Grennan was born in Bedford. His father is a builder, and his mother was a teacher. He is of Irish/English origin and a big fan of football and particularly Manchester United. He played football at a young age for the Bedford Park Tigers. He attended St Thomas More Catholic School. His younger brother is an aspiring boxer.
At 18, he was mugged by a group of strangers on the street and was left with four metal plates and screws in his jaw that "still hurt when winter comes". He trained to become a professional footballer. He played for Luton Town for a while, tried for Northampton Town and Aston Villa. But he was later released. He worked briefly at Costa Coffee. He told Music Week: "I was close to playing over in the States but something was telling me not to and obviously it was the music".
His musical beginnings are obscure, but he says he was at a house party where he sang "Seaside" from The Kooks. He didn't remember it, but his friends were impressed and pushed him into performing more. He studied acting at university. Also at age 18, he started doing gigs around London with his acoustic guitar, mainly in small pub appearances for almost three years. After a performance at Finsbury pub, a representative of Insanity Records heard him play and offered a contract. His debut EP, Something in the Water was produced by Charlie Hugall. He had his big break when he was featured in the Chase & Status 2016 single "All Goes Wrong" that was picked as "Hottest Record" on Annie Mac's Radio 1 Show. After that he was invited for an appearance on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, and a follow up appearance on BBC Two's show Later... with Jools Holland.[5] The song charted in the UK Singles Chart peaking at number 65. It also charted in Scotland and some European charts.
In 2017, he was shortlisted for MTV Brand New Award singing at MTV Showcase at London's Electric Ballroom on 2 February 2017).[7] Also in 2017, he had a cameo appearance in Charli XCX's music video for her song "Boys" alongside many well-known artists and duetted with grime MC Bugzy Malone on "Memory Lane". He performed in Trafalgar Square during the F1 Live in London show in support of Formula One drivers. He started an all UK tour in March 2018 in support of his upcoming album Lighting Matches due for release in July 2018. His song "Found What I've Been Looking For" appears on the FIFA 18 soundtrack and is also used by Sky Sports as the theme song for Super Sunday.
Lighting Matches
Tom Grennan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
walking on, hands in pockets
Wishing on stars that I can't see
I watch all you city dreamers
left hometown believers
Looking down at the ground like me
We're all lonely people, lonely people, alone
But I'm lighting matches
Making a shelter for a flame til' fire catches
Stay in the dark another day (I wanna know)
Will it all get better (are we alone?)
Or are we lost together
Nah-nana-nah-nah-nana-nah
Are we lost together
Nah-nana-nah-nah-nana-nah
Are we lost together
So I lift my eyes up
let conversation lie on
It feels like I've no room for time
Tell me which piece of you is missing
We all got pasts, we fix them
It's just the catch of being alive
We're all lonely people, lonely people, alone
Going in circles, going wherever the wind blows and it blows
But I'm lighting matches
Making a shelter for a flame til' fire catches
Stay in the dark another day (I wanna know)
Will it all get better (are we alone?)
Or are we lost together
Nah-nana-nah-nah-nana-nah
Are we lost together
Nah-nana-nah-nah-nana-nah
Are we lost together
And I-I-I-I won't stand down
And I-I-I-I won't let it burn down
Can't make this puzzle with a piece that doesn't fit
There must be something more than this
So I'm lighting matches
Making a shelter for a flame til' fire catches
Stay in the dark another day (I wanna know)
Will it all get better (are we alone?)
Or are we lost together
Nah-nana-nah-nah-nana-nah
Are we lost together
Nah-nana-nah-nah-nana-nah
Are we lost together
The song "Lighting Matches" by Tom Grennan speaks about the lonely journey of life and its struggles. The song's opening lines show the singer walking with his hands in his pockets, looking up at the stars and wishing for better things. He is watching the dreamers in the city who have left their hometowns and are "looking down at the ground like me." Thus, he is feeling lost and lonely, like all other people in the world.
The lyrics then move on to express the feeling of being stuck in the same cycle, continually doing the same things and still hoping for a better future. But the chorus is where the uplifting nature of the song kicks in. The singer speaks of lighting matches and building a shelter for a flame until the fire catches. The song speaks about hope and perseverance, continuing to stay in the dark for one more day for the hope of a better tomorrow.
The final verse expresses the idea that there is more to life than just going through the same routine day after day, highlighting the need for something more, something that fits the puzzle of life. In the end, the song is a beautiful ode to hope that encourages individuals to keep fighting and not give up on their dreams and aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
I've had a long day, I've been walking on, hands in pockets
I'm tired and aimlessly wandering around with my hands in my pockets
Wishing on stars that I can't see
I'm hoping for something that is out of reach or impossible
I watch all you city dreamers left hometown believers
I observe people who left their hometown and abandoned their beliefs
Looking down at the ground like me
We both feel defeated or hopeless
We're all lonely people, lonely people, alone
We all feel isolated and disconnected from others
Going in circles, going wherever the wind blows and it blows
We feel like we're not making progress and our lives are directionless
But I'm lighting matches, making a shelter for a flame til' fire catches
I'm trying to start a fire, to ignite something within myself or others
Stay in the dark another day (I wanna know)
I'm questioning whether things will get better or if we'll remain in the dark
Will it all get better (are we alone?)
I'm wondering if we'll be able to find happiness, or if we're alone in our struggles
Or are we lost together
Perhaps we're all lost and struggling together
So I lift my eyes up, let conversation lie on
I'm choosing to look up and have meaningful conversations rather than focus on my struggles
It feels like I've no room for time
I feel like time is running out or I have no control over it
Tell me which piece of you is missing
I'm asking what's holding you back, what are you missing that's preventing you from moving forward
We all got pasts, we fix them, it's just the catch of being alive
We all have baggage, but we can work through it, it's just part of life
And I-I-I-I won't stand down, and I-I-I-I won't let it burn down
I won't give up or let everything fall apart
Can't make this puzzle with a piece that doesn't fit
We need all the right pieces to make things work, otherwise we'll be stuck
There must be something more than this
There must be a greater purpose or meaning to our struggles
Are we lost together?
Perhaps we're all lost, but at least we're in it together
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY HOGARTH, JONNY LATTIMER, TOM GRENNAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind