Half Italian half British singer and guitarist Anna Calvi grew up being exp… Read Full Bio ↴Half Italian half British singer and guitarist Anna Calvi grew up being exposed to a multitude of genres of music by her music-loving father. According to the Suzanne and I Songfacts, she cites the classical composers Ravel and Debussy among her influences and her music has been described as "brooding melodramatic goth-pop."

At the age of 17 and after eschewing art school in favor of a music degree, Calvi began to learn her trade and started to assemble musical partnerships. In 2006, she met percussionist and harmonium player Mally Harpaz and later recruited drummer Daniel Maiden-Wood. Her initial gigs took place in and around London in late 2008 and 2009. The release of her debut single, "Jezebel," in the fall of 2010 was an electric cover version of the Edith Piaf standard.

The young Calvi soon captured the attention of Domino Records' boss Lawrence Bell after a glowing reference from former Coral guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones, who had witnessed one of Calvi's gigs in Manchester. Bell quickly signed her to his label. Ryder-Jones was not the only celebrity admirer of Calvi's, an acquaintance with the aforementioned Brian Eno similarly urged him to listen to this emerging talent. After hearing Calvi's raw and unplugged performances on The Attic Sessions (the early demos that she recorded on an 8-track in her parent's attic), the distinguished producer soon became her mentor and unofficial cheerleader.

Calvi entered Black Box Studios in France with the much-lauded producer Rob Ellis to record her self-titled debut album in 2010. Using vintage analog equipment, Calvi created a velvet Wall of Sound that justified the hype in the buildup to its 2011 release.

Her second album "One Breath" was released in October 2013. It was produced by John Congleton across two locations - Box Box Studios in France and Elmwood Recording Studios in Texas. The first single taken from the record was "Eliza".

The Devil
Anna Calvi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wait for god
Fall for me
Fall for me

And lay me down
Fall for me
Fall

Oh, oh
The devil
The devil will come

Wait for love
Fall for me
And wait for devil
Now

Oh, oh
The devil
The devil will come
For me

Oh, oh, oh, oh
The devil
The devil

The devil
The devil will come

Overall Meaning

The song "The Devil" by Anna Calvi is a hauntingly beautiful yet dark piece that delves into the duality of human nature. The lyrics are repetitive but somehow this repetition adds to the hypnotic and atmospheric nature of the song. The first few lines are addressed to someone who is asked to wait for God and fall for the singer. The phrase "fall for me" is repeated multiple times as if trying to convince the listener of the singer's seductive powers. The lyrics then take a turn towards the darker side as the phrase "the devil will come" is repeated over and over again. The listener is left to ponder whether the singer is really urging someone to wait for God or the devil.

The song could be interpreted in many ways, but the essence of "The Devil" lies in its haunting melody and the singer's ethereality. There are no clear answers given in the lyrics, but the listener can infer that the singer is grappling with her own inner demons. The devil is often seen as a symbol for temptation or evil, and this song could be interpreted as a warning not to fall prey to the darker aspects of one's psyche. The lyrics are open to interpretation, leaving the listener to make their own meanings and extract their own messages.

Line by Line Meaning

Wait for god
Be patient for a divine power to guide you

Fall for me
Submit yourself to my will and desires

Fall for me
Succumb to my temptations and manipulations

And lay me down
Give in to your physical desires and lay with me

Fall for me
Continue to be under my control

Fall
Keep falling into my trap

Oh, oh
Expressing excitement and anticipation

The devil
A symbol of temptation, sin, and corruption

The devil will come
A warning that the consequences of your actions will catch up to you

Wait for love
Hope for a positive emotion that will save you from your darkness

Fall for me
Continue to submit to my will