Rising to fame in late 2002, Cole was selected to become a member of girl group Girls Aloud on ITV's reality television programme Popstars The Rivals. Cole's first solo performance was on American rapper will.i.am's Heartbreaker in 2008. She was picked to appear as a dancer in the video after taking streetdancing classes during the filming of the ITV2 series The Passions of Girls Aloud, in which the members of the band achieve something they had always wanted to do, other than sing. She was later asked, by will.i.am, to sing additional vocals on the track.
In April 2009, Cole started working on solo material. Her debut album, 3 Words, was released in the UK on 26 October 2009. Cole was reunited with will.i.am for the album, in addition to collaborating with Fraser T. Smith, Syience, Danish production team Soulshock & Karlin, singer-songwriter Taio Cruz, Wayne Wilkins, and Steve Kipner. Recorded in Los Angeles and London, Cole mainly collaborated with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, the executive producer of 3 Words. It crosses from contemporary R&B, dance pop, house and a more general pop sound.
3 Words spent two weeks at number one. On 6 November 2009, BPI certified the album Platinum, denoting shipments of over 300,000 units. It later tripled this feat. The first single from the album, Fight for This Love, was written by Andre Merritt, Steve Kipner and Wayne Wilkins, and produced by Steve Kipner and Wayne Wilkins. According to Cole, it was released as the lead single because she "connected with the song so well". Following a performance on The X Factor live results show, Fight for This Love became the fourth best-selling single of 2009 in the UK. It charted at number one on both the Irish and UK Singles Chart. In 2010, Fight For This Love went to number one in Denmark, Norway and Hungary. The single was later certified platinum in the UK. Cole's second single 3 Words, which features will.i.am, went to number 4 in the UK and seven in Ireland. In 2010, the single was released in Australia and charted at number 5 and was certified platinum. The third single, Parachute, charted in the top five in both the UK and Ireland. The single was certified silver in the UK. From May to July 2010, Cole was the opening act for The Black Eyed Peas at the British shows (as well as some European dates) of The E.N.D. World Tour. Chris Johnson of the Daily Mail wrote, "she was supposed to be the support act. But as it turned out, Cheryl Cole ended up being the main event".
In March 2010, Cole stated that she had begun working on a follow up album to 3 Words, which she hoped to release "later on in the year". Cole's second solo album, titled Messy Little Raindrops, was released on 1 November 2010. The album's first single, Promise This, was released on 24 October 2010 and became her second number-one hit in the UK. The album was largely produced by Wayne Wilkins, but Cole also reunited with will.i.am, with collaboration from J. R. Rotem, Starsmith, Al Shux, and Free School for the first time. The album also features guest vocals from August Rigo, Dizzee Rascal, Travie McCoy, and will.i.am. The album's lead single, Promise This, went straight to number 1 in the UK, selling 157,000 in its first week. A week later, Messy Little Raindrops was released, charting at number 1 in the UK, 2 in Ireland and 7 in Europe.
Promise This
Cheryl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was nothing...
So empty...
In the space between.
And you came in...
Turned the lights on...
And created...
Before i... pluck your wings,
Cover me, please.
Spread your wings... cover me and...
Promise this...
If i die before i wake.
Oh, promise this...
Take a time to say your grace.
On your knees you pray for me.
Promise this...
Be the last to kiss my lips.
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Déployer... l'aile.
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Plumerai... l'aile.
Though i'm walking...
Through the shadows...
You are with me...
And you comfort me.
Lay me down now...
Time for sleeping...
But before that ...
Would you restore me.
Before i... pluck your wings,
Cover me, please.
Spread your wings... cover me and...
Promise this...
If i die before i wake.
Oh, promise this...
Take a time to say your grace.
On your knees you pray for me.
Promise this...
Be the last to kiss my lips.
By a thread we're hanging on.
In the hope you don't let go
If you ever leave me.
No, i wanna go with you.
Promise this...
If i die before i wake.
Oh, promise this...
Take a time to say your grace.
On your knees you pray for me.
Promise this...
Be the last to kiss my lips.
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Déployer... l'aile.
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Plumerai... l'aile.
Alouette déployer... l'aile.
Alouette déployer... l'aile.
The song "Promise This" by Cheryl is a touching tribute to the power of love and the importance of promises. The lyrics describe a relationship that began with emptiness and darkness, but was transformed by the presence of another person. The singer acknowledges that her love for this person is so strong that she wants them to promise to be the last person to kiss her lips before she dies. The song speaks of the fear of being alone and the need for comfort and support in difficult times. The refrain, "Promise this...If I die before I wake," emphasizes the idea that our mortality underscores the fragility of life and the importance of close relationships that provide us with a sense of security and belonging.
The lyrics also include an interesting French interlude, "Alouette, uette, uette," which translates to "Skylark, deploy the wings, I will pluck them." This may be a reference to the darker themes of mortality and loss, but it is left to the interpretation of the listener. Overall, "Promise This" is a powerful and emotional song that captures the depth of human connection and the importance of the promises we make to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
In my beginning...
At the start of my journey
There was nothing...
There was emptiness and lack of purpose
So empty...
The space was barren and devoid of life
In the space between.
In the emptiness that existed at that point in time
And you came in...
Then you entered my life
Turned the lights on...
You illuminated my path and showed me the way
And created...
And gave birth to
What it's came to be.
The current state of my life
Before i... pluck your wings,
If I ever hurt you
Cover me, please.
Forgive me and protect me
Spread your wings... cover me and...
Shield me from harm and danger
Promise this...
Make me a promise
If i die before i wake.
If I were to pass away in my sleep
Oh, promise this...
Make this vow to me
Take a time to say your grace.
Take a moment to pray for my soul
On your knees you pray for me.
Humble yourself and offer prayers for my wellbeing
Be the last to kiss my lips.
Be the final person to say goodbye to me
Alouette uette uette
Bird of Lark, Bird of Lark, Bird of Lark
Déployer... l'aile.
Spread... your wings
Plumerai... l'aile.
Pluck... your wings
Though i'm walking...
While I navigate this life
Through the shadows...
Through the dark and uncertain times
You are with me...
You are my supporting force
And you comfort me.
You provide me with solace and tranquility
Lay me down now...
Put me to rest now
Time for sleeping...
Time for me to rest in peace
But before that ...
But before I go to sleep
Would you restore me.
Would you revive me, heal my wounds and make me whole
By a thread we're hanging on.
Our relationship is hanging by a fragile thread
In the hope you don't let go
I pray you do not give up on us
If you ever leave me.
If you were to ever depart from my life
No, i wanna go with you.
I want to be with you, wherever you are
Alouette déployer... l'aile.
Bird of Lark, spread... your wings
Alouette déployer... l'aile.
Bird of Lark, spread... your wings
Writer(s): Priscilla Renea Hamilton, Wayne Wilkins, Christopher Arthur Jackson
Contributed by Leo O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@daisysalinas9094
After almost 8 years I finally found the song!!! T_T
@jessicabi9925
Me too today 😍😂
@PlasticPixiez
ME TOO
@craigmatthews1313
2020 yessss
@hapax94
Me too ahahha
@nautica00
I came here after Adele.. I was not expecting this to be so up beat
@vajeehakaiser2448
right there with you lol
@jaimecaputo5495
I prefer Adele’s cover!!
@sanali1792
2020 still loving it
@rezaheidargholi631
2021 now
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