Panes, who plays mandolin and guitar, is accompanied by Georgie Harris (Viola), Joanne Sy (Cello), Sean Hatton (Drums) and Deborah Panes (Vocals).
Panes is a British songwriter with a guitar to his chest and a heart swelling with hopes and dreams. A common on-paper pitch, perhaps, and one sold a thousand times before. But Dorset-born Panes has something special to offer those willing to wait a while for their favourite songs to settle into place.
Panes’ debut album, ‘Little Giant’, isn’t a collection operating at the vanguard of a cutting-edge, ultimately transient scene worthy of clicks for the next few months. It’s not an album that sets out to trick its audience in any way – what you hear is succinct, honest songwriting, from a place of deep personal expression, resonating with universal truths and values. It’s an embracing set, a welcoming one, which represents everything that its maker has worked towards since first picking up a guitar and exploring his innermost thoughts and feelings through song. No follower of fashion, Panes walks to his own beat.
It’s a strange admission for any artist, but nevertheless: “I’ve never really listened to much music,” says Panes. “Influences from other artists, they’re not really that important. I find that my music comes to me from situations I find myself in – those situations can come to me as songs. In terms of first picking up an instrument, my granny was a classical pianist – we’d go to her house, hear her play, and run around in circles. And my mum used to be in a travelling theatre company, so I was encouraged towards culture, towards the arts. But I always thought: if I want to listen to music, I’ll just write it.”
Don’t mistake confidence for arrogance – such statements come from a sincere place, as Panes’ upbringing in Wimborne, once home to novelist Thomas Hardy, proved more inspirational to his writing than any sessions in the company of a parent’s record collection. The natural beauty of Dorset’s open spaces – and those of the Lake District, a place he loves to visit – have become woven into the fabric of his craft. The peace, the silent solitude: it’s here that Panes feels more alive with ideas than he does in the hubbub of his adopted home of London. There’s a pastoral warmth to ‘Little Giant’ that couldn’t have manifested had its roots been laid within urban limits.
The comfort of home, of a tight and supportive family, punctuates proceedings throughout Panes’ debut LP – which is perhaps inevitable, as the collection was recorded there. Beside producer Rupert Coulson – a man with numerous soundtrack credits, as well as experience of working on records by Portishead, Robbie Williams and Oasis – Panes and his band captured the classic 12-string guitar sounds, rippling percussion and sweeping strings that decorate ‘Little Giant’ in, says the singer, “the music room, down at our house – just a small, wooden-floored room. I thought, why not keep the recording close to where I write the songs?”
He continues: “I’m a really big fan of the idea that you don’t need all the stuff you find in a big studio – it’s about how you use the things you do have. Rupert had a lot of imagination, and got a good grasp of the room and harnessed it. I love working in places that have an atmosphere, and I think it’s good to have that extra, background noise on a record. I’m sure there’s an ambulance on the album, actually.”
He was, briefly, the face of a Burberry campaign, something he describes as “random”. “I was on tour,” he says, “and I got a phone call asking me to do it. I just grabbed the opportunity that was in front of me. I went in a musician, and came out a musician. It’s a short episode in my life, but one that’s had some quite big repercussions.” Indeed, a Google search pulls up many attractively composed black-and-white photographs of Panes sporting fine threads – but it’s music that surges strongest in his veins, above all other passions.
And now that you’ve separated your senses from social media for a while, closed your chattering inbox, just what does ‘Little Giant’ offer above more garden variety singer-songwriter recordings? A little patience provides the answers: this is material that truly connects on an emotional level, its gentle rhythms and compelling cadences topped by vocals that can’t be faked, that come characterised by a complete lack of artifice and affectation. His is a deep voice, one that sounds aged beyond its years, perhaps. And yet, it’s telling of timeless stories, endless ache and forever love. It asks that we all find the right way to see the world around us.
One number that specifically addresses the need for optimism is the single ‘Tiger Striped Sky’. Says Panes: “It’s about the idea where we can look at any situation ahead of us in two ways: either it’s challenging, and off-putting, or you can say that you love a challenge. It’s about the idea that you chose your context, and if you put yourself into a negative context, you’re going to come out with stripes on you.”
The title track is about addressing one’s own shortcomings in order to better themselves. “It’s accepting that you have to realise your own vulnerabilities in order to become stronger,” says Panes. “That’s why there’s the line, ‘Have the heart of a giant / But know you’re a man.’ You have to take things step by step. It’s also got that message of hope, as well.”
