Born into a family of artists, White spent her early years moving from town to town. Her mother was a folksinger, her father a sculptor, grandma was a burlesque performer and auntie was a pop song writer. Grandfather was a poet who favored the sonnet. Drawn to the arts, Simone acted in plays and films, made photographs and wrote. Needing an instrument for the songs she wrote a cappella, Simone taught herself to play guitar.
Moving to NYC from London in 2000, White began to play music onstage. She recorded her first album with producer David Domanich and musician and friend Frank Bango. White released the album, The Sincere Recording Company Presents, in 2003 on Bango's label The Sincere Recording Company.
I Am The Man, her second album, was recorded with producer Mark Nevers, (Lambchop/Calexico/Will Oldham/Silver Jews), in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2006 she was signed to the UK label Honest Jons. I Am The Man was released by Honest Jons/EMI in the UK, Japan, Italy and Holland in 2007 and released in France, Germany and the United States in 2008 through distributors Indigo and Forced Exposure. The album was a favourite with critics from MOJO and Q Magazine to the Daily Mail.
The Beep Beep Song, one of the songs from White's second album I Am The Man was used in an Audi R8 advert in the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, South Africa, Sweden and was shown in the half time ad break of the Rugby World Cup Final of 2007.
In 2007 and 2008 White toured in the United Kingdom and Europe headlining and supporting various bands: Nouvelle Vague, Alela Diane, Teitur, Stephen Fretwell and Little Dragon. In 2008 she played at the festivals Greenman and WOMAD in the UK.
White was a part of Damon Albarn's critically acclaimed "Honest Jons Revue" which toured in July 2008 to the Barbican Center in London, Les Nuits Fourviere Festival in Lyon, and the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City. The Honest Jons Revue included the artists Tony Allen, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Damon Albarn, Kokanko Sata Doumbia, Lobi Traore, Afel Bocoum, Candi Staton, Simone White and Victoria Williams.
On 12 June 2009, White's third album, Yakiimo was released digitally, with a physical release following on 22 June 2009. This album was again released through Honest Jons in the UK.
White's albums frequently include covers of songs originally recorded by her friend and collaborator Frank Bango. Such recordings include Roses Are Not Red, Wrong About You, Worm Was Wood and Bunny In A Bunnysuit.
White currently lives in Venice, California.
White's album, Silver Silver, was released in 2012.
She released "Genuine Fake", a collection of acoustic recordings, on 8 September 2017.
Flowers in May
Simone White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby Lie Down with Me
Big Dreams And The Headlines
Blueprint
Bunny In a Bunny Suit
Candy Bar Killer
Christmas Makes Me Blue
Every Little Now And Then
Great Imperialist State
I Am the Man
I Didn't Have Any Summer Romance
In The Water Where The City Ends
Let the Cold Wind Blow
Long Moon
Mary Jane
Never Be That Tough
Now The Revolution
Olivia 101
Only the Moon
Roses Are Not Red
Silver Silver
Soldier Sailor
Star
Sweetest Love Song
The American War
The Beep Beep Song
Train Song
Victoria Anne
We Used To Stand So Tall
What The Devil Brings
Why Is Your Raincoat Always Crying
Without a Sound
Worm Was Wood
Yakiimo
You Are Loved
You May Be In Darkness
Your Stop
Flowers In May
here's what I learned when you went away
the jacaranda tree flowers in may
jasmine blooms after the rain
4am hear the first plane
ride a bike along the beach the end of the day
the sun descends in red and slowly fades
think of all the things I want to say
too late
when will I forget I don't know
I want to keep you here inside me to remind me that everything unfolds
one day we'll see
hang a white dress on a line in the sun
do the laundry and the dishes sweep the kitchen
save the bees and baby birds that fall from the trees
look there's one
all night in spring the mockingbird sings
stay up till dawn and sleep all day long
I can feel you with me every moment
even though you're very gone
when will I forget I don't know
I want to keep you here inside me to remind me that everything unfolds
one day we'll see
hang a white dress on a line in the sun
save the bees and baby birds that fall from the trees
clean the glasses line them up in a row
I won't let you go
here's what I learned when you went away
the jacaranda tree flowers in may
jasmine blooms after the rain
4am hear the first plane
Simone White's song "Flowers In May" reflects on loss and the passing of time with beautiful imagery of nature and everyday life. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that she has learned something since her loved one went away, specifically that the jacaranda tree flowers in May and jasmine blooms after the rain. These seemingly trivial details are juxtaposed with the sound of a plane at 4am, and together they portray the passage of time and the way nature keeps moving forward even in the face of loss.
