Born on born 9th January 1987 in Paisley, Scotland, his father is of Italian descent and his mother Glaswegian, although his father's family have been in Scotland for four generations. Nutini had no formal music training, and was expecting to follow his father into the family fish and chip shop business. He was first encouraged to sing by his music-loving grandfather and a teacher at his school who recognised his talent. He left school to work as a roadie and to sell T-shirts for Speedway and spent three years learning the music business, performing live, alone and with a band, and working as a studio hand at Glasgow's Park Lane Studio.
His big chance came when he attended a concert for David Sneddon's return to his home town of Paisley at the beginning of 2003. Sneddon was delayed, and as the winner of an impromptu pop quiz, Nutini was given the chance to perform a couple of songs on stage during the wait. The favourable reaction of the crowd impressed another member of the audience, who offered to become his manager.
A Daily Record journalist, John Dingwall, saw him performing at the Queen Margaret Union, and invited him to appear live on Radio Scotland. Still only seventeen, he moved to London, and performed regularly at the Bedford pub in Balham whilst still legally too young to drink alcohol himself. Other radio and live appearances followed, including two live acoustic spots on Radio London, The Hard Rock Cafe, and support slots for Amy Winehouse and KT Tunstall.
His debut album, These Streets, produced by Ken Nelson (Coldplay/Gomez), was released on 17th July 2006, and immediately entered the U.K. album charts at number three. Many of the songs on the album, including "Last Request" and "Rewind", were inspired by a turbulent relationship with a girlfriend, and "Jenny Don't Be Hasty" is a true story about encounters with an older woman.
On 29th May 2009 Nutini released his second studio album, Sunny Side Up, after the first single from that album, "Candy", was released on 18th May. In July, he appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, performing "Coming Up Easy". This was released as the second single from the album on 10th August.
High Hopes
Paolo Nutini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But my eyes can't believe what they see, no
Oh, give me something to believe
Give me something to believe
Oh, I've got lucky in life and had plenty to eat
And I saw this world as one big pool of opportunity
Oh but there's too much mind corruption
Yeah, we need a moral education to set the young minds free
So let us change what we can and accept what we can't
And impart some of the wisdom from that tried and tested man
Oh, there's no harm in being wrong, you know, no
In fact to me, it's common ground, yeah
So take that feather from you cap, sir
And pass that feather around
My hopes are high
But my eyes can't believe what they see
Oh, give me something to believe in
Give me something to believe, yeah
Oh, my hopes are high
But my eyes can't believe what they see
Oh, my hopes are high
Oh, give me something
Give me something to believe
The lyrics to Paolo Nutini's song High Hopes can be interpreted as a call for change and moral education. In the first verse, Nutini expresses his optimism and high hopes for the future, but he admits that his eyes cannot believe what they see, implying that there are obstacles and challenges to achieving his goals. He pleads for something to believe in, hoping for a solution to these challenges.
In the second verse, Nutini reflects on his own life experience and success, acknowledging the opportunities he has had. However, he also recognizes the corruption and lack of remedy that he sees in the world. He believes that a moral education is needed to set young minds free from the negative influence of society. Nutini encourages acceptance of what cannot be changed but suggests that imparting wisdom from those with experience can help bring positive change.
The chorus repeats the main theme of the song, with Nutini's hopes still high, but his eyes still struggling to believe what they see. He asks for something to believe in and concludes that having high hopes is not enough without action or a solution to believe in.
Overall, the lyrics of High Hopes display a desire for positive change in the world, a need for moral education, and a call for hope and belief in a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
My hopes are high
I have high expectations and aspirations for myself and my future.
But my eyes can't believe what they see, no
Despite my optimistic attitude, the reality of the world can be disheartening and difficult to process.
Oh, give me something to believe
I am searching for a sense of purpose and direction in life, something to have faith in.
Give me something to believe
I am yearning for a source of inspiration or a guiding principle to help me navigate through life's challenges.
Oh, I've got lucky in life and had plenty to eat
I have been fortunate enough to have access to basic necessities such as food and shelter, which is a privilege that not everyone has.
And I saw this world as one big pool of opportunity
I used to view the world as full of endless prospects for success and prosperity.
Oh but there's too much mind corruption
There is too much negativity and harmful influences that can lead people astray from what is truly important in life.
Too little remedy or that's how it seems to me
There is not enough being done to combat these issues and create a better world for everyone.
Yeah, we need a moral education to set the young minds free
It is imperative for younger generations to receive proper moral guidance and education in order to help them make informed decisions and develop a strong sense of ethics.
So let us change what we can and accept what we can't
It is important to focus on the things we can change in our lives and the world around us, and to come to terms with those that we cannot.
And impart some of the wisdom from that tried and tested man
We can learn a lot from those who have come before us and use their knowledge and experience to better ourselves and society.
Oh, there's no harm in being wrong, you know, no
It is okay to make mistakes and be wrong, as it is a natural part of the learning process and helps us grow.
In fact to me, it's common ground, yeah
Making mistakes and being wrong is something that everyone experiences, and it is a shared experience that can bring us together and help us relate to one another.
So take that feather from you cap, sir
Be proud of your accomplishments and take credit for your successes.
And pass that feather around
Share your achievements and knowledge with others, and help them grow and succeed as well.
Oh, my hopes are high
Despite the challenges and obstacles that we face in life, I still have a positive outlook and believe that things can get better.
Oh, give me something
I am seeking something that can give me hope and inspiration, something to believe in.
Give me something to believe
I am searching for a sense of purpose and direction, and something to have faith in as I navigate through life.
Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAOLO GIOVANNI NUTINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dandirindina
Saw him 5 times live since 2010 and he never plays the songs the same way. He is just brilliant!!
@markireland7541
Seen him 5 times as well and your 100% I donโt think Iโve ever heard him live singing the song the same way legend never forget that first time in oxygen Dublin
@MrKapirozzo
Seen him 2 times in 3 months, I totally agree, he is so chameleonic and unbelievable
@louissmall1598
Love it when he changes the whole vibe of the song. Rate it paolo
@katiehkavril8483
The man has grown so the songs grow with him. Nice musical arrangements ๐๐
@samueldegirona9466
Love it Paolo! Amazing comeback. Weโve missed you!!!!!!
@sweeterairedales882
Missed you so much Paolo! Truly enjoying all of the new tunes. โคโคโค
@viral262
This man needs a live album - RIGHT NOW my gawddddd!
@laurenbyars5667
Itโs so good to have him back ๐ฅฐ
@katiehkavril8483
Love this version of High hopes โค pure pleasure ๐ฅฐ