A member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during her youth, Winehouse signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and soon recorded a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers. Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many of the album's songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, were co-written by Winehouse. Frank was a critical success in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The song "Stronger Than Me" won her the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Winehouse released her follow-up album, Back to Black, in 2006, which went on to become an international success and one of the best-selling albums in UK history. At the 2007 Brit Awards it was nominated for British Album of the Year, and she received the award for British Female Solo Artist. The song "Rehab" won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night and becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys, including three of the General Field "Big Four" Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Rehab"), as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.
Winehouse was plagued by drug and alcohol addiction. She died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011, at the age of 27. After her death, Back to Black temporarily became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century. VH1 ranked Winehouse 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music.
Cupid
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let your arrow flow.
Straight to my lovers heart for me.
Nobody but me.
Cupid, please hear my cry.
And let your arrow fly.
Straight to my lovers heart, for me.
There's danger of me losing all my happiness.
I love a man who doesn't know I exist.
And this you can fix.
Cupid, draw back your bow.
And let your arrow flow.
Straight to my lovers heart for me.
Nobody but me.
Cupid, please hear my cry.
And let your arrow fly.
Straight to my lovers heart, hold me
Now if your arrow makes his love strong for me.
I swear I'm gonna love him 'til eternity.
I know between the both of us, his heart we can steal.
Cupid help me if you will
So Cupid, draw back your bow.
And let your arrow flow.
Straight to my lovers heart for me.
Nobody but me.
Cupid, please hear my cry.
And let your arrow fly.
Straight to my lovers heart, for me
Yeah, Cupid.
Oh, Cupid.
Mm mm, Cupid.
In "Cupid" by Amy Winehouse, the singer is addressing the god of love, expressing her desire for him to intercede on her behalf by shooting his arrow straight into her lover's heart - an image borrowed from Greek mythology. She is lovesick and desperate, feeling that her happiness is at risk of being lost because her love interest does not even know she exists. She implores Cupid to take pity on her and fulfill her wish by making her lover's love stronger for her.
The lyrics of "Cupid" capture the universal experience of unrequited love, and Winehouse's soulful, bluesy delivery only amplifies the emotion of the song. The repeated invocation of Cupid throughout the song reinforces the idea that love is something that happens to us, something we can't control or predict. By calling on Cupid, Winehouse is acknowledging that love is a powerful force that can take hold of us without our consent.
Overall, "Cupid" is a poignant and heartfelt song that speaks to the human experience of love and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Cupid, draw back your bow.
Amy is asking Cupid to pull his bow and arrow back, in preparation for shooting an arrow towards her lover's heart.
And let your arrow flow.
Amy is requesting Cupid to release the arrow towards her lover.
Straight to my lovers heart for me.
Amy wants Cupid to aim the arrow directly at her lover's heart.
Nobody but me.
Amy wants Cupid to make sure that her lover's heart belongs only to her.
Cupid, please hear my cry.
Amy is begging for Cupid's attention and help to make her wishes come true.
And let your arrow fly.
Amy is urging Cupid to release the arrow towards her lover's heart.
Straight to my lovers heart, for me.
Amy wants Cupid to ensure that the arrow hits her lover's heart for her.
I don't want to bother you but I'm in distress.
Amy is acknowledging that she does not want to be a nuisance to Cupid, but her love life is in trouble.
There's danger of me losing all my happiness.
Amy is worried that she could lose her joy and contentment if her lover does not reciprocate her feelings.
I love a man who doesn't know I exist.
Amy is infatuated with someone who is not aware of her existence.
And this you can fix.
Amy believes that Cupid has the power to fix her situation and make her lover notice her.
Now if your arrow makes his love strong for me.
Amy is hoping that Cupid's arrow will ignite strong feelings of love in her lover for her.
I swear I'm gonna love him 'til eternity.
Amy promises to love her lover forever if Cupid can make her dreams come true.
I know between the both of us, his heart we can steal.
Amy is confident that she and Cupid can win her lover's heart together.
Cupid help me if you will
Amy is pleading with Cupid to assist her in gaining her lover's affection.
Yeah, Cupid.
Amy is acknowledging Cupid's authority and power over matters of the heart.
Oh, Cupid.
Amy is affectionately addressing Cupid.
Mm mm, Cupid.
Amy is expressing her desire for Cupid's help with a sound of appreciation.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Sam Cooke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind