. The message in the song is that we should cherish the moments we have today because tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Line by Line Meaning
In the long tall grass of summer
Reflecting on a past time in life, during the summertime when everything seemed to be perfect and carefree.
What did we know? What did we think?
Wondering what thoughts and ideas were going through our minds during that time.
There was nothing there to warn us
At the time, there were no signs or warnings that would prepare us for what was to come in life.
Our life was in bloom
Our lives were flourishing and thriving, like flowers in the summertime.
We were just looking out the window for a sign
Searching for something that would give us a sense of direction or guidance in life.
And I will love you till I die
A declaration of unwavering love and commitment to someone, regardless of what the future holds.
Won't question it or wonder why
There is no need to doubt or question one's love, as it is an unbreakable bond.
The Earth turns as it does
Accepting the natural course of life and fate, without trying to control it.
Oh the heart of men is heartless
Expressing disappointment in the lack of compassion and empathy that some people possess.
People don't know all of the beauty in their hearts
Believing that people often underestimate and undervalue the goodness that lies within them.
They can't let go
Having difficulty moving on from the past or letting go of negative emotions and experiences.
'Cause we can't go back
Acknowledging the fact that it is impossible to turn back time and change the past.
No we can't go back
Reiterating that the past is unchangeable, and there is no point in dwelling on it.
'Cause we can't be sure that we'd get here
Uncertainty about whether the present and future would be the same if we were to change the course of the past.
So we don't go back
Choosing not to focus on the past and instead, moving forward with life.
Just be thankful for what we have today
Gratefulness for the present moment and all the blessings that come with it.
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ThePK4ever
This is one of my favorite songs...and the first I ever heard of her...I'm so glad I found Nerina Pallot...such a lovely singer...and too little know...