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.
Valerie (Live
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things, what you're doing
And in my head I paint a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I've missed your ginger hair
Won't you come on over
Stop makin' a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Did you have to go to jail
Put your house on up for sale
Did you get a good lawyer?
Hope you didn't catch a tan
Hope you find the right man
Who'll fix it for you
Are you shopping anywhere
Changed the color of your hair
Are you busy?
And did you have to pay that fine
You was dodging all the time
Are you still busy?
Since I've come on home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I've missed your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop makin'? a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Well, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things, what you're doing
And in my head I paint a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I've missed your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop makin' a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
The lyrics of Amy Winehouse's song "Valerie" tell a story about a man who is trying to reconnect with a woman named Valerie. He wonders about what she has been doing since they last saw each other, asking if she had to go to jail, put her house up for sale, or pay any fines. He also talks about missing her ginger hair and the way she likes to dress. In the chorus, he asks her to come over and stop making a fool out of him. The song has a nostalgic and uncertain tone, expressing the longing and uncertainty of the man's message.
The lyrics suggest that this man has been away for some time, and he has returned home in a state of disarray. He misses Valerie's company and is hoping to reconnect with her. He paints a picture of what he thinks she may be doing or thinking, trying to imagine her life without him. The lyrics have a confident and self-assured approach, but they are also tinged with vulnerability and longing.
Overall, "Valerie" is a song that speaks to the universal human experience of wanting to connect with someone who has been missed. The lyrics are relatable and capture the feelings of longing and uncertainty that can come with trying to reconnect with someone from the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, sometimes I go out by myself
Amy often goes out alone.
And I look across the water
Amy sees beyond and reflects.
And I think of all the things, what you're doing
She thinks of what her distant friend is doing.
And in my head I paint a picture
Amy imagines a picture in her head.
'Cause since I've come on home
Amy's life changed after coming back home.
Well, my body's been a mess
She's been struggling with physical and mental health issues.
And I've missed your ginger hair
Amy misses her friend's unique features.
And the way you like to dress
She misses her friend's fashion sense.
Won't you come on over
Amy wants her friend to visit her.
Stop makin' a fool out of me
She doesn't want her friend to deceive or manipulate her.
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
Again, she asks Valerie to visit her.
Did you have to go to jail
Amy inquires about her friend's legal troubles.
Put your house on up for sale
She wants to know if Valerie had to sell her property.
Did you get a good lawyer?
Amy inquires if her friend had a good legal representation.
Hope you didn't catch a tan
Amy hopes her friend didn't get into trouble or danger.
Hope you find the right man
She wishes her friend well in finding the right partner.
Who'll fix it for you
She hopes that her friend finds someone who will help and support her.
Are you shopping anywhere
Amy inquires if her friend is out shopping anywhere.
Changed the color of your hair
She wants to know if her friend changed her hair color.
Are you busy?
Amy asks if her friend is occupied.
And did you have to pay that fine
Amy wants an update on her friend's legal fines.
You was dodging all the time
She remembers her friend avoiding something in the past.
Are you still busy?
Amy again asks if her friend is still occupied.
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Amy repeatedly calls out for her friend.
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
She makes another plea for her friend to visit her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ABIGAIL HARDING, BOYAN CHOWDHURY, DAVID ALAN MCCABE, RUSSELL THOMAS PRITCHARD, SEAN FRANCIS CALEB PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tacotuesday
Well, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things of what you're doing
In my head I paint a picture
Since I've come home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Oh, won't you come on over?
Stop making a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over, Valerie?
Valerie
Did you have to go to jail?
Put your house out up for sale?
Did you get a good lawyer?
I hope you didn't catch a tan,
Hope you find the right man
Who'll fix it for you
Are you shopping anywhere?
Change the color of your hair
And are you busy?
Did you have to pay that fine
That you were dodging all the time?
Are you still dizzy?
Since I've come home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Oh, won't you come on over?
Stop making a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over, Valerie?
Valerie
Well, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things of what you're doing
In my head I paint a picture
Since I've come home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Oh, won't you come on over?
Stop making a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over, Valerie?
Valerie
Why don't you come on over, Valerie?
DamonAndJo
Favorite song ever. She kills it every time!
Jean Deaux
this is good....real good. But if you get a chance, listen to the acoustic version.
Gui Adrião
O MY GOD DAMON AND JO ik im late bit shittttttt i luv u guys and amy aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand <3
Erika Mccubbin
Amy beautiful. Love her 💞💞💞💞💞💞
Miss Cyanic
It's not even her song, & she kills it! I get a lil teary everytime
Jcak
Good pick
Charlie Day
She could sing like this even when she was hammered. Such a shame that all the stresses of being famous and having a toxic family life forced her into substance abuse. Imagine how great her career would've been.
nicolofosho
She deserved to have a family. Gone far too soon but never forgotten
Melissa Wells
When she sang sober she seemed to struggle w/ some anxiety....❤️
KellySlate
She isn't quite sober here, she's got a few under her belt but I agree Amy sings amazing here despite all that was going on in her life @ the time! 💥🤯