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.”
Stay With Me
Roo Panes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was all viridian in vermillion blood.
There was a void before me; it was as deep as truth,
Because all the world couldn't hide the view of you.
Stay with me! Oh stay with me; you're right where you are supposed to be! X 2
You're my Eldorado; you're my holy grail,
Knowing I was taller when upon my knees,
Knowing you'd back to me if I just said please! Please! Please!
Stay with me! Oh stay with me; you're right where you are supposed to be,
Oh you take me back to the morning light,
You take me back to the morning light,
The very moment that I found my sight,
You're forever by my side.
You take me back to the morning light,
You take me back to the morning light,
The very moment that I found my sight,
I'm forever by your side.
The first verse of Roo Panes's song Stay With Me paints a picture of a person who has traveled far and wide, yet feels like they have not really gone anywhere. The colors viridian and vermillion are used to describe the person's surroundings, possibly indicating that they have been seeking beauty or meaning in their travels but have not found it. However, despite the lack of fulfillment in their journey, there is a sense of purpose and truth in front of them that they cannot ignore. This truth seems to be embodied in the person they are singing to, who is so important that they cannot be hidden even by the entire world.
The chorus of the song is a plea for the person to stay with them. This heartfelt request is made twice, emphasizing the importance of the request. The person being addressed is compared to Eldorado, the legendary city of gold, and the holy grail, an object of great importance and significance. It is through this person that the singer has found their treasure, something that they were able to discover despite the challenges of rain and hail. The phrase "Knowing I was taller when upon my knees" seems to indicate a sense of humility or submission, but also implies that the singer has gained strength or perspective from their devotion to this person. The phrase "Knowing you'd back to me if I just said please! Please! Please!" reinforces the idea of the singer's dependence on this person.
The final stanza of the song expresses the idea that the person being addressed takes the singer back to the morning light, which could be interpreted literally as the start of a new day or metaphorically as a new beginning or awakening. The person is forever by the singer's side, signifying a deep connection and commitment.
Overall, Roo Panes's Stay With Me is a powerful love song that portrays a deep emotional reliance on another person. The images and phrases used throughout the song express a sense of longing and devotion, as well as a belief that this specific person is the key to finding true meaning and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've been everywhere, but I've been nowhere,
I've traveled far and wide, but without you, it feels like I haven't really gone anywhere.
It was all viridian in vermillion blood.
Everything was a mix of green and red, vibrant and alive, but it was all meaningless without you.
There was a void before me; it was as deep as truth,
There was an emptiness inside me, as profound and overwhelming as the truth I couldn't ignore.
Because all the world couldn't hide the view of you.
No matter where I looked, you were always in my mind, impossible to ignore or forget.
Stay with me! Oh stay with me; you're right where you are supposed to be! X 2
Please don't leave me, stay with me where you belong, by my side and in my heart.
You're my Eldorado; you're my holy grail,
You're the treasure I've been searching for, the ultimate goal that makes everything worthwhile.
I found my treasure through the rain and hail,
I went through hardships and difficulties, but it was all worth it because I found you.
Knowing I was taller when upon my knees,
I felt stronger and more humble at the same time, knowing that surrendering to you made me better.
Knowing you'd back to me if I just said please! Please! Please!
I trust you enough to know that you'll always come back to me if I just ask, no matter how desperate or needy I sound.
Oh you take me back to the morning light,
You remind me of a new day, a fresh start, and the possibilities of a brighter future.
The very moment that I found my sight,
The exact instant I realized how much I needed you in my life, how lost I was without you.
You're forever by my side.
You're my constant companion, my soulmate, my forever love.
You take me back to the morning light,
You give me hope, faith, and inspiration, even when things seem dark and hopeless.
I'm forever by your side.
I'll never leave you or betray you, I'll always love you and cherish you, until the end of time.
Writer(s): Andrew Panes
Contributed by Wyatt V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@deannadiehl5160
My granddaughter introduced me to your music, Roo. I am 68 years old and absolutely love your music. I hope you are still writing and performing. Folk music vibe.
@AndersonFelipeMSAndysom
Essa música é absolutamente linda e apaixonante! 👏👏👏🤗
@perlala.2446
Wonderful song. Well done Roo!
@reginaglauciamacedodossant2272
Que lindo! Mensagens assim me deixam mais feliz! 😊❤️
@nn__humanbeing420
I absolutely need your songs in my life to survive
@MissVirtualEyes
A heart that loves deeply longs to say these words to the one they love. Such a lovely song, I ❤️ it ! ツ
@Kanelim1
why does this have so little views? its bloody fantastic
@lirionegro78
No lo sabes pero eres mi cantante preferido. Me transportas a un mundo de felicidad y pàz con tu música. Deseando que saques un disco nuevo. Bien hecho.
@_renji6395
This is so good, I'm getting goose bumps. :D
@akashtiwari5729
This is so beautiful 🌟💜❤