Her music is centered on her singing, in a fairly low register and a traditional bluesy-jazz style, and her piano playing, which is technically accomplished. Her repertoire includes many of her own compositions, but also a selection of standards drawn mostly from the classic-rock genre; examples include "Ode to Billie Joe," "A Taste of Honey," and "Black Magic Woman." She is known for her apparent above-average intelligence and vocabulary, which results in complex and witty lyrics. Her last album to date, Mythologies is a set of songs based on Ovid's Metamorphoses. In September 2008, Patricia is releasing "The Cole Porter Mix," a collection of Patricia's renditions of the Porter songbook along with three Barber originals inspired by Cole Porter.
Patricia Barber is a lesbian. Interviews with her suggests that she does not try to hide this fact, but that she 'tires' of the public interest in her sexuality – disliking the fact that it contributes to her fame.
Her albums Cafe Blue, Modern Cool, Companion, Nightclub, Verse have been reissued by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab on SACD and limited edition 45 rpm 1/2 speed mastered, 180 gram audiophile vinyl.
The Moon
Patricia Barber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to his own device
what Chaos
when the curtain rises
and the houselights dim
with whitecake
on my face
the actress backstage
contemplates
laying a Universal egg
still a broken heart
is a broken heart
and Illumination
is in fact
Performance
In the dark
In the cold
In the sky
I can fly
I am old
But I can see
For miles
And miles
I am silver
I am gold
I am white
I am blue
I am rock
I am chaste
I am time
I am truth
When twilight falls
among the stars
I sit and tinker
with your moods
I hear your thoughts
I move the tides
I am your God
I am your Muse
I can be fire
I can be war
I am the daughter of Zeus
But tonight
there won't be light
cause I can't shine
without you
The lyrics of Patricia Barber's song The Moon seem to be a combination of references to Greek mythology, theater, and human emotions. The first stanza of the song conjures up images of the underworld, Erebus, and Chaos, the force that preceded creation in Greek mythology. The lines "when the curtain rises and the houselights dim" may refer to the opening of a theatrical performance when the audience's attention is focused on the stage. The actress with "whitecake on her face" seems to be referring to a mime or a performer with a painted face, and her thoughts about "laying a Universal egg" are open to interpretation. The next stanza speaks of the universality of human emotions; a broken heart is painful no matter who experiences it, and it takes a great deal of skill to turn emotions into a performance that can illuminate someone else's world.
The third stanza of the song is an ode to the moon's powers, and how it can evoke strong emotions in humans. The moon has been considered a powerful force for centuries and has been the subject of many poems, songs, and stories. The lines "I am old, but I can see for miles and miles" may refer to the moon's age, and how it has been observing the Earth for eons. The moon is often referred to as "silver," "gold," "white," and "blue," depending on its phase, and the song's use of these colors may refer to the moon's changing appearance. The fourth stanza, with its references to the moon's ability to move tides and influence moods, seems to reinforce this idea. The final line of the stanza, "cause I can't shine without you," may be the moon's way of acknowledging the important role that humans play in its life.
Line by Line Meaning
should I leave Erebus
Should I abandon my own darkness?
to his own device
To his own devices
what Chaos
What a Chaos
when the curtain rises
At the beginning of the performance
and the houselights dim
As the audience becomes less visible
with whitecake
With makeup
on my face
On my face
the actress backstage
The woman backstage
contemplates
Thinks about
laying a Universal egg
Creating something great
still a broken heart
It's always true that a broken heart is broken
is a broken heart
Is a broken heart
and Illumination
And true understanding
is in fact
Is actually
Performance
A part of the performance
In the dark
In the darkness
In the cold
In the coldness
In the sky
In the sky
I can fly
I am free
I am old
I am experienced
But I can see
But I can observe
For miles
As far as my vision allows
And miles
And miles
I am silver
I am shiny
I am gold
I am valuable
I am white
I am pure
I am blue
I am melancholy
I am rock
I am tough
I am chaste
I am abstinent
I am time
I represent time
I am truth
I am the representation of truth
When twilight falls
At dusk
among the stars
With the night sky
I sit and tinker
I carefully study
with your moods
With your emotional state
I hear your thoughts
I am aware of what you are thinking
I move the tides
I have an effect on the ocean's tides
I am your God
I am your deity
I am your Muse
I am your source of inspiration
I can be fire
I can bring destruction
I can be war
I can cause conflicts
I am the daughter of Zeus
I am the child of the god Zeus
But tonight
However, tonight
there won't be light
There will be no light
cause I can't shine
Because I cannot emit light
without you
Without you by my side
Contributed by Evan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.