Whilst growing up, Nicholls attended Felsted School. She first found fame for performing cartwheels whilst streaking at an England vs. Australia cricket match at Lord's in May 1989, in which she joined fellow school players Derek Pringle and John Stephenson on the field of play; this footage was later included in the video Streaker, narrated by George Best.
Nicholls travelled to the United States later in 1989 and began performing with her band, Sheila Nicholls and the Splendid Frock, in New York City in the mid-1990s.
Nicholls then moved to Los Angeles where she recorded a solo album, the critically acclaimed Brief Strop, and started her own label, Essex Girl Records.
Shortly thereafter, Nicholls signed a deal with Hollywood Records, which began distributing Brief Strop. The song "Fallen for You," from the album, became a hit on College Radio stations and found its way onto the best-selling soundtrack for the movie High Fidelity. She toured extensively with the album, including several gigs alongside k.d. lang.
In mid-2002, Nicholls released her second album, Wake, in which she worked with producers Glen Ballard and Jez Colin. The album's first single, "Faith," co-written with Ballard, received ample radio play and reached the pop charts. Nicholls third album, "Songs From the Bardo" was released in August 2009.
Fallen for You
Sheila Nicholls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you ever see me,
Watching from periphery?
I was playing another game
Hoped you catch on all the same.
Fallen from view
Did you ever touch me,
I thought I felt your fingers once
After waiting all these months
But I was wrong, so wrong
That was just another song you wrote, for another girl
And I hoped a day could be
When you'd write a song for me
But it never came,
I thank you all the same,
But I'll go now, so you won't know how much I've
Fallen for you,
Boy who's trying to be a man
Boy, you don't know if you can
I thought I knew you well enough
But your walls are still too tough
But I was wrong, so wrong
That was just another song you wrote, for another girl
And I hoped the day could be
When you'd write a song for me
But it never came,
I thank you all the same,
But I'll go now, so you won't know how much I
Thought about you all the time,
Walking round, the Guggenheim.
Like a rhyme, in my mind,
There you are, in my car,
But we don't drive very far.
To the beach, out of reach
Next to me, my fantasy
Falling for you
Did you ever see me,
Watching from periphery?
I was playing another game
I hoped you catch on all the same.
The song "Fallen for You" by Sheila Nicholls reflects on unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. The opening lines, "Did you ever see me, watching from periphery?" signify the singer's desire to have the attention of someone they've fallen for. The line "I was playing another game, hoped you'd catch on all the same" suggests that the singer didn't want to make their feelings obvious to the person they are in love with. However, the chorus of the song reveals that the singer fell for someone who was trying to be a man but didn't know if he could. The lyrics "I thought I knew you well enough, but your walls are still too tough" suggest that the person they've fallen for is guarded and unwilling to let the singer in.
The verses of the song reveal that the singer had hoped that the person they've fallen for would write a song for them. But when that didn't happen, the singer decides to move on with their life without letting the other person know the depth of their feelings. The line "But I'll go now, so you won't know how much I've fallen for you" suggests that the singer is being intentionally elusive and doesn't want the other person to know how much they're hurting.
Overall, "Fallen for You" is a heart-wrenching song about unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who has fallen for someone else who isn't able or willing to reciprocate their feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Fallen for you
I have fallen in love with you.
Did you ever see me,
Watching from periphery?
Did you ever notice me watching you from the sidelines?
I was playing another game
Hoped you catch on all the same.
I was trying to get your attention in a subtle way, hoping you would understand.
Fallen from view
Did you ever touch me,
Floating through your potpourri?
I have now fallen out of your sight and don't know if you ever noticed me when I was around you
I thought I felt your fingers once
After waiting all these months
I thought there was a possibility of you feeling the same way towards me, but it turned out to be nothing.
But I was wrong, so wrong
That was just another song you wrote, for another girl
And I hoped a day could be
When you'd write a song for me
I realized that the song you wrote wasn't for me, and I had hoped that someday you would write a song for us instead.
But it never came,
I thank you all the same,
But I'll go now, so you won't know how much I've
But that day never came, and although I appreciated your music, I am now leaving so you won't know how much I loved you.
