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.
Teach Me Tonight
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, don't think, I'm tryin' not to learn
Since this is the perfect spot to learn
Oh, teach me tonight
Let's start with the A B C of it
Roll right down to the X Y Z of it
Help me solve the mystery of it
The sky's a black board
High above you
If a shooting star goes by
I'll use that star to write I love you
A thousand times across the sky
One thing isn't very clear, my love
Should the teacher stand so near, my love?
Graduation's almost here, my love
Come on and teach me tonight
I'll use that star to write I love you
A thousand times across the sky
One thing isn't very clear, my love
Should the teacher stand so near, my love?
Graduation's almost here, my love
Teach me, please, teach me tonight
In Amy Winehouse's song Teach Me Tonight, she's implying that she's inexperienced and doesn't know much about love. Hence, she's asking her partner to teach her. The first four lines of the song present a bit of reluctance from Amy's end towards learning something new, but the final line implies eagerness. It's an indication that Amy feels secure and comfortable with her partner, and she's willing to learn from them.
As the song progresses, she wants her partner to teach her everything about love, from its basics to the complexities. In a way, she's imploring her love to be her teacher and let her in on their unique outlook on love. The lines "The sky's a blackboard high above you, If a shooting star goes by, I'll use that star to write I love you, A thousand times across the sky" is evocative of Amy's willingness to learn in any situation, no matter how unconventional.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics "Should the teacher stand so near, my love? Graduation's almost here, my love" implies that Amy and her lover are in a hurry to learn, and they sense that time is of the essence. In summary, Teach Me Tonight is about the beauty of vulnerability and the openness to learn from someone you trust and are intimate with.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you say I've got a lot to learn?
Are you suggesting that I lack knowledge?
Well, don't think, I'm tryin' not to learn
I am not resisting or avoiding learning.
Since this is the perfect spot to learn
This location is highly conducive and suitable for learning.
Oh, teach me tonight
Please teach me at this moment.
Let's start with the A B C of it
We can begin with the basics.
Roll right down to the X Y Z of it
And progress through to the advanced concepts.
Help me solve the mystery of it
Assist me in understanding the unknown aspects.
Teach me tonight
Help me understand at this time.
The sky's a black board
The night sky is a dark canvas.
High above you
It is located in the heavens above.
If a shooting star goes by
If a meteor happens to pass.
I'll use that star to write I love you
I will proclaim my love using that celestial body.
A thousand times across the sky
I will declare it innumerable times throughout the vast expanse.
One thing isn't very clear, my love
There is one aspect of this that confounds me, my dear.
Should the teacher stand so near, my love?
Is it appropriate for the instructor to be in such close proximity, my love?
Graduation's almost here, my love
The conclusion of my academic career is imminent, my love.
Come on and teach me tonight
Please do not hesitate to instruct me this evening.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Gene De Paul
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind