He was the lead vocalist of rock band Suede from 1989 until their split in 2002. He then fronted The Tears with ex-Suede guitarist, Bernard Butler although as of 2006 they are on hiatus.
So far Anderson has released 4 solo albums. His self-titled debut was released in 2007. The following year brought the quieter, piano-driven Wilderness and Slow Attack was released in 2009. A return to the rock band format "restless, noisy and dynamic" album Black Rainbows was released on September 26, 2011.
Suede reformed in 2010, releasing the albums Bloodsports in 2013 and Night Thoughts in 2016.
The Empress
Brett Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't I paint Pictures of her?
Didn't I try To change?
I shouldn't have bothered.
Didn't I buy The ocean for her?
Didn't I wear The colour
Didn't I feel The wind?
Didn't I bleed?
And sorrow.
She is Like cherry blossom.
She is The Empress.
Didn't I kneel Before her?
Didn't I follow Her orders?
Didn't I clean Her shit?
Didn't I fall?
Didn't I climb The ladder?
Didn't I smile For the cameras?
Didn't I feel The wind?
Didn't I bleed
She is strange And sorrow.
She is Like cherry blossom.
She is The Empress.
She is strange And sorrow.
With lips Like cherry blossom.
She is The Empress
The lyrics of Brett Anderson's song "The Empress" depict a narrative of a man who has tried his best to love a woman, to change for her, and to please her. He has painted pictures of her, bought the ocean for her, and worn colors to suit her. However, despite his efforts, he realizes that it was futile. He now realizes that he is dealing with someone strange and sorrowful, who is like cherry blossom, and who he calls "The Empress". He acknowledges that he has followed orders, kneeled before her, and even cleaned up her mess, but all his efforts have gone to waste.
The song can be interpreted in different ways, but one way of looking at it is that it deals with an abusive or toxic relationship. The man in the song has done everything to please his partner, but it has not been enough, and he still finds himself in a strange and sorrowful situation. The lyrics could be read as the man recognizing that he has been bowing to someone who has been using their power to manipulate and control him, represented as "The Empress." Whatever the interpretation, the lyrics are full of images of servitude, surrender, and ultimately a question of the value of such efforts.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't I try To love her?
Did I not make an effort to love her with all my heart?
Didn't I paint Pictures of her?
Did I not use my imagination to create art that reflected her beauty?
Didn't I try To change?
Did I not make an attempt to better myself for her?
I shouldn't have bothered.
It seems my efforts were in vain and I regret wasting my time.
Didn't I buy The ocean for her?
Did I not express my love by going beyond the ordinary and purchasing the ocean for her?
Didn't I wear The colour
Did I not dress up in a specific color she liked just to please her?
Didn't I feel The wind?
Did I not enjoy the small things in her company and appreciate everything including the wind?
Didn't I bleed?
Did I not suffer and sacrifice for her in ways nobody else would understand?
She is strange
And sorrow.
But now, she seems different in ways that are strange and melancholic.
She is Like cherry blossom.
Despite the sorrow, she still exudes beauty and innocence - much like the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms.
She is The Empress.
And yet, she holds a certain power and authority that demands respect and devotion. She is the Empress of my world.
Didn't I kneel Before her?
Did I not humbly submit to her will and worship her?
Didn't I follow Her orders?
Did I not obey her every command because I thought it would make her happy?
Didn't I clean Her shit?
Did I not go to great lengths to take care of her, even if it meant dealing with unpleasant tasks?
Didn't I fall?
Did I not stumble along the way in my quest to love her and make her happy?
Didn't I climb The ladder?
But did I not also rise to the occasion and go the extra mile for her?
Didn't I smile For the cameras?
Did I not put on a facade and smile for the world to make them believe our love was perfect?
She is strange
And sorrow.
But despite all the effort, she remains an enigma - both strange and sorrowful.
She is Like cherry blossom.
Yet, she remains a symbol of beauty and purity despite the roughness of life.
She is The Empress.
And I worship her still - for all her mystery, beauty, and power that hold me in her thrall.
She is strange
And sorrow.
With lips Like cherry blossom.
But her beauty is not just ethereal - her lips are full and ripe; like the blossom, they invite you to taste their sweetness and feel the bittersweet sorrow that comes with their impermanence.
She is The Empress.
Yes, she is the Empress of my heart and soul, and I will forever be her loyal subject.
Contributed by Muhammad Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
χλόη/vana
Didn't I try
To love her?
Didn't I paint
Pictures of her?
Didn't I try
To change?
I shouldn't have bothered.
Didn't I buy
The ocean for her?
Didn't I wear
The colour (?)
Didn't I feel
The wind?
Didn't I plead?
She is strange
And sorrow.
She is
Like cherry blossom.
She is
The Empress.
Didn't I kneel
Before her?
Didn't I follow
Her orders?
Didn't I clean
Her shit?
Didn't I fall?
Didn't I climb
The ladder?
Didn't I smile
For the cameras?
Didn't I feel
The wind?
Didn't I plead? (? bleed)
She is strange
And sorrow.
She is
Like cherry blossom.
She is
The Empress.
She is strange
And sorrow.
With lips
Like cherry blossom.
She is
The Empress.
Brett Anderson - The Empress Lyrics | MetroLyrics
D. Isadora
Brett's voice ...So melancholic, delightfully tender, mellifluous ...Sweet shivers...
naoko igarashi
I'm always dying to hear his voice. I think I was born to know him. You know! He is not only a singer but a great poetry,
Alejandro Rojas
Wilderness is such a great album.
Αναστασία Παντελάκη
Πολύ όμορφο κομμάτι!!
guzsaj
it took a few listenings for me to embrace this one, but now I show full appreciation towards this song...
χλόη/vana
Didn't I try
To love her?
Didn't I paint
Pictures of her?
Didn't I try
To change?
I shouldn't have bothered.
Didn't I buy
The ocean for her?
Didn't I wear
The colour (?)
Didn't I feel
The wind?
Didn't I plead?
She is strange
And sorrow.
She is
Like cherry blossom.
She is
The Empress.
Didn't I kneel
Before her?
Didn't I follow
Her orders?
Didn't I clean
Her shit?
Didn't I fall?
Didn't I climb
The ladder?
Didn't I smile
For the cameras?
Didn't I feel
The wind?
Didn't I plead? (? bleed)
She is strange
And sorrow.
She is
Like cherry blossom.
She is
The Empress.
She is strange
And sorrow.
With lips
Like cherry blossom.
She is
The Empress.
Brett Anderson - The Empress Lyrics | MetroLyrics
angeliki kanellopoulou
so beautiful!!!!
Eleni Kkkk
Υπεροχο τραγουδι... φωναρα.
John1212168
Έτσι..
Marilena Mavrapidou
teleio :)