These songs are, says Panes, “personal, and vulnerable – but expansive, too. Because I don’t want it to just be about me. Here’s a bit of me, to help you understand a bit of you. I think positivity and hope are things worth giving to people, and I think that the album does transmit a lot of hope.”
Indigo Home
Roo Panes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God knows I've travelled far, so far,
But this is where it ends
Found me, right about the time that I found you,
For once, I was doing something right
Night fell, you were asked.
Are you lost in paradise my love, or have you found a home?
But as I searched your flashing indigo eyes, it echoed true
That I loved you,
That I loved you.
Dawn woke, I knew that it was time for my return,
But this time it will likely hurt as hell,
Sometimes way across the ocean on a far away shore,
We both stand and we both call, both call.
If you give love and live long, then you'll never be alone,
If you give love and live long, you you'll always have a home,
If you give love and live long, then you'll never be alone,
If you give love and live long, you you'll always have a home.
Are you lost in paradise my love, or have you found a home?
It's an awfully lonely road to walk alone,
But as I searched your flashing indigo eyes, it echoed true
That I loved you,
That I loved you.
We were lost in the fields trading tales of home,
But everyone knew that your gaze was my home,
We were lost in the fields trading tales of home,
But everyone knew that your gaze was my home.
The lyrics to Roo Panes's song Indigo Home create a beautiful narrative about finding a home in someone else. The song starts off with the imagery of "dry eyes, roaring falls" which could be interpreted as the contrast between the external world and the internal emotional state. The singer talks about traveling far and finally finding an end to their journey at the point where they meet their romantic interest. This is further explained through the lyrics, "For once, I was doing something right, Night fell, you were asked" which describes the singer experiencing a rare moment of clarity and peace.
The chorus of the song asks a question that is central to the theme of the song, "Are you lost in paradise my love, or have you found a home?" It is a question that is not only about the romantic relationship but also about finding a sense of purpose and belonging in life. The singer learns through their experience that giving love and living long will lead to having a home in someone else.
The song concludes with the singer acknowledging that it is time for them to leave but feeling emotional about the thought. The lyrics "We were lost in the fields trading tales of home, But everyone knew that your gaze was my home" indicate the depth of connection felt between the two individuals. The use of the word "gaze" is also symbolic of how love is manifested beyond just physical touch or words.
Overall, Indigo Home is a beautiful song about the human need for love and belonging. It describes how one can find a home in someone else and how that can transcend geographical boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Dry eyes, roaring falls,
Despite the sight of roaring waterfalls, my eyes remain dry from all the travels and hardships I’ve encountered.
God knows I've travelled far, so far,
I’ve travelled an extensive journey and God knows how far I have gone.
But this is where it ends
My search has come to its final destination here.
Found me, right about the time that I found you,
Just when I found you, I was also found by you.
For once, I was doing something right
For the first time, I felt like I was doing the right thing with you by my side.
Night fell, you were asked.
As night fell, you were questioned about your state of being.
Are you lost in paradise my love, or have you found a home?
Are you still searching for paradise or have you finally found a place to call home?
It's an awfully lonely road to walk alone,
Walking alone on this path is painfully lonely.
But as I searched your flashing indigo eyes, it echoed true
As I look into your bright, glowing indigo eyes, I knew deep down that I love you.
That I loved you,
The realization of my love for you echoed through my heart.
Dawn woke, I knew that it was time for my return,
As dawn broke, it was time for me to leave and return to where I came from.
But this time it will likely hurt as hell,
This time leaving will be the most painful thing to endure.
Sometimes way across the ocean on a far away shore,
Occasionally, when we’re on different sides of the ocean, on far away shores.
We both stand and we both call, both call.
We both stand calling out to each other.
If you give love and live long, then you'll never be alone,
If you give love and live a long life, you will never be alone.
If you give love and live long, you you'll always have a home,
If you give love and live a long life, you will always have a place to call home.
We were lost in the fields trading tales of home,
We reminisced in the fields about places we’d call our homes.
But everyone knew that your gaze was my home.
Everyone knew that my true home was found within your gaze.
Contributed by Brody C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@constitution.congress
Dry eyes, roaring falls, God knows I've travelled far,
So far, but this is where it ends.
Found you, right about the time that you found me,
For once I was doing something right!
Night fell, you asked.
Are you lost in paradise my love or have you found a home,
It's an awfully lonely road to walk alone?
