Olivier fancies himself a goat farmer, from rural France, but instead he’s a conservatory trained Parisian violinist and composer. Clare had a not-so-booming business of selling frogs by the side of the road as a child, and is the offspring of Geoff Muldaur. As a teen, Bob had the hair to prove he could play every note of Yngwie Malmsteen’s guitar solos (yes, he can!). This picturesque mixture of personalities has formed music rich in imagery, resulting in their songs being featured in several films and commercials. They have shared the stage with Devotchka, Vic Chesnutt, St. Vincent, Nouvelle Vague and others. Highlights from their most recent tours are The Meltdown Festival in London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Primavera Festival in Barcelona, Moogfest in Asheville, Pop Montreal, La Cigale in Paris, The Paradiso in Amsterdam (released as a live CD), Union Chapel in London, and three trips to play in the band’s beloved Japan in just over a year.
Their debut album “The Movie” had a clear warm sound with a large string section artfully arranged by Olivier Manchon, recorded in an orchestral room and mixed to tape. Collaborators of great talent stepped in; Sufjan Stevens sang a duet with Clare and Van Dyke Parks played piano on one song. On their second album “Arrow”, the band experimented with more electronic elements, brass, and a stacked approach. Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) lent her voice to a song. The album was a stepping stone to their newest effort. KR-51 resided at the top a very steep hill for the band, a writing process filled with heartache, raw honesty, relentless practice, and a tireless willingness to throw things away. Clare studied the way Lotte Lenya delivered so convincingly, and you may hear the adventurous attitude of early Kate Bush in Clare’s writing. The great James McAlister (Sufjan Stevens) played drums on the album, filling it with crunch and bang, driving the record. Clare and the Reasons are not interested in the easy way, they are interested in the musical way. In a world of sound banks and sequencers, an orchestra made up of members of the Orchestre de Paris materialized, and was recorded live in Paris, something Clare and the Reasons consider a miracle.
The band sunk themselves into a city of many histories, a city of concrete boxes and fluted columns. Those contrasts, at times stark and streamlined, at times grandly lush, show up in the 11 songs on KR-51. They carry the meticulous orchestration and innovative songwriting Clare and the Reasons are known for, while also carrying a little more sorrow, a lot more distorted guitar, and a little more darkness of heart. Clare, Olivier and Bob were given room to contribute what only they could as musicians, in the beautiful recording studio sprouted in the middle of a vast sea of farm green. Clare and the Reasons’ third album, KR-51, is their Berlin.
Cook for You
Clare & the Reasons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my underwear
'cause our kitchen
points to a wall
and I like to talk to you
while I brush my teeth
cause I have
I want to hear you talk to me
in any funny voice you please
it all pleases me
I want to hang off every word you say
and even thought it's in my head
it all pleases me
Little white lies
tied in a bow
keeps me poised all day
reflections of me
in the pictures of you
makes me
forget that you rest in peace
I want to hear you talk to me
in any funny voice you please
it all pleases me
I want to hang off every word you say
and even thought it's in my head
it all pleases me
I want to hear you talk to me
in any funny voice you please
it all pleases me
I want to hang off every word you say
and even thought it's in my head
it all pleases me
In "Cook for You," Clare & the Reasons sing about domestic intimacy with a touch of melancholy. The first verse describes the comfort and trust between two partners, as the singer explains her willingness to cook in her underwear, a silly and intimate gesture that indicates ease between the couple. However, the fact that the kitchen points to a wall adds a feeling of confinement and limitation, hinting at the fact that this safety might not last forever. The second verse continues with the idea of openness and trust as the singer describes talking while brushing her teeth, implying that she shares everything with her partner, even mundane activities. She also acknowledges her need to listen, to indulge in every word that her partner says. But even as she enjoys these moments of togetherness, the third verse casts a shadow of loss and grief, as the singer reflects on the pictures of her loved one who has passed away. The little white lies tied in a bow suggest a sense of decorum that the singer needs to keep things together throughout the day, but the reflections of the partner in the pictures suggest a lingering sense of sadness that never goes away.
Overall, "Cook for You" is a beautifully poignant song about love and loss, trust and intimacy, and the fleeting nature of stability. The lyrics are filled with both humor and sadness and are delivered with a soft, comforting sound that perfectly complements the themes of domesticity and intimacy that run through the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I like to cook for you
I take pleasure in preparing food for you.
In my underwear
I am comfortable around you and do not feel the need to dress up.
'cause our kitchen
The layout of our kitchen makes it impossible for anyone else to see me in my underwear.
points to a wall
Our kitchen is situated in such a way that there are no windows or doors that lead outside the house.
and I like to talk to you
I enjoy having conversations with you.
while I brush my teeth
I have so much to say that I even talk to you while doing mundane tasks such as brushing my teeth.
cause I have
I am always overflowing with things to talk about.
so much to say
I always have something interesting to share with you.
I want to hear you talk to me
I am interested in what you have to say.
in any funny voice you please
I find joy in the way you express yourself, even if it's in a silly manner.
it all pleases me
All your words and actions bring me happiness.
I want to hang off every word you say
I am captivated by your words and want to hear more.
and even thought it's in my head
Even if I might not say it out loud, I still find joy in my thoughts of you.
Little white lies
Small, harmless lies that I tell myself to maintain my sense of optimism and happiness.
tied in a bow
The lies are packaged in a neat, attractive way to make them more palatable.
keeps me poised all day
These small lies help me maintain my composure and keep my spirits up throughout the day.
reflections of me
I see myself reflected in your actions and words.
in the pictures of you
The way you act and the things you say tell me more about myself and my feelings for you.
makes me
Your actions and words have a profound effect on me.
forget that you rest in peace
Even though you are gone, your memory and our past experiences live on and affect me deeply.
Contributed by Sophia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.