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"
Butterfly
Corinne Bailey Rae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a photograph
Of a day gone past
Always makes me laugh
There's a little girl
Wary of the world
She got much to learn
Get her fingers burnedAn affinity
Between you and me
'Cause we're family, yeah
Said that I'd be fine
Give me all your time
And I left your side
Like a butterfly
Shower me with your love
Color everyday
You make the milk-gold sun
Shine on me, yeah
Lift me up so high
Watch me fly away
And you give me life
Like a butterfly
In my mother's house
There was happiness
I wrapped my myself in it
Was my chrysalis
As my life unfolds
See a pattern through
Of you protecting me
And I protecting you
What was that you'd say?
And when you're grown
Make sure that you remain the same
Now I realize
What was on your mind
When I left your side
Like a butterfly
Shower me with your love
Color everyday
You make the milk-gold sun
Shine on me, yeah
Lift me up so high
Watch me fly away
And you give me life
Like a butterfly
(Yeah)
(Shine on me, yeah)
Shower me with your love
Color everyday
You make the milk-gold sun
Shine on me, yeah
Lift me up so high
Watch me fly away
And you give me life
Like a butterfly
The song "Butterfly" by Corinne Bailey Rae talks about the memories of childhood, the bond between family, growing up, and leaving the protective nest of home. The lyrics are a reflection of the artist’s childhood memories and the love and support she received from her family. The photograph in her mother's house takes her back to the days of her childhood where she was just a little girl who was wary of the outside world with much to learn. Even though the distance between her family and her now might be great, the bond that they share as a family will always be there, and they'll always remain close in each other's hearts, even though they may be far apart
The chorus of the song speaks about the unconditional love that the artist has received from her family. She sings about the love that has been showered on her like a butterfly, which symbolizes new beginnings, transformation, and growth. The artist requests to be showered every day with the love and positivity that comes with the sunshine. She also speaks about the importance of being lifted above the ground with support to believe in oneself and to make progress in life.
Overall, the song Butterfly is a reflection on the journey of life, the role of family, and the appreciation of protection, support and guidance. The artist relays her belief that her family's love gave her the wings to fly to take her to where she is today.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooo, ooo, yeah
Introductory line setting the mood.
In my mother's house
Referring to her childhood home where she learned life lessons.
There's a photograph
A memory from the past hanging on the wall.
Of a day gone past
A snapshot of a time when things were different.
Always makes me laugh
Brings back fond memories of the past.
There's a little girl
Referring to herself as a child.
Wary of the world
Feeling cautious, unsure and unprepared for life's challenges.
She got much to learn
Acknowledging that she has a lot to learn.
Get her fingers burned
Acknowledging that she will make mistakes and learn from them.
An infinity
Undefined length of time.
Between you and me
Referring to a connection between two people.
'Cause we're family
Blood ties that create bonds between family members.
Yeah, said that I'd be fine
Assurances from loved ones that everything will be okay.
Give me all your time
Wanting undivided attention and affection from loved ones.
And I left your side
Leaving the safety and comfort of the family home.
Like a butterfly
Comparing her departure to that of a butterfly leaving its cocoon.
[Chorus:]
Referring to the chorus.
Shower me with your love
Being showered with affection and attention.
All of everyday
Wanting love and attention every day, always.
You make the milk, gold sun shine on me
Loved ones providing sustenance and warmth in her life.
Lift me up so high
Feeling loved and lifted up by loved ones.
Watch me fly away
Leaving the safety and comfort of loved ones to spread her wings.
Would you give me life
Asking if loved ones will support her and give her life.
In my mother's house
Referring to childhood home.
There was happiness
Describing a happy home life.
I ride myself in it
Happiness is something she takes pride in.
Was my chrysalis
Her childhood home was a place where she transformed and grew.
As my life unfolds
The culmination of her life experiences.
See a pattern through
Reflecting on her past and seeing how it has shaped her.
Of you protecting me
Loved ones providing protection and guidance.
And I protecting you
Being able to provide comfort and support in return.
What was that you'd say?
Referring to advice given by loved ones.
"Make your own mistakes"
Loved ones encourage her to learn from her own mistakes.
And when you would
When she eventually does make those mistakes.
Make sure that you remain the same
Reassurance that she is still loved, no matter what.
Now I realize
Coming to an understanding about life lessons.
What was on your mind
Understanding the perspective of her loved ones.
When I left your side
Feeling guilty about leaving her loved ones.
Like a butterfly?
Questioning if leaving her loved ones was the right thing to do.
[Chorus]
