Rae was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire to a Kittitian father and an English mother, and she was the eldest of three daughters. She began her musical career at school where she studied classical violin before she turned her attention to singing: "I started off singing in church, I suppose, but people think it must have been a gospel church because of the whole, you know, black assumption", she says in reference to her multiracial background. "But it wasn't gospel at all, it was just your regular Brethren church, very middle-class, where we would sing these harmonies every Sunday. It was always my favourite part of the service, the singing".
Rae later transferred to a Baptist church, where the choir would sing traditional hymns, and Primal Scream tunes. "We changed the words though", Rae states on her website. "We didn't want to offend the regular churchgoers, now did we?"
Performing in church broadened Rae's musical horizons, and her love affair with making music was solidified after a local youth leader offered to buy her an electric guitar. In her mid-teens, she became obsessed with rock legends Led Zeppelin, "I loved that band during my teens; I wanted, somehow, to follow in their footsteps, and to create music of my own".
Rae formed an all-female indie group called Helen, which was inspired by similar acts such as Veruca Salt and L7. "It was the first time I'd seen women with guitars. They were kinda sexy – but feminist. I wanted to be like that, at the front of something".
The group raised eyebrows on several fronts; in the white male-dominated world of indie music, they were an all-female group fronted by a mixed-race singer from Leeds. The moniker "Helen" also drew attention, albeit for not all the right reasons: "What can I say? We were 15 years old, and thought that Helen was a cheeky, indie kind of thing to do. It seemed clever at the time. Admittedly, it seems less so now".
The group played many gigs around Leeds, including a memorable performance at Joseph's Well with Leeds-based band Swift, fronted by wildman rocker Royce Dunston. Despite this, the group became the first indie act to be signed to heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records, home to acts such as Slipknot, in 1995. The venture proved to be short-lived however after the bassist became pregnant and the group disbanded. "[Was I] Disappointed? I was gutted! I had no idea what to do next".
Corinne has often stated that she is a proud Leeds United Football Club fan.
After the disappointment of Helen, Rae went on to attend the University of Leeds where she studied an English Literature degree. While at University, she began work as a hat check girl on an evening in her local jazz club. Permitted to sing on stage with the jazz band when business was slow, it was there that she discovered a different type of music that sent her on a different musical path: "I kept hearing this jazz and soul stuff and I realized I loved that music too". It was there also that she met saxophone player Jason Rae, whom she eventually married in 2001 at age twenty-two. "I was Corinne Bailey. I added on Rae, my husband's name, when I got married. There's no hyphen; stops it being posh!" Jason died in March 2008.
Career
Over the space of the next three years, Rae began working on solo material – this time steering away from her indie past and embarking on a more "soulful" path. She collaborated with Leeds-based funk group The New Mastersounds on the track "Your Love Is Mine", featured on their 2003 album Be Yourself, released via One Note Records. The following year she again worked with another Leeds-based group, Homecut Directive, on the song "Come the Revolution", which was the first single from the group's debut album.
In 2004, Rae got a breakthrough when she was signed by Global Talent Publishing and then approached by Craig David's mentor Mark Hill, from the duo The Artful Dodger, to appear on his new album better luck next time under his new alias, The stiX. The resulting collaboration, "Young and Foolish", was released in April 2005 and brought Rae to the attention of the major record label bosses. Rae released her debut single, "Like a Star", in November 2005 and her first album, Corinne Bailey Rae, in February 2006. In September 2006, Rae scooped two awards at the UK's MOBO Awards: "Best UK Newcomer" and "Best UK Female". Rae recorded a live session at Abbey Road Studios in July 2006 for Live From Abbey Road.
Rae also received three nominations at the 2007 Grammy Awards: "Record of the Year", "Song of the Year" (both for "Put Your Records On"), and "Best New Artist". During the ceremony, she performed "Like a Star" and joined John Legend and John Mayer in a collaborative performance, providing accompanying vocals to Legend's "Coming Home" and Mayer's "Gravity". The poll's predictions subsequently came true, as she became only the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at number one. She has been nominated for Grammy Awards and BRIT Awards and won two MOBO Awards.
During an interview for the 2011 Mercury Awards, Corinne revealed she is writing a follow-up album to her critically acclaimed The Sea.
In 2013, Bailey Rae was moved from Capitol Records to Virgin Records due to corporate restructuring as a result of their parent company being purchased by Universal Music Group in 2012.
Discography
Albums
* 2006: "Corinne Bailey Rae"
* 2007: Live in London & New York
* 2010: "The Sea"
08 Paris Nights-New York Mornings
Corinne Bailey Rae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Elbows on the greasy table cloth
One more coffee and one last cigarette
Smiling at the rain cause you hold me close
My best dress on underneath this old coat
Walking down Blecker no one is awake yet
Nothing but clouds
It's enough to make your heart sigh
We should try
So pick me up and take me out
Ooh we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Ooh we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
I could see the lights from the restaurant
I couldn't quite perfect that nonchalance
Paris and champagne with one brown sugar cube
And we danced while the band played â??She's not thereâ??
Kissed me in the rain by the Rue Voltaire
It's a perfectly good way to ruin those silk shoes
Still, seven hours
Nothing but clouds
It's enough to make your heart sigh
We should try
For each other and for the lovers
Ooh we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Ooh we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
You change and you grow
But we were young
We were young and we didn't know
We didn't know
Ooh we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Ooh we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
The lyrics to Corinne Bailey Rae's song, "Paris Nights/New York Mornings," paint a vivid picture of a passionate and adventurous relationship that spans two cosmopolitan cities. The song starts off with the lyric "Breakfast at Mickey's, makeup still on, elbows on the greasy table cloth, one more coffee and one last cigarette." This sets the scene of two lovers enjoying a late breakfast together, tired and disheveled from a wild night out.
Despite the dreary weather, the singer feels content because they are wrapped up in their lover's embrace: "smiling at the rain cause you hold me close." They seem to be in Paris, with references to champagne and the Rue Voltaire. The lyrics mention, "It's a perfectly good way to ruin those silk shoes," which suggests that the singer is carefree and living in the moment, rather than worrying about material things.
In the chorus, the lyrics describe the passionate love that the two share and how they "crash into love-filled nights" and "race till we're out of time." The last verse acknowledges that people change and grow, but the two lover's youth and passion are preserved forever in this moment.
Overall, "Paris Nights/New York Mornings" is a romantic and nostalgic song that captures the magic and excitement of traveling to new cities and falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Breakfast at Mickey's, make-up still on
Having breakfast at a diner where the singer's make-up from the night before is still on.
Elbows on the greasy table cloth
Leaning on a dirty tablecloth with their elbows.
One more coffee and one last cigarette
Drinking one last cup of coffee and smoking one last cigarette before leaving.
Smiling at the rain cause you hold me close
Being happy in the rain because they are being held close by someone they care about.
My best dress on underneath this old coat
Wearing their best dress underneath an old coat.
Walking down Blecker no one is awake yet
Walking down Blecker street early in the morning when no one is awake yet.
Still, seven hours
Despite having seven hours of nothing but clouds.
Nothing but clouds
The sky is filled with dark clouds.
It's enough to make your heart sigh
It's rather sad and depressing.
We should try
They should try to be happy.
So pick me up and take me out
Take them somewhere exciting and fun.
Ooh we crash into love-filled nights
They dive into love-filled nights.
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Both Paris and New York are great places to spend nights and mornings.
And now that you've taken me up so high
After being taken to great heights.
Don't let me down
Don't disappoint.
I could see the lights from the restaurant
Observing the lights from the restaurant they are going to.
I couldn't quite perfect that nonchalance
They couldn't quite perfect being aloof and indifferent.