But as I searched your flashing indigo eyes, it echoed true, that I loved you.
Dawn woke; I knew that it was time for my return,
But this time it would likely hurt as hell.
Sometimes, way across the ocean on a far away shore we both stand and we both call, both call –
That if you give love and live love, then you'll never be alone,
That if you give love and live love then you'll always have a home.
Are you lost in paradise my love, or have you found a home?
It's an awfully lonely road to walk alone,
But as I searched your flashing indigo eyes, it echoed true
That I loved you,
That I loved you.
We were lost in the fields trading tales of home,
But everyone knew that your gaze was my home,
We were lost in the fields trading tales of home,
But everyone knew that your gaze was my home.
@williamrivero1075
Ojos secos, caídas rugientes, Dios sabe que he viajado lejos
Hasta ahora, pero aquí es donde termina
Me encontré, justo cuando te encontré
Por una vez estaba haciendo algo bien
Cayó la noche, preguntaste
¿Estás perdido en el paraíso?
¿Mi amor o has encontrado un hogar?
Es un camino terriblemente solitario para caminar solo
Y mientras busqué tus ojos índigo parpadeantes
Se hizo eco de la verdad
Que te amé
Que te amé
Amanecer se despertó, sabía que era hora de mi regreso
Pero esta vez probablemente dolería como el infierno
A veces cruzando el océano
En una orilla lejana nos paramos y los dos llamamos, ambos llamamos
Que si das amor y vives mucho tiempo, entonces nunca estarás solo
Si le das amor y vives mucho tiempo, entonces siempre tendrás un hogar
Que si das amor y vives mucho tiempo, entonces nunca estarás solo
Si le das amor y vives mucho tiempo, entonces siempre tendrás un hogar
¿Estás perdido en el paraíso?
¿Mi amor o has encontrado un hogar?
Es un camino terriblemente solitario para caminar solo
Y mientras busqué tus ojos índigo parpadeantes
Se hizo eco de la verdad
Que te amé
Que te amé
Estábamos perdidos en los campos de comercio de cuentos de casa
Pero todos sabían que tu mirada era mi hogar
@constitution.congress
Dry eyes, roaring falls, God knows I've travelled far
So far, but this is where it ends
Found me, right about the time that I found you
For once I was doing something right
Night fell, you asked
Are you lost in paradise my love or have you found a home?
It's an awfully lonely road to walk alone
But as I searched your flashing indigo eyes
It echoed true, that I loved you, that I loved you
Dawn woke, I knew that it was time for my return
But this time it would likely hurt as hell
Sometimes, way across the ocean on a far away shore
We both stand and we both call, both call
That if you give love and live love, then you'll never be alone
Yeah, if you give love and live love, then you'll always have a home
Yeah, if you give love and live love, then you'll never be alone
Yeah, if you give love and live love, then you'll always have a home
Are you lost in paradise my love or have you found a home?
It's an awfully lonely road to walk alone
But as I searched your flashing indigo eyes
It echoed true, that I loved you, that I loved you
We were lost in the field trading tales of home
But everyone knew that your gaze was my home
We were lost in the field trading tales of home
But everyone knew that your gaze was my home
Are you lost in paradise?
Are you lost in paradise?
Are you lost in paradise?
Are you lost in paradise my love?
Are you lost in paradise?
Are you lost in paradise?
Are you lost in paradise my love?
@livewordblup
"If you give love, you'll never be alone" so true and so powerful
@ZuzannaGellera
livewordblup "u will always have a home" 😍😍😍
@JakeLikesJoking
But you can't just give your love to anyone. That's foolish and a quick way to wind up hurt and broken. Finding the right people who will understand you and love you back in equal measure is tough.
@MariaEGPais
'Are you lost in paradise my love, or have you found a home?'
This part hits me hard, melting my heart
@morganhunter607
How did I NOT know there were so many harmonies and instrumentals within this song? It’s GLORIOUS and after four years of listening to it, I finally hear it all
@alineyumi2761
I pressed play but wasn't paying attention and the song just got me in a way I'm still impressed about... Thank you.
@victorlecoq8723
Ça vous transporte tellement loin, c'est d'une puissance si douce et si calme... Definitely my favourite song
@didou8105
pour moi c'est le Bob Dylan de cette époque
@vinay9053
Thank you YouTube for recommending this masterpiece to me.
@matthebrit
one of my favourite songs right now. so beautiful and joyful!