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.
No No No
Paolo Nutini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you're lost along the way
And the strangers that you see
are getting stranger everyday
And the blood continues flowing
But the brain, the brain slowly drifts away
You crashed into this city
And a body charged with music
From the earphones in your case
And the pressure keeps on growing
But paradise, paradise is on it's way
And I say
No no no
we may never know
There's enough surprises here to keep us going
Yeah yeah yeah
Here's another day
We're gonna step outside and take it all in
Well you're looking for some action
As a hunter, you're on fire
There's some scary confrontation
But never look them in the eye
There are miles and miles of pleasures
To be had so, no, don't be shy
(Never be shy)
Now you're drowning in your coffee
You're living life so fast
One eye is staying golden
While the other's seeing black
And the blood continues rushing
And you realise what's here to be had
And I say
No no no
we may never know
There's enough surprises here to keep us going
Yeah yeah yeah
Here's another day
We're gonna step outside and take it all in
No no no
we may never know
There's enough surprises here to keep us going
Yeah yeah yeah
Here's another day
We're gonna step outside and take it all in
The song "No No No" by Paolo Nutini seems to be about the experience of being lost in a new city, trying to find oneself amidst unfamiliar surroundings. The first verse sets the tone, describing the feeling of being lost even when you know where you're heading. The strangers in the city are becoming more and more unfamiliar and the song uses vivid language to describe the dissociative feeling of flowing blood without a responsive brain.
The second verse introduces a different sort of tension: that between the thrill of being in a new place and the pressure to find paradise. The singer has crashed into the city with a charged body and a smile on their face, but there is a growing pressure to find something truly fulfilling. The chorus provides a sort of relief from this tension by acknowledging the surprises that are inherent in this new experience, and noting that we must take each day as it comes.
The third verse deals with the darker side of the experience: the danger and the temptation that come with exploring a new place. The singer is looking for action and excitement, but there is a warning to be careful not to get caught up in the wrong things. The song ends again on the chorus, suggesting that despite all the challenges of being lost in a new place, each day is still worth stepping outside and taking it all in.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh you know where you are heading
You have a general idea of where you want to go in life
But you're lost along the way
You are feeling unsure and uncertain about how to get there
And the strangers that you see
The people around you are unfamiliar
are getting stranger every day
The longer you are in this environment, the more unfamiliar people seem
And the blood continues flowing
Your body is functioning normally
But the brain, the brain slowly drifts away
Your mind is starting to lose focus and become less connected to reality
You crashed into this city
You arrived in this new place with excitement and energy
With a smile upon your face
You were optimistic and hopeful about what the future would bring
And a body charged with music
You were energized by the music you were listening to
From the earphones in your case
You were listening to music through your headphones
And the pressure keeps on growing
The expectations are increasing
But paradise, paradise is on it's way
You believe that things will soon get better and more enjoyable
No no no
I disagree
we may never know
We may not have all the answers or understanding
There's enough surprises here to keep us going
Life is full of unexpected events to keep things interesting
Yeah yeah yeah
I agree
Here's another day
Each day is a new opportunity
We're gonna step outside and take it all in
We will embrace what life has to offer and enjoy the moment
Well you're looking for some action
You are seeking excitement and adventure
As a hunter, you're on fire
You are driven and determined to pursue your goals
There's some scary confrontation
You may encounter intimidating or challenging situations
But never look them in the eye
Don't show fear or weakness in the face of adversity
There are miles and miles of pleasures
There are many enjoyable experiences to be had
To be had so, no, don't be shy
Don't be afraid to try new things and enjoy yourself
(Never be shy)
Don't hold yourself back
Now you're drowning in your coffee
You are consumed by your thoughts and the pace of life
You're living life so fast
You are constantly on the go and in a rush
One eye is staying golden
You are still optimistic and see the positive side of things
While the other's seeing black
At the same time, you are also feeling negative and pessimistic
And the blood continues rushing
Your body is still functioning normally
And you realize what's here to be had
You become aware of all the opportunities and experiences available to you
Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Josh Moreno
I'm sitting here thinking I know every single song by him and here my ears are, listening to a PN song that they've never heard.
MiPu
LOVE IT !
Stacy Karron
This is my favorite Paolo song - can’t find it on his albums. 😿
Alistair Bow
Stacy Karron I think it was released as part of a single for his Australian release of last request, it’s on that on spotify anyway