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.”
There's A Place
Roo Panes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could there be a place for you and I?
Abandon reason, adopt the rhyme
And there could be a place for us to find
There could be a place
I flew home like a springtide swallow
I left the Cape of Good Hope behind
I missed the flight 'cause you
Were on my mind can't get you off my mind
You had to know, oh yeah, you had to know
That you're worth more than
You'd ever noticed
That there's less glory in a risin' sun
Than in the day that your life began
But what can we do? Where
Can we go from here?
Always so far, always so near
Who cast the spell of our fair-weather hell
The sweet hellos, the fair farewells?
Well, no one knows where the wind may blow
I've never been a man for another's shadows
But sometimes I drive by the place you live
Just hoping I might catch you in the windows
Well, if you've known love
Then maybe you've known pain
It's "here comes the sun"
And then the bloody rain
And, though there's nothing
Nothing to forgive
If we could find the grace
There could be a place
There could be a place
Another life, another time
Could there be a place for you and I?
Abandon reason, adopt the rhyme
And there could be a place for us to find
There could be a place
In Roo Panes's song, There's A Place, the lyrics explore the theme of hope and the possibility of finding a place for oneself in the world. The singer reflects on the idea of another life and another time, wondering if there could be a place for him and the person he is addressing. He urges abandoning reason and adopting the rhyme, suggesting that this could be the way to find that place they're searching for.
The first verse speaks of leaving behind the Cape of Good Hope and flying back home. The singer is going towards the person he cares about who is full of paradise, and he misses his flight because he has her on his mind. The chorus repeats the question of whether there could be a place for them to find.
The second verse talks about the person's worth and the lack of glory in a risin' sun. The singer wonders where they can go from here and who cast the spell of their fair-weather hell. He speaks of driving past the person's house, hoping to catch a glimpse of her in the windows. The final lines suggest that there's nothing to forgive, and if they find the grace, they could find their place.
In conclusion, the song tells a story of two people searching for a place in the world, hoping to find solace in each other. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia, longing, and hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Another life, another time
In a different time and place
Could there be a place for you and I?
Is there a place for us to belong?
Abandon reason, adopt the rhyme
Let go of logic and embrace creativity
And there could be a place for us to find
We may discover a place to fit in
There could be a place
A place for us to belong
I flew home like a springtide swallow
I returned quickly and eagerly
I left the Cape of Good Hope behind
I left behind my fears and doubts
Towards your eyes, so full of paradise
To be near you is like being in heaven
I missed the flight 'cause you were on my mind
I was thinking of you and lost track of time
You had to know, oh yeah, you had to know
You should have realized how special you are
That you're worth more than you'd ever noticed
You are more valuable than you think
That there's less glory in a risin' sun
Morning can be less magnificent than the beginning of your life
Than in the day that your life began
When you first came into the world
But what can we do? Where can we go from here?
We are stuck, not knowing what to do
Always so far, always so near
Always close yet so far away
Who cast the spell of our fair-weather hell
Why are we trapped in a painful situation?
The sweet hellos, the fair farewells?
Remembering the times when things were good
Well, no one knows where the wind may blow
The future is uncertain
I've never been a man for another's shadows
I don't want to live in someone else's shadow
But sometimes I drive by the place you live
Sometimes I visit the place where you are
Just hoping I might catch you in the windows
Hoping to catch a glimpse of you
Well, if you've known love
If you have experienced love
Then maybe you've known pain
You may have also experienced heartache
It's 'here comes the sun' and then the bloody rain
Life can be unpredictable, like sunny days followed by storms
And, though there's nothing, nothing to forgive
There is nothing to apologize for
If we could find the grace
If we could find forgiveness and understanding
There could be a place
There may be a place for us after all
Another life, another time
In a different world or time
Could there be a place for you and I?
Is there a place where we both belong?
Abandon reason, adopt the rhyme
Let go of the logical and embrace creativity
And there could be a place for us to find
We may discover a place where we fit in
There could be a place
A place where we can be together
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW DAVID PANES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Parth Raval
[Verse 1]
Another life, another time
Could there be a place for you and I?
Abandon reason, adopt the rhyme
And there could be a place for us to find
There could be a place
[Verse 2]
Oh, I flew home like a springtide swallow
I left the cape of good hope behind
Towards your eyes, so full of paradise
I missed the flight 'cause you were on my mind
Can't get you off my mind
[Verse 3]
You had to know, oh yeah, you had to know
That you're worth more than you ever noticed
That there's less glory in a rising sun
Than in the day that your life begun
But what can we do?
Where can we go from here?
Always so far, always so near
Who cast the spell of our fair weather hell
The sweet hellos, the fair farewells?
[Verse 4]
Well, no one knows where the wind may blow
I've never been a man for another's shadows
But sometimes I drive by the place you live
Just hoping I might catch you in the windows
Well, if you've known love
Then maybe you've known pain
It's here comes the sun and then the bloody rain!
And though there's nothing, nothing to forgive
If we could find the grace
There could be a place
There could be a place
[Verse 5]
Another life, another time
Could there be a place for you and I?
Abandon reason, adopt the rhyme
And there could be a place for us to find
There could be a place
Parth Raval
[Verse 1]
Another life, another time
Could there be a place for you and I?
Abandon reason, adopt the rhyme
And there could be a place for us to find
There could be a place
[Verse 2]
Oh, I flew home like a springtide swallow
I left the cape of good hope behind
Towards your eyes, so full of paradise
I missed the flight 'cause you were on my mind
Can't get you off my mind
[Verse 3]
You had to know, oh yeah, you had to know
That you're worth more than you ever noticed
That there's less glory in a rising sun
Than in the day that your life begun
But what can we do?
Where can we go from here?
Always so far, always so near
Who cast the spell of our fair weather hell
The sweet hellos, the fair farewells?
[Verse 4]
Well, no one knows where the wind may blow
I've never been a man for another's shadows
But sometimes I drive by the place you live
Just hoping I might catch you in the windows
Well, if you've known love
Then maybe you've known pain
It's here comes the sun and then the bloody rain!
And though there's nothing, nothing to forgive
If we could find the grace
There could be a place
There could be a place
[Verse 5]
Another life, another time
Could there be a place for you and I?
Abandon reason, adopt the rhyme
And there could be a place for us to find
There could be a place
Brenda Groehler
💙🎶😌
TheRealMeemaw Mallen
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TheRealMeemaw Mallen
Right here right now...it's called the present God's blessing of today~ New Beginnings my love~ new beginnings~ Always and Forever you must know There's never been another from the first time I saw your beautiful face And God's eyes of love 💙💙 smiled into my soul unbeknownst to me I was no longer a half No longer Alone Nor were you!
#freedbird UR the rhyme in a world that has lost it's reason ...I love u baby xoi 🐦❤️🐦 ❤️
Maureen Barkell-Kaczmar
Thank you Grey's Anatomy for sharing this song!
Ann Njambi
IKR, it's a gem
Chloe Wu
@diddybear123 same
diddybear123
Finally found it after searching right after the episode. I’m in shock.
Brandy
"You'll have smiles on your face like crickets and stars in August"
Goodbye Andrew DeLuca
Brent zhou
Can't believe Deluca dead,so sad