Palma Violets was an English band from London, formed in 2011, based on the… Read Full Bio ↴Palma Violets was an English band from London, formed in 2011, based on the musical partnership of frontmen Sam Fryer and Chilli Jesson. After splitting, three band members, Sam Fryer, Pete Mayhew and Will Doyle, went on to form Gently Tender.

With a lineup composed of Sam Fryer (vocals, guitar), Chilli Jesson (vocals, bass), Pete Mayhew (keyboards) and Will Doyle (drums), the band's musical output was primarily based around the rock genre, with some Garage rock and psychedelic influences. Their first single 'Best of Friends' was voted NME's song of the year for 2012. Palma Violets second single 'Step Up For The Cool Cats' was announced and released on 9th February. Palma Violets' debut album 180 was released on the 25 February 2013.

Following the release of their 2015 album Danger in the Club, there was a noted silence from the band on social media leading to speculation that the band had split up. This was confirmed in an interview by Matt Wilkinson with guitarist Sam Fryer on 11 July 2018. All the members of Palma Violets bar Alexander "Chilli" Jesson are currently in a new band called Gently Tender with Celia Archer of The Big Moon. Of the affair he noted "We didn't fall out or anything like that. We just changed as people. We were 18 when we started the band and everything is quite easy to get on the same page, write the same kind of music all the time. Whereas when you hit 24 after 5 years of touring, I think you just become different people and we naturally just moved on"

Tom The Drum
Palma Violets Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey love, I want to be alone
I want to talk to tom
He knows more than you do
And we're meant to get along
Hey you, I don't wanna come and play
You're on your role of today
I'd rather be with tom
He always seems alone

Oh tom, it's you my embrace
He always wins the race
Sitting now on this space
Bending out of space

Tom, tom, tom
I want you to know

I want you to know
I want you to know

Overall Meaning

that you're not alone

The lyrics of Palma Violets' song "Tom The Drum" appear to be about the singer's desire to spend time with a person named Tom, who they perceive as being wiser and having more to offer than the people around them. The opening lyrics, "Hey love, I want to be alone / I want to talk to tom / He knows more than you do / And we're meant to get along" emphasize the singer's need to be in Tom's company, rather than with their current companion. This is followed by a dismissal of the current companion: "Hey you, I don't wanna come and play / You're on your role of today / I'd rather be with tom / He always seems alone."

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Tom is a mysterious figure who is deeply important to the singer. The line "Oh Tom, it's you my embrace" suggests a desire to be close to this person, while "He always wins the race / Sitting now on this space / Bending out of space" hints at Tom's otherworldly qualities. Despite Tom's seeming detachment and introversion, the singer wants him to know that he is not alone: "Tom, tom, tom / I want you to know / I want you to know / I want you to know that you're not alone."

Taken as a whole, "Tom The Drum" is a song that speaks to the power of human connection and the importance of being understood by another person. Although the lyrics are somewhat enigmatic, they suggest that Tom is a figure who offers the singer a sense of solace and companionship that they cannot find elsewhere.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey love, I want to be alone
Addressing someone affectionately, I desire privacy and isolation.

I want to talk to tom
I desire communication with Tom.

He knows more than you do
Tom possesses more knowledge than the current person being addressed.

And we're meant to get along
There is a natural connection between Tom and me.

Hey you, I don't wanna come and play
Addressing someone, I do not wish to engage in their current activity.

You're on your role of today
The addressed person is fulfilling their current duties.

I'd rather be with tom
Being with Tom seems preferable.

He always seems alone
Tom frequently appears solitary.

Oh tom, it's you my embrace
Addressing Tom, I am embracing him.

He always wins the race
Tom consistently emerges victorious.

Sitting now on this space
Currently seated in a particular location.

Bending out of space
Distorting the fabric of space.

Tom, tom, tom
Repeating Tom's name.

I want you to know
I desire you to understand.

I want you to know
I wish to convey a particular message.

I want you to know
Reiterating the desire to make Tom understand something.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER JESSON, JEFFREY PETER MAYHEW, SAMUEL FRYER, WILLIAM DOYLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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