Béatrice has played the piano since the age of three, which was initiated by her mother, a professional pianist. She later played as a keyboardist in the post-hardcore band December Strikes First when she was 15 years old. In March 2007, after five years of music education, she started composing her own songs.
After a brief stint as keyboardist for Bonjour Brumaire, a French-Canadian Indie Rock/Indie Pop band, she released her solo debut album Cœur de pirate in 2008 on the Québécois independent record label Grosse Boîte. The album found much critical acclaim and was subsequently nominated for Francophone Album of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards.
Lucille
Cœur de Pirate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Across from the depot
On a bar stool she took off her ring
I thought I'd get closer
So I walked on over
I sat down and asked her name
When the drinks finally hit her
She said I'm no quitter
I'm hungry for laughter
And here ever after
I'm after whatever the other life brings
In the mirror I saw him
And I closely watched him
I thought how he looked out of place
He came to the woman
Who sat there beside me
He had a strange look on his face
The big hands were calloused
He looked like a mountain
For a minute I thought I was dead
But he started shakin'
His big heart was breakin'
He turned to the woman and said
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
With four hungry children
And a crop in the field
I've had some bad times
Lived through some sad times
But this time your hurtin' won't heal
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
After he left us
I ordered more whisky
I thought how she'd made him look small
From the lights of the bar room
To a rented hotel room
We walked without talkin' at all
She was a beauty
But when she came to me
She must have thought I'd lost my mind
I couldn't hold her
'Cause the words that he told her
Kept coming back time after time
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
With four hungry children
And a crop in the field
I've had some bad times
Lived through some sad times
But this time your hurtin' won't heal
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
The lyrics to "Lucille" by Cœur de Pirate tell the story of a chance encounter in a bar in Toledo. The singer sees a woman sitting alone, taking off her wedding ring, and decides to approach her. They strike up a conversation, and as the drinks start taking effect, the woman reveals that she has decided to give up on chasing her dreams and is looking for happiness and laughter in her life. Just as they are getting acquainted, a man approaches the woman with a pained expression on his face.
The man turns out to be Lucille's husband, and he expresses his deep hurt and disappointment at the timing of her decision to leave him. He reveals that they have four hungry children to take care of, as well as a crop in the field. He has endured difficult and sad times before, but her leaving at this precise moment is especially painful and won't easily heal. The singer, affected by the emotional exchange, reflects on their encounter and laments his own inability to hold onto the woman due to the words spoken by her husband.
"Lucille" showcases themes of missed opportunities, regret, and the consequences of timing. It depicts a moment where choices made by characters have significant repercussions on their lives and the lives of others. The song highlights the complexities of relationships and the weight of decisions that can change the course of one's existence.
Line by Line Meaning
In a bar in Toledo
At a drinking establishment in the city of Toledo
Across from the depot
Directly opposite the train station
On a bar stool she took off her ring
She removed her wedding ring while seated on a bar stool
I thought I'd get closer
I decided to approach her and engage in conversation
So I walked on over
I cautiously approached her location
I sat down and asked her name
I took a seat and inquired about her identity
When the drinks finally hit her
After consuming the alcoholic beverages and feeling their effects
She said I'm no quitter
She proclaimed her persistence and determination
But I finally quit livin' on dreams
However, she ultimately gave up living in a world of fantasies
I'm hungry for laughter
She yearned for joy and merriment
And here ever after
She desired a blissful and fulfilling future
I'm after whatever the other life brings
She sought whatever experiences and opportunities life had to offer
In the mirror I saw him
I caught sight of him in the reflection of the mirror
And I closely watched him
I observed him attentively and intently
I thought how he looked out of place
I contemplated how he seemed incongruous with his surroundings
He came to the woman
He approached the woman
Who sat there beside me
Who was seated next to me
He had a strange look on his face
His countenance displayed an unfamiliar expression
The big hands were calloused
His large hands appeared rough and hardened
He looked like a mountain
He had an imposing and rugged appearance
For a minute I thought I was dead
For a brief moment, I believed I had passed away
But he started shakin'
However, he began trembling
His big heart was breakin'
His immense heart was filled with anguish
He turned to the woman and said
He faced the woman and uttered the following words
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
You chose an opportune moment to abandon our relationship, Lucille
With four hungry children
I have four starving offspring to care for
And a crop in the field
Additionally, there is a harvest that requires attention
I've had some bad times
I have experienced hardships
Lived through some sad times
Endured moments of sorrow
But this time your hurtin' won't heal
However, this time the pain you caused me won't subside
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
You chose an opportune moment to abandon our relationship, Lucille
After he left us
Once he departed from our presence
I ordered more whisky
I requested additional servings of whiskey
I thought how she'd made him look small
I reflected on how she diminished his stature
From the lights of the bar room
Amidst the illumination of the bar area
To a rented hotel room
To a temporary lodging establishment
We walked without talkin' at all
We moved forward in silence, devoid of conversation
She was a beauty
She possessed exceptional physical attractiveness
But when she came to me
However, when she approached me
She must have thought I'd lost my mind
She likely believed I had become mentally unstable
I couldn't hold her
I was unable to retain her presence
'Cause the words that he told her
Due to the words he conveyed to her
Kept coming back time after time
Continuously resurfaced in my thoughts and memories
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
You chose an opportune moment to abandon our relationship, Lucille
With four hungry children
I have four starving offspring to care for
And a crop in the field
Additionally, there is a harvest that requires attention
I've had some bad times
I have experienced hardships
Lived through some sad times
Endured moments of sorrow
But this time your hurtin' won't heal
However, this time the pain you caused me won't subside
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
You chose an opportune moment to abandon our relationship, Lucille
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hal Bynum, Roger Bowling
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind