Once hailed as “Britain’s Best Unknown Songwriter”, Tom Rosenthal is an independent singer-songwriter with a knack for sweet, folksy tunes. Rosenthal has produced a host of LPs and EPs, notably two albums dedicated to his daughters: Bess and Fenn. Notable EPs are the The Pleasant Trees series (Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol.3), and one of his 2018 releases, Don’t Die Curious.
Rosenthal has released 6 albums to date, all of them self-released on his own label Tinpot Records. Keep a Private Room Behind the Shop was released in 2011, and the latest is Denis Was A Bird in 2021, written about his father's death. His songs have had over 350 million streams on Spotify.
Rosenthal's makes videos for his songs that he posts on YouTube and Vimeo. Tom Rosenthal’s presence in the YouTube community–such as through collaborative songs with dodie, Savannah Brown, or Will Darbyshire feeds into his success in the music industry. Rosenthal’s personal channel features series of vlogs, the first of which spanned March and April 2017, with a second series running through the latter half of 2017; and a large collection of songs (music videos, lyrics videos, acoustic performances, etc.). With a growing online following, Rosenthal sees social media as a fruitful alternative to dependence on traditional record labels.
Rosenthal's music has been used on television soundtracks. "Forgets Slowly", "Lights on But Nobody's Home", and "Take Care" featured in the Skins episode "Alo". "Go Solo" was featured on the soundtrack of the German film Head Full of Honey (2014), the documentary Kid Poker (2015), the NFL documentary Hard Knocks, the film trailer for Felix and Meira, and the Netflix documentary The Least Expected Day: Inside the Movistar Team 2019. "It's OK" features on the film trailers for Comet (2014),[ Anesthesia (2014). and L'odyssée (2016). From 2016 through to 2018 his songs It's OK and Woes have been used on Neighbours.
Rosenthal's song "Go Solo" featured in a TV commercial for the Renault Zoe E-TRON in 2021 and in a 2022 episode of the NBC drama series New Amsterdam.
Rosenthal played his first concert at St Pancras Old Church on Wednesday 13 March 2019, followed by a tour around Europe and a gig at Union Chapel, with over 40 concerts in 2019.
Rosenthal is also known as Edith Whiskers. This started when his cover version on the single "Home", recorded in 2015, went viral on the social media platform TikTok in 2020. Edith Whiskers is depicted as an older lady, that "Edith enjoys long hot baths, a spot of beekeeping and the occasional bike ride." Rosenthal released the song as a single on October 16, 2020 and on a covers album titled Stop Stealing the Covers. "Home" was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2023.
How Have You Been?
Tom Rosenthal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn′t hear a sound
Hiding under my head
Never to be found
How have you been today?
I woke up but it didn't go away
Penny to my name
Saw a boy easing by
In another brain
How have you been so far
I woke up and I still know who you are
Did you expect me to cry?
Will you not think of me tonight?
Hiding in the corner of my world
Didn′t hear a sound
Lying under my head
Never to be found
Did you expect me to cry?
Will you not think of me tonight?
Did you expect me to fly?
Will you not think of me tonight?
The lyrics to Tom Rosenthal's song How Have You Been? can be interpreted as a representation of a person who is dealing with depression and feeling isolated from the rest of the world. The first two lines of the song "Lying in the corner of my world, didn't hear a sound" suggest that the person is feeling disconnected from the world and is shutting themselves off from society. This is followed up with the line "Hiding under my head, never to be found," which indicates a complete sense of feeling lost and unseen.
The chorus of the song, which includes the line "How have you been today? I woke up but it didn't go away," portrays the struggles of getting through each day for those dealing with depression. It shows how even the simple act of waking up does not bring any relief to the pain they're going through. The second verse then touches upon the subject of being lonely and struggling to connect with others. The line "headed to the lonely south, penny to my name," suggests that the person is on their own and has no one to turn to in their time of need.
The song's overall theme is one of hopelessness, loneliness and the struggle to find meaning. Tom Rosenthal has beautifully crafted a song that speaks to the hearts of those who have been through similar experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying in the corner of my world
Feeling isolated and disconnected from the world.
Didn't hear a sound
Feeling ignored and overlooked by those around me.
Hiding under my head
Withdrawing and avoiding confrontation or difficult situations.
Never to be found
Feeling lost and uncertain about my direction in life.
How have you been today?
Asking how someone is doing in a surface-level way.
I woke up but it didn't go away
Struggling with anxieties or negative feelings that won't dissipate.
Headed to the lonely south
Embarking on a journey or path that feels isolating and challenging.
Penny to my name
Feeling financially and emotionally depleted.
Saw a boy easing by
Observing someone who seems to have it easier or more together than me.
In another brain
Feeling like I can't relate or connect with others.
How have you been so far
Checking in on someone's progress or well-being.
I woke up and I still know who you are
Refreshing my memory of someone's identity or importance in my life.
Did you expect me to cry?
Feeling like someone is waiting for or expecting an emotional response from me.
Will you not think of me tonight?
Wishing for someone's attention or affection.
Did you expect me to fly?
Feeling like someone has high expectations or unrealistic hopes for me.
Writer(s): Thomas Paul Pym Rosenthal
Contributed by Skyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@edwardosquidwardo8686
Lying in the corner of my world
Didn't hear a sound
Hiding under my head
Never to be found
How have you been today?
I woke up but it didn't go away
Headed to the lonely south
Penny to my name
Saw a boy easing by
In another brain
How have you been so far
I woke up and I still know who you are
Did you expect me to cry?
Will you not think of me tonight?
Hiding in the corner of my world
Didn't hear a sound
Lying under my head
Never to be found
Did you expect me to cry?
Will you not think of me tonight?
Did you expect me to fly?
Will you not think of me tonight?
@post262
I am inspired by your music. You make my life better. Tom thank you very much for all you have done. I want Russian people to know the translation of your songs. With love from Russia.
Том Розенталь " Как ты?"
Лежа в углу моего мира,
Я не слышу ни звука.
Прячусь в голове,
Где меня никто не найдет.
Как ты себя чувствуешь сегодня?
Я проснулся, но ничего не изменилось.
Меня зовут Пенни.
И я шел к пустынному Югу,
Когда увидел тебя, проходящего мимо
В чужой голове.
Как ты там поживаешь?
Я просунлся , но все еще помню тебя. .
Ты ожидал, что я буду плакать?
Разве ты не подумаешь обо мне сегодня вечером?
Лежа в углу моего мира,
Я не слышу ни звука.
Прячусь в голове,
Где меня никто не найдет.
Ты ожидал, что я буду плакать?
Разве ты не подумаешь обо мне сегодня вечером?
Ты ожидал, что я полечу?
Разве ты не подумаешь обо мне сегодня вечером?
@peachblossomspring407
Everything is so perfect in this song, that I just had to listen to it 3 times and write the comment about how perfect it is, because I couldn't find one thing that is the best.
This comment has no shitly sense, but I wrote here my first reaction and emotions. These are probably what art is about. Greetings from Poland, sorry for grammar mistakes.❤
@heathercolbert5927
I want to hug every person who shared their reaction and passed on the love for us here. Thank you so much - it means such a lot to know these characters and the combination with Tom's incredible voice has connected to you. I am virtually hugging you all, alright! And sending the love back to you all. Thank you so much xxx
@vivalavalentino
Kinda late, but much love to you as well. Thank you for playing such a big part in creating this masterpiece <3
@cathturner862
It’s my favourite of Tom’s official music videos. I love it Heather 🤗 brings tears to my eyes!
@chau8719
This whole video, the animation, the colours, the song, your voice, the choir behind, everything is just so precious and beautiful. Thank you for this video😊.
@TomRosenthal1
Thank you tho thats not a choir. That's just me pretending to be a choir.
@chau8719
My first reaction: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...(and it goes on for quite a while) 😂
We really appreciate and love everything you have shared with us, thank you once again😁
@liquidlemon3335
@Tom Rosenthal youre a choir in my heart
@ladystarlightasmr
Oh lord, the visuals are so beautiful and touching! It goes perfectly with your voice and the song :]
@adamm673
“I woke up but it didn’t go away”.
I love the lyrics and the video. The imagery, in the way I think it is intended, strikes a chord.
@amyrobinson3224
I'm not crying, you're crying. This music video is full of the feels