Boy who's trying to be a man
Boy, you don't know if you can
I thought I knew you well enough
But your walls are still too tough
I thought you were mature enough to see how I felt, but you are still growing as a person and your defenses are still strong.
Thought about you all the time,
Walking round, the Guggenheim.
Like a rhyme, in my mind,
There you are, in my car,
But we don't drive very far.
To the beach, out of reach
Next to me, my fantasy
I constantly think about you, even when I am walking around the Guggenheim. You are always on my mind as a perfect match for me, even when we are sitting together in my car, going nowhere, dreaming about going to the beach together.
Falling for you
Did you ever see me,
Watching from periphery?
I was playing another game
I hoped you catch on all the same.
I have fallen in love with you, but did you ever notice me playing hard to get from afar? I had hoped you would catch on to my subtle hints.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICHOLLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@junior14dt
Fallen for you
Did you ever see me,
Watching from periphery?
I was playing another game
Hoped you catch on all the same.
Fallen from view
Did you ever touch me,
Floating through your potpourri?
I thought I felt your fingers once
After waiting all these months
But I was wrong, so wrong
That was just another song you wrote, for another girl
And I hoped a day could be
When you'd write a song for me
But it never came,
I thank you all the same,
But I'll go now, so you won't know how much I've
Fallen for you,
Boy who's trying to be a man
Boy, you don't know if you can
I thought I knew you well enough
But your walls are still too tough
But I was wrong, so wrong
That was just another song you wrote, for another girl
And I hoped the day could be
When you'd write a song for me
But it never came,
I thank you all the same,
But I'll go now, so you won't know how much I
Thought about you all the time,
Walking round, the Guggenheim.
Like a rhyme, in my mind,
There you are, in my car,
But we don't drive very far.
To the beach, out of reach
Next to me, my fantasy
Falling for you
Did you ever see me,
Watching from periphery?
I was playing another game
I hoped you catch on all the same.
@TheFolkhead
Been a pro musician my whole life. This is one of my ten favorite songs of all time. Just perfect in so many ways.
@us-Bahn
Yea it’s remarkable how each successive phrase builds in beauty & interest pulling you all the way through to the surprisingly different theme in the Guggenheim part. She must have been thrilled to discover all these gems that connect with each other so seamlessly.
@angushulme7074
yes I agree. I am a musician and composer... not that that makes my view more valid of course... but it perhaps helps us appreciate quite what an epic pice of creativity this is... so unusual and inspired... almost like seeing a Van Gogh painting... only Van Gogh could have ever created it...
@decyx2
I remember when she performed at my high school almost a decade ago. She was amazingly talented. I'm glad she went on to do bigger things.
@junior14dt
Fallen for you
Did you ever see me,
Watching from periphery?
I was playing another game
Hoped you catch on all the same.
Fallen from view
Did you ever touch me,
Floating through your potpourri?
I thought I felt your fingers once
After waiting all these months
But I was wrong, so wrong
That was just another song you wrote, for another girl
And I hoped a day could be
When you'd write a song for me
But it never came,
I thank you all the same,
But I'll go now, so you won't know how much I've
Fallen for you,
Boy who's trying to be a man
Boy, you don't know if you can
I thought I knew you well enough
But your walls are still too tough
But I was wrong, so wrong
That was just another song you wrote, for another girl
And I hoped the day could be
When you'd write a song for me
But it never came,
I thank you all the same,
But I'll go now, so you won't know how much I
Thought about you all the time,
Walking round, the Guggenheim.
Like a rhyme, in my mind,
There you are, in my car,
But we don't drive very far.
To the beach, out of reach
Next to me, my fantasy
Falling for you
Did you ever see me,
Watching from periphery?
I was playing another game
I hoped you catch on all the same.
@MultiRabe
Her voice is so pretty...just can’t get enough of this song 🥰
@okrajoe
Such a beautiful gem from the movie "High Fidelity"
@TheFolkhead
I now play this song during my own live shows. Just so flowingly beautiful and gritty at the same time. Thank you.
@guyo7351
The whole soundtrack is awesome. This one stands out. " Did you ever see me..watching from periphery... " Been there. :)
@human_rights0
I think...you remember me in ashes 😂but your voice has magic 🥰👌