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.
Sober
Tom Grennan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way your hair dances, it's clear you want all eyes on you
It's all eyes on you
And though I know that I won't get no answers, I
I just can't stop from indulging my lean eyes on you
My fool eyes on you
As you dance on your burning coals
Tell myself I've got nothing to lose
Though your touch gives me vertigo, I'm like a domino
Darling I keep falling back to you
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder
Why do you stop me getting sober?
You leave your sweet bitter taste under my tongue and
You leave your smoke to seep deep into my lungs
I know how you're taking hold
My love is wasted and somehow you laced it
And I'm on my knees
There's no remedy
As you dance on your burning coals
I feel the bullet holes
Tell myself I've got nothing to lose
Though your touch gives me vertigo, I'm like a domino
Darling I keep falling back to you
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder
Why do you stop me getting sober?
Na na na, na na na
Na na na na
Na na na, na na na
Na na na na
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
So if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder (na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Why do you stop me getting sober? (na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Why do you stop me getting sober?
In Tom Grennan's song "Sober", the lyrics tell the story of a love that is toxic and addictive. Grennan sings about the way his lover wants all eyes on her, how her touch gives him vertigo, and despite knowing it is over, he cannot stop himself from falling back to her. Grennan expresses the mixed feelings that come with being in a relationship that is both irresistible and destructive. He paints a picture of a love that is so strong and intense that it prevents him from getting sober, implying that it is as addictive as any substance. Despite the heartache and pain that the relationship causes him, Grennan's love for his partner is undeniable, and he is unable to walk away.
The lyrics of "Sober" are evocative of the intense emotions that accompany being in a dysfunctional relationship. The way Grennan describes his lover leaving a sweet, bitter taste under his tongue and her smoke seeping deep into his lungs are metaphors for her having a hold on him. The reference to bullet holes creates a metaphor for the heartache that she has caused him, yet he still seems unable to extricate himself from the relationship. The use of the word "sober" references a state of mind in which Grennan is free of his addiction to his toxic partner. However, she is the one pulling him back into the destructive cycle he has been trying to break free from.
Line by Line Meaning
The way you stand there in your three striped shell toes and
I can tell by the way you stand and what you're wearing that you want all eyes to be on you.
The way your hair dances, it's clear you want all eyes on you
Even your hair seems to be putting on a show, showing off your desire for attention.
It's all eyes on you
You have successfully captured everyone's attention.
And though I know that I won't get no answers, I
I understand that you won't give me any answers.
I just can't stop from indulging my lean eyes on you
I cannot help but continue to be drawn to you and watch your every move.
My fool eyes on you
I know I am being foolish in continuing to be drawn to you, but I cannot help myself.
As you dance on your burning coals
I can see how much pain you are in while you continue to perform and dance like nothing is wrong.
I feel the bullet holes
Your pain is so intense, it is almost physical like you have been shot.
Tell myself I've got nothing to lose
Despite the risks, I try to convince myself that there is nothing to lose by continuing to be with you.
Though your touch gives me vertigo, I'm like a domino
Even though your love leaves me feeling dizzy and disoriented, I fall for you easily and completely.
Darling I keep falling back to you
No matter how much I try to resist, I always end up back in your arms.
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
If our relationship is truly over, why do you try to hinder my efforts to move on and let go of my addiction to you?
You pull me closer
You draw me in and make it difficult for me to leave your side.
You say you miss the way I hold ya
You express your longing for me and the way I used to make you feel safe and secure.
I feel you breathing on my shoulder
I can feel your breath on my neck, a physical reminder of our physical connection.
Why do you stop me getting sober?
Again, why do you prevent me from moving on and getting over my addiction to you?
You leave your sweet bitter taste under my tongue and
Our relationship leaves me with conflicting feelings, both pleasurable and painful.
You leave your smoke to seep deep into my lungs
Your hold on me is so intense that it has affected me on every level, including physically.
I know how you're taking hold
I understand that you have a strong grip on me and my emotions.
My love is wasted and somehow you laced it
I have given you everything, but it feels like you have mixed something toxic or harmful into my love for you.
And I'm on my knees
I am completely defeated and powerless when it comes to you and our relationship.
There's no remedy
There is no cure or solution for my addiction to you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Adj Buffone, Jonny Lattimer, Tom Grennan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jorge Ruiz González
Verse 1]
The way you stand there in your three striped shell toes and
The way your hair dances, it's clear you want all eyes on you
It's all eyes on you
And though I know that I won't get no answers, I
I just can't stop from indulging my lean eyes on you
My fool eyes on you
[Pre-Chorus]
As you dance on your burning clothes
I feel the bullet holes
Tell myself I've got nothing to lose
Though your touch gives me vertigo, I'm like a domino
Darling I keep falling back to you
[Chorus]
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder
Why do you stop me getting sober?
[Verse 2]
You leave your sweet bitter taste under my tongue and
You leave your smoke to seep deep into my lungs
I know how you're taking hold
My love is wasted and somehow you laced it
And I'm on my knees
There's no remedy
[Pre-Chorus]
As you dance on your burning clothes
I feel the bullet holes
Tell myself I've got nothing to lose
Though your touch gives me vertigo, I'm like a domino
Darling I keep falling back to you
[Chorus]
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder
Why do you stop me getting sober?
[Bridge]
Na na na, na na na
Na na na na
Na na na, na na na
Na na na na
[Chorus]
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
So if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder
(Na na na, na na na
Na na na na)
Why do you stop me getting sober?
(Na na na, na na na
Na na na na)
Why do you stop me getting sober?
Roby R.
The way you stand there in your three striped shell toes and
The way your hair dances, it's clear you want all eyes on you
It's all eyes on you
And though I know that I won't get no answers, I
I just can't stop from indulging my lean eyes on you
My fool eyes on you
As you dance on your burning coals
I feel the bullet holes
Tell myself I've got nothing to lose
Though your touch gives me vertigo, I'm like a domino
Darling I keep falling back to you
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder
Why do you stop me getting sober?
You leave your sweet bitter taste under my tongue and
You leave your smoke to seep deep into my lungs
I know how you're taking hold
My love is wasted and somehow you laced it
And I'm on my knees
There's no remedy
As you dance on your burning coals
I feel the bullet holes
Tell myself I've got nothing to lose
Though your touch gives me vertigo, I'm like a domino
Darling I keep falling back to you
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder
Why do you stop me getting sober?
Na na na, na na na
Na na na na
Na na na, na na na
Na na na na
But if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
So if it's over, why do you stop me getting sober on your love?
You pull me closer
You say you miss the way I hold ya
I feel you breathing on my shoulder (na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Why do you stop me getting sober? (na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Why do you stop me getting sober?
JorgeIsaac115
Your music is amazing bro, you are the best!
Joe Caracciolo
This is easily better than any song in the top 10 of the charts atm. He needs more recognition but at the same time I want him to stay a secret👌🏻
susan haydon
I’m all over him
susan haydon
Yeh his my man in the mirror x
Alex Edmonton
@Aaron Owens then can you tell him that Alex Edmonton thinks he's incredible please, thank you.
Ezi Harker
Love this song soooooooooo oooo much
Ezi Harker
Soooooooooo ooo true
Macey Stone
WHY DOES HIS VOICE GIVE ME SO MANY FEELS? WHO ELSE AGREES?
Aneta Romanowska
I love his voice
Hosain Kooshki
🙌🙌