Paris and champagne with one brown sugar cube
Drinking champagne with a single brown sugar cube in Paris.
And we danced while the band played â??She's not thereâ??
Dancing while a band plays "She's not there" by the Zombies.
Kissed me in the rain by the Rue Voltaire
Kissing in the rain on Rue Voltaire.
It's a perfectly good way to ruin those silk shoes
The rain might ruin their silk shoes, but it's still a great moment.
For each other and for the lovers
Doing it for each other and for all lovers out there.
You change and you grow
People change and grow over time.
But we were young
But they were young and inexperienced.
We were young and we didn't know
They were young and didn't know much about life or love.
Don't let me down
Don't disappoint them.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Corinne Bailey Rae
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tey
Breakfast at Mickey's, make-up still on
Elbows on the greasy table cloth
One more coffee and one last cigarette
Smiling at the rain cause you hold me close
My best dress on underneath this old coat
Walking down Bleecker no one is awake yet
Still, seven hours
Nothing but clouds
It's enough to make your heart sigh
We should try
So pick me up and take me out
Oo we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Oo we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
I could see the lights from the restaurant
I couldn't quite perfect that nonchalance
Paris and champagne with one brown sugar cube
And we danced while the band played "She's not there"
Kissed me in the rain by the Rue Voltaire
It's a perfectly good way to ruin those silk shoes
Still, seven hours
Nothing but clouds
It's enough to make your heart sigh
We should try
For each other and for the lovers
Oo we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Oo we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
You change and you grow
But we were young
We were young and we didn't know
We didn't know
Oo we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Oo we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
nathasha sabogal
Breakfast at Mickey's, make-up still on
Elbows on the greasy table cloth
One more coffee and one last cigarette
Smiling at the rain cause you hold me close
My best dress on underneath this old coat
Walking down Blecker no one is awake yet
Still, seven hours
Nothing but clouds
It's enough to make your heart sigh
We should try
So pick me up and take me out
Ooh we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Ooh we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
I could see the lights from the restaurant
I couldn't quite perfect that nonchalance
Paris and champagne with one brown sugar cube
And we danced while the band played â??She's not thereâ??
Kissed me in the rain by the Rue Voltaire
It's a perfectly good way to ruin those silk shoes
Still, seven hours
Nothing but clouds
It's enough to make your heart sigh
We should try
For each other and for the lovers
Ooh we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Ooh we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
You change and you grow
But we were young
We were young and we didn't know
We didn't know
Ooh we crash into love-filled nights
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Ooh we race till we're out of time
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
And now that you've taken me up so high
(Paris nights and New York mornings)
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Miguel Ali
I remember when I first heard this song. I was a couple months into dating this incredible woman. We had decided to grab dinner at my fav steakhouse, and I was waiting outside for her (despite how cold it was). This song came on as I was waiting - the energy and optimism behind it perfectly matched her presence. Fast forward 12 years later - same woman, married her, and a 9 nine year old baby boy we share :) I think of her every time this song comes on.
Neo Motsamai
That's Awesome I Wish You Nothing But A Beautiful And Prosperous Marriage.
Steve Gonzales
That's awesome man. So happy for you. And this song is amazing.
Miguel Ali
@Neo Motsamai Thank you fam!
Miguel Ali
@Steve Gonzales Thank you!!! So far, so good :) hope you're well!
1122redbird
This woman stands out from the crowd of beebop bubble gum music. She writes and produces her own music, she's the real deal. The picture of elegance, class, and talent..
CurvyAries
I fell in love with her voice the 1st time I heard it. Looking at her reminds me of a lazy Sunday morning, coffee and interesting conversations. She just has such an amazing vibe.
Richie Henry
What a charming song. As I recall this tune, I am reminded of how happy I was upon my initial discovery of it. Thanks for bringing me back there, Corinne. Used to have this on repeat.
Holy Experience
It is for sure repeat/loop worthy!
Cris K
This song still gets me excited about nights in NYC ❣️