The second verse continues with a description of riding a bike along the beach at the end of the day and watching the sun set in red. The singer thinks of all the things she wants to say to her loved one, but it's too late. The chorus then repeats the question of when the singer will forget, and she responds that she wants to keep her loved one inside her to remind her that everything unfolds and that they will one day see each other again.
The third verse references doing mundane household chores like laundry, dishes, and cleaning, but also includes the touching image of saving bees and baby birds that fall from the trees. The song ends with the singer acknowledging that even though her loved one is gone, she can feel them with her every moment.
Overall, "Flowers In May" is a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the way life keeps moving forward even in the face of loss. The song uses beautiful imagery of nature and everyday life to convey this message, and the contrast between the mundane tasks of daily life and the profound emotions of grief and love creates a powerful effect.
Line by Line Meaning
here's what I learned when you went away
The singer is about to reflect on the things they discovered about themselves after a significant person left their life.
the jacaranda tree flowers in may
The singer noticed the blooming jacaranda tree during the month of May, possibly indicating a time of renewal and growth.
jasmine blooms after the rain
The singer recognizes the beauty in life's simple moments, like the blooming of jasmine after a rainfall.
4am hear the first plane
The artist is awake at an early hour, possibly indicative of unrest or contemplation.
ride a bike along the beach the end of the day
The artist engages in an enjoyable activity, like a bike ride, towards the end of the day.
the sun descends in red and slowly fades
The singer witnesses the sun set over the horizon, symbolizing the end of something.
think of all the things I want to say
The singer reflects on things they wish they had said or done differently.
too late
The artist understands that it is too late to change the past, indicating a sense of regret.
when will I forget I don't know
The artist wonders when they will be able to forget the person who left them.
I want to keep you here inside me to remind me that everything unfolds
The artist realizes that every experience, even painful ones, shape who they are and they do not want to forget the lessons they have learned.
one day we'll see
The singer believes that someday they will understand what happened and why it had to happen.
hang a white dress on a line in the sun
The artist engages in mundane tasks, such as hanging laundry, to keep busy and distract themselves from their thoughts.
do the laundry and the dishes sweep the kitchen
The singer continues with household chores, possibly indicating a desire for routine and order.
save the bees and baby birds that fall from the trees
The singer values life, both big and small, and tries to help those in need.
look there's one
The singer spots a baby bird that needs help, indicating a caring nature.
all night in spring the mockingbird sings
The artist is awake during the night, possibly reflective of a restless or contemplative state, and hears the sounds of nature.
stay up till dawn and sleep all day long
The artist is not adhering to a typical sleep schedule, further indicative of a restless state.
I can feel you with me every moment
The singer still feels the presence of the person who left them, even though they are physically gone.
even though you're very gone
The singer acknowledges that the person who left them is truly gone, further evidencing a sense of loss and sadness.
clean the glasses line them up in a row
The artist continues to engage in cleaning tasks, possibly indicative of a desire for order and control.
I won't let you go
The artist is holding onto the memory of the person who left them and refusing to let go, indicating a struggle to move on.
flowers in may
The phrase 'flowers in May' is repeated at the beginning and end of the song, possibly symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the passing of time.
Writer(s): SAMUEL BING, SIMONE WHITE
Contributed by Kayla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@soaressupermario
You just touch my hounds and even I say myself they don't hurt I'm lying to myself.
All your lyrics are deep and they touch me so much...
Maybe I'm masochistic but can't avoid to listen you over and over again...
Don't know if I should hate you or love you but I prefer to think that I should thank you for such masterpieces you do...
Maybe you have traveled in the same boat trough the same troubled waters.
Maybe because of that you understand deep feelings so perfectly.
@simonewhite
Thank you Mário 🙏
@orieljenkins7742
Every time I am overwhelmed I listen to your music. Even after many many years. Thank you, Simone.
@simonewhite
Thank you, Oriel. Thank you for listening. :-)
@Samuelhonkman
This really is a beautiful, mesmerising piece of music.
@TwoSonsStrong
It's been about 4 years now that I've been listening to this song. Thank you so much for it.
@simonewhite
+Jeremy Ashley Thank you, Jeremy. That's so nice to hear. x
@rondowar
This is such a touching song, very sad but beautiful at the same time
And so relaxing and soft/sweet, it's very impressive :)
@GaiaXaia
a beautiful song - I don't want to forget loved ones who have moved on even though everyday life continues on the surface to be the same. Touching with a strong message
@launderground
we love simone white.