Aged 21, Claire formed a quartet which featured Jim Mullen on guitar and Jonathon Gee on piano. In 1991 Claire signed to the Linn label.
She achieved instant recognition with her debut album "The Waiting Game", which was chosen as one of the Times records of the year. 1994 saw Claire receive the Rising Star award at the British Jazz awards. By 1995 Claire had made three more critically acclaimed albums for Linn Records and made her American debut with four sell-out shows in Washington DC, receiving rave reviews from the Washington Post and The Village Voice.
Later that year Claire won the Best Vocalist Award at the British Jazz Awards and took her group to Ronnie Scott's Club to make her first live album titled "Offbeat".
In 2000 Claire started presenting the jazz magazine show "Jazz Line Up" for BBC Radio 3.
In July 2003 the third BBC Jazz Awards named Claire Vocalist of the Year.
"Talented and hip beyond her years.... the most exciting jazz star to soar to my attention in a decade" Rex Reed - The New York Observer.
The Very Thought of You
Claire Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of course, I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drips from leaves then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course, I do
But I get along without you very well
I've forgotten you just like I say would
Or maybe except when I hear your name
Or someone's laugh that is the same
I've forgotten you just like I should
What a guy
What a fool am I
To think my aching heart could kid the moon
What's in store
Should I phone once more
No, no, no, no, no it's best that I stick to my tune
I said that I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except perhaps in spring
But then I should never ever think of spring
For that would surely break my heart in two
The lyrics to Claire Martin's song "The Very Thought of You" capture a sense of wistfulness and longing for a lost lover. The first verse begins with the singer acknowledging that they have moved on from their past relationship and "get along without you very well". However, they admit that there are still certain triggers that bring back memories of being held in their lover's arms, such as "soft rains" and the sound of "drips from leaves". In the second verse, the singer seems to be trying to convince themselves that they have truly forgotten their past love, but this resolve wavers when they hear their ex's name or a similar laugh.
The bridge of the song includes the lines "What a guy / What a fool am I / To think my aching heart could kid the moon". This suggests that the singer is aware of the foolishness of holding onto the hope of rekindling the relationship, as impossible as it may seem. The final verse concludes with the singer admitting that even though they can get by without their ex, the thought of spring - a season associated with new beginnings and growth - is still painful because it reminds them of what they've lost.
In summary, "The Very Thought of You" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the complex emotions of letting go of a past love, but still feeling the pull of nostalgia and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I get along without you very well
I am perfectly fine without you in my life.
Of course, I do
There is no doubt in my mind that I can live without you.
Except when soft rains fall
But there are certain moments in which I remember you more vividly.
And drips from leaves then I recall
When I hear the sound of rain, it takes me back to a specific memory of us.
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
I remember feeling completely safe and loved in your embrace.
Of course, I do
This memory is so clear in my mind that I can't deny its existence.
But I get along without you very well
Still, overall, I am able to live without you.
I've forgotten you just like I say would
I have done my best to erase my feelings for you.
Of course, I have
And I have been successful in moving on from our relationship.
Or maybe except when I hear your name
Though, sometimes, hearing your name can bring back some of those old feelings.
Or someone's laugh that is the same
Hearing someone laugh like you used to can also trigger a memory or two.
I've forgotten you just like I should
But, overall, I have done what is necessary to forget about you.
What a guy
What kind of person was I to have fallen for you?
What a fool am I
Looking back, I realize how foolish I was to have been so in love with you.
To think my aching heart could kid the moon
I once believed that my love for you was so strong that it could pull the moon down from the sky.
What's in store
What does the future hold for us now?
Should I phone once more
Will it do any good to call and reach out to you?
No, no, no, no, no it's best that I stick to my tune
No, I know that it's better for me to stay away and not try to rekindle what we had.
I said that I get along without you very well
I am telling the truth when I say that I can live without you.
Of course, I do
There is no doubt in my mind that I am capable of living without you.
Except perhaps in spring
But there is one season that makes it difficult to forget about you.
But then I should never ever think of spring
For if I do, it will remind me too much of our past and cause me great pain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Hoagy Carmichael
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind