Paolo Nutini - Pencil Full of Lead




Released in November 2009, "Pencil Full of Lead" by Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini was a song unlike anything else that was on the radio at the time. Here Nutini opted for something different—a warm and woodsy jazz-pop banger that was as retro as it was modern, calling to mind early 20th century ragtime and gypsy jazz with its acoustic instrumentation, while also reflecting some very current, very British (or Scottish!) sensibilities in its lyrics.

As a kid, I absolutely loved it for how different it was; as an adult, I still do, and find myself tapping my finger to the fun, jazzy beat whenever I hear it again on the radio, while being able to appreciate the wryly funny and somewhat dirty lyrics as an added bonus. 

Yes, “Pencil Full of Lead” means exactly what you think it means. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 

For whatever reason, both my local radio stations here in Aberdeen seem to have a thing for this particular song, out of all the songs they could’ve played from that particular year, playing it at least once a day every day. I drive a lot as part of my job and honestly, I can’t complain. It’s a lot of fun and brightens up my day whenever I hear it on my car radio, hopefully brightening up everybody else’s as well.

“Pencil Full of Lead” peaked at Number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.

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