Roo Panes is English singer-songwriter Andrew Panes from Wimborne, Dorset, … Read Full Bio ↴Roo Panes is English singer-songwriter Andrew Panes from Wimborne, Dorset, United Kingdom.

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.”

Let It Be a Long Time
Roo Panes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Trying to find some kind of secret time in between the hours.

For the hand you’ve found worth holding,
For a sky that’s always golden,
Let it be a long time.

Now it’s you and I - let it be a long time.

Overall Meaning

In "Let It Be a Long Time," Roo Panes crafts a poignant narrative that captures a moment of idyllic beauty intertwined with the inevitability of life’s hardships. The opening lines create a vivid contrast between the blissful feeling of paradise and the reality of life's challenges. The imagery of paradise suggests a place of refuge, where the worries and stresses of the world seem distant and unimportant. Here, the phrase "before we get back to the rough and the tumble of rolling dice" serves as a metaphor for the uncertainties and risks of everyday life. Rolling dice suggests chance and unpredictability, highlighting how life can be a gamble. Panes is longing for a pause in the relentless pace of existence, advocating for a period of reflection and connection before confronting the chaos that lies ahead.

As the song progresses, the theme of savoring moments becomes more evident. The lines "For the deep breath in the breathing, / For the sake of always leaving" encapsulate the tension between the desire to remain in serene moments and the continuous flow of time that demands movement and change. This duality highlights the transient nature of happiness; it acknowledges that moments like these are fleeting and that the act of simply being present is vital. The deep breath symbolizes mindfulness, a grounding technique that encourages appreciation for the present, while also hinting at the inevitability of departure. In urging to "stay a long time," Panes emphasizes a yearning for prolonged intimacy and togetherness, resulting in a deeper emotional bond forged amidst the chaos of existence.

The imagery shifts to a more sensory experience when the lyrics mention "smelling the morning flowers" and "trying to find some kind of secret time in between the hours." Here, Panes invites listeners to engage in the beauty of the mundane, suggesting that even within the constraints of daily life, there are moments for exploration and appreciation. Morning flowers symbolize renewal and growth, serving as a reminder that beauty can be found in the simplest elements of nature. The struggle to "find some kind of secret time" reflects a desire to carve out meaningful experiences amidst a busy, often overwhelming world. Panes encourages embracing these small pleasures, viewing them as opportunities to reconnect with oneself and with others, reinforcing the central motif of cherishing time spent in a state of bliss.

The closing lines, "Now it’s you and I - let it be a long time," encapsulate the essence of the song. There is a sense of commitment and intimacy that transcends the earlier themes of solitude and individual experience. This coupling signifies a desire for a shared journey rather than a solitary one, deepening the bond between individuals who choose to embrace the beauty of their surroundings and each other. By inviting the listener to envision a future together that extends beyond the fleeting moments of joy, Panes acknowledges the complexity of love and time. He concludes with a hopeful affirmation that while life may be filled with inevitable departures and uncertainties, the connections we forge and the moments we savor can create lasting memories worth holding onto. Overall, "Let It Be a Long Time" is a poignant meditation on the nature of love, time, and the bittersweet interplay of joy and inevitability in human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Couldn’t we stay here just a little longer in paradise,
May we not linger in this blissful state for a moment more, relishing the serenity around us,

Before we get back to the rough and the tumble of rolling dice?
Before we return to the unpredictable and often chaotic realities of life’s risks and uncertainties?

For the deep breath in the breathing,
To appreciate the significance of each mindful inhale, truly embracing the present moment,

For the sake of always leaving,
In recognition of the inevitability of departure, which underscores the beauty of what we share now,

Let us stay a long time.
Let us endure in this cherished moment for as long as we can.

Cos nowadays you’ll find me smelling the morning flowers,
Because in the present, I often take the time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, such as the fragrance of blooming flowers,

Trying to find some kind of secret time in between the hours.
Seeking those hidden moments of joy and tranquility that exist beyond the constraints of our busy schedules.

For the hand you’ve found worth holding,
In honor of the significant connection we share, the companionship that brings comfort and warmth,

For a sky that’s always golden,
For the moments that feel idyllic and everlasting, filled with endless possibilities and hope,

Let it be a long time.
May we savor this feeling for as long as destiny allows.

Now it’s you and I - let it be a long time.
At this very moment, it’s just us together; let us hold on to this connection for an extended time.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andrew Panes, Ross Dorkin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

More Albums Load All

No Tracks Found

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@RheaDopmeijer

2y↑2

Couldn’t we stay here just a little longer in paradise,
Before we get back to the rough and the tumble of rolling dice?
For the deep breath in the breathing,
For the sake of always leaving,
Let us stay a long time.
Cos nowadays you’ll find me smelling the morning flowers,
Trying to find some kind of secret time in between the hours.
For the hand you’ve found worth holding,
For a sky that’s always golden,
Let it be a long time.
Now it’s you and I - let it be a long time.

Heartfelt