Broderick he grew up in a small town of Carlton, near Portland, Oregon. Coming from a musical family, he started violin lessons at age 7, and in high school became interested in all different kinds of instruments. He started to play piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, musical saw, and anything else he could find. After high school he moved to Portland, OR, where he studied music theory and filmmaking. During this time he began to play in multiple bands around town, and was able to establish himself as a regular session musician at various recording studios for artists like M. Ward.
In late 2007 he was miraculously invited by some of his musical heroes, the Danish band Efterklang, to move to Copenhagen and join the live band. So he did, and since then he has toured with the band all around the world, playing hundreds of concerts, and opening many of them as a solo act.
Since this move he has released several solo recordings as well. Starting with a few primarily instrumental, piano-based releases in 2007, then branching out into a completely different world with the more folky ‘Home’ in late 2008, which has all but established Broderick as the young composer to watch – with critical acclaim from music magazines (NME/Mojo/Uncut) and broadsheet press alike. ‘A precociously talented, classically trained multi-instrumentalist’ – The Independent / ‘A songwriter of beguiling depth' #19 Album of 2008 – The Sunday Times
2009 saw his first major release, ‘Music for Falling From Trees’, a 30-minute piece, in seven sections, created for a contemporary dance by London-based choreographer Adrienne Hart (Neon Productions). Adrienne was looking for a score of piano and strings, so he left the guitar and his voice aside and focused entirely on those two timbres. ‘I decided to take this literally and make a rule not to use any other instrument. In the script it called for the sound of a ticking clock. I made this sound by tapping on the body of the violin with my fingernails.’ The dance tells the story of a man in a psychiatric hospital, and his struggle to maintain his identity. The music is sometimes melancholic, sometimes playful, sometimes chaotic, but with the combination of piano and strings, full of beauty, reverence and awe. The dance premièred at The Place, London, on January 21st, 2009.
His album "‘These Walls of Mine" was released in 2012.
Hello To Nils
Peter Broderick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First I'm here and then I'm there
Then I'm here and then I'm there
From there I'll go anywhere
And there's always somewhere
That I'll be going
And I just might go without you knowing
I said any place from North Carolina to Israel
But most of the people that I know
Are the kind that I like to tell when I go
I'm lucky to have so many good friends
But because it is so often that I am going
And because I tell most of the people I'm going
I say goodbye too often
I say goodbye too often
Old news: airport security
New news: too much airport security
And I say goodbye too often
Old news: Unpack the suitcase
New news: It's on the plane
And I say goodbye too often
Old news: This place looks nice
New news: It's time to leave again
And I say goodbye too often
Old news: I like the food here
New news: I had good food there once
And I say goodbye too often
Old news: Goodbyes are hard
New news: Goodbyes are still rough
And I say goodbye too often
Old news: I'll miss you when I'm gone
New news: I miss you cause I'm gone
And I say goodbye too often
Old news: Time heals all wounds
New news: Time heals all tunes
Time heals all tunes
And I say goodbye too often
I say goodbye too often
Hello, hello
I say goodbye too often
Hello, hello, hello
I say goodbye too often
Hello, hello, hello
Hello, hello, hello
I say goodbye too often
Hello, hello, hello
Hello, hello, hello
Hello, hello, hello
Hello, hello, hello
The song "Hello To Nils" by Peter Broderick talks about the life of a person who travels frequently to various places around the world. The lyrics reveal the restlessness and transience in the life of the singer who is always moving from one place to another. The words "First I'm here and then I'm there, from there I'll go anywhere" depict the constant movement from one location to another. The lyrics also reveal the inner thoughts of the singer who feels the pain of goodbye every time he leaves his friends and acquaintances. The repetition of the phrase "And I say goodbye too often" emphasizes the loneliness and isolation experienced by someone who is always on the move.
Furthermore, the song highlights the changes and challenges of traveling with references to "old news" and "new news" regarding airport security, packing and unpacking of suitcases, and the fleeting nature of food and locations. The song also reflects upon the healing power of time and the way it changes perceptions and feelings towards a place or a person. The use of the phrase "time heals all tunes" reinforces the idea that the scars from frequent goodbyes will eventually fade away.
Overall, the song "Hello to Nils" is a poignant reflection on the transient nature of life and the emotional toll that frequent traveling takes on an individual.
Line by Line Meaning
First I'm here and then I'm there
I frequently travel from one place to another without staying in one place for very long.
Then I'm here and then I'm there
I am constantly on the move and rarely in the same location for an extended period of time.
From there I'll go anywhere
I have no set destination and am willing to travel wherever takes me.
And there's always somewhere
There is always a new place to go, explore, and discover for new experiences.
That I'll be going
I have yet to finalize plans for my next destination and am open to new suggestions.
And I just might go without you knowing
I often leave without informing others, as I have an unpredictable schedule with little notice.
Any place from China to Brazil
I am open to travel destinations around the world, spanning from China, across continents to Brazil.
I said any place from North Carolina to Israel
My travel destinations span across continents, including the distance between North Carolina and Israel.
But most of the people that I know
The majority of my friends and acquaintances are aware of my constant travels and unpredictability.
Are the kind that I like to tell when I go
I prefer to inform most people when I travel, and I am lucky enough to have people around me that I can say goodbye to when I leave.
I'm lucky to have so many good friends
I am grateful to have a significant number of people in my life that I care about and miss when I am gone.
But because it is so often that I am going
Due to my travel habits, it's quite common for me to leave a place and travel to another location without much warning.
And because I tell most of the people I'm going
I often inform most people I know when and where I am traveling.
I say goodbye too often
I farewell people I care about frequenly, with goodbyes becoming almost a regular part of my lifestyle due to my constant traveling.
Old news: airport security
(Old news) Airports implement security measures to keep us safe during our travels.
New news: too much airport security
(New news) Recently airports' security measures and regulations have been causing too much delay and have become a hassle.
I say goodbye too often
I often bid farewell to loved ones because of my constant traveling, which starts to become a burden since it's frequent.
Old news: Unpack the suitcase
(Old news) Unpacking suitcases is a familiar routine that comes with returning home from traveling.
New news: It's on the plane
(New news) Nowadays, if you forget anything, it's provided on the airplane, cheating the need of packing anything.
And I say goodbye too often
My concern for saying goodbye too often arises again.
Old news: This place looks nice
(Old news) Admiring every place you visit is a familiar routine.
New news: It's time to leave again
(New news) Although the surroundings looked pleasant when I arrived, it is time for me to leave once again.
And I say goodbye too often
Feeling the familiar sense of saying goodbyes again and again because of my constant traveling.
Old news: I like the food here
(Old news) It's always good to satisfy your taste bud while traveling and experience the local cuisine.
New news: I had good food there once
(New news) I can miss the food I had during my travels and certain dishes can leave such a lasting impression that can make me remember destinations based on food memories.
And I say goodbye too often
I feel my travel schedule's impact weighing me down again with goodbyes becoming a routine.
Old news: Goodbyes are hard
(Old news) Saying goodbye can be challenging and emotional.
New news: Goodbyes are still rough
(New news) My sadness for saying goodbye hasn't gotten any easier, as goodbyes have become an everyday routine.
And I say goodbye too often
Feeling the heavy burden of sadness and pain from frequently saying goodbyes.
Old news: I'll miss you when I'm gone
(Old news) Telling loved ones that you'll miss them when you are traveling is often said as a more polite way of saying goodbye.
New news: I miss you 'cause I'm gone
(New news) Being alone during travels can hit differently, making me miss my loved ones like never before.
And I say goodbye too often
Feeling the emotional weight of traveling, missing loved ones, and saying goodbyes.
Old news: Time heals all wounds
(Old news) With the passage of time, even the most painful wounds will eventually heal eventually.
New news: Time heals all tunes
(New news) As time passes, my travels begin to blur, with the memory of saying goodbye resolving in a tune and not a pain anymore.
Time heals all tunes
The melodies and sounds of travel have now become a more permanent fixture, enveloping my thoughts, and making it easier to say goodbye.
And I say goodbye too often
Being relieved by the fact that time eventually makes it easier for travelers like me to say goodbye frequently.
I say goodbye too often
Repeating the familiar line of being fed up with saying goodbye to everyone in his life.
Hello, hello
A greeting to someone or something newly encountered, an expression of enthusiasm or of surprise.
I say goodbye too often
Repeating the familiar line of being fed up with saying goodbye to everyone in his life.
Hello, hello, hello
Repeatedly greeting the newly encountered, feeling excited or surprised, but still highlighting the issue of saying goodbye too frequently.
I say goodbye too often
Expressing the burden and emotional struggle that comes with traveling and saying goodbye.
Hello, hello, hello
Repeating the greeting for a new beginning or a new encounter, with a hint of sadness knowing that goodbyes will come again.
Hello, hello, hello
Repeatedly greeting the newly encountered, feeling excited or surprised, but still highlighting the issue of saying goodbye too frequently.
Hello, hello, hello
Repeatedly greeting the newly encountered, feeling excited or surprised, but still highlighting the issue of saying goodbye too frequently.
Contributed by Joshua P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Edwin Johnson
The gig in Dublin was brilliant. This was one of the many songs that blew us away
DoctorMeatDic
This song is so beautiful and so ingrained in our little family. I introduced it to my wife and she loves it, and it's been a part of our little boy's sleeping since day one!
Kaspars Kursišs
And thank you, Hush, for the great quality of sound. This is awesome.
Kaspars Kursišs
I've been playing Peter's vinyl very often since I've got it as present after my aunt went to gig here in Riga. Compares to J. Buckley in my list of greatest artists and I f*cking LOVE Buckley. Great. I'll be glad to hear more from you, wish you luck.
DoctorMeatDic
such a beautiful song
Jonathon Sweeney
The guitar is soft and beautiful, but the lyrics is what really sells me on the song. Their content is wonderfully built up and constructed in a way that's humorous, painful, and overcoming. Broderick is a damn genius.
Mauro Ricchiuti
I really feel this lyrics
st3v3nc455
that swallow was the greatest part of the song... unbelievable!
DoctorMeatDic
Fantastic, can't wait for 16th of October gig in London.
Leo kacenjar
These are so much fun to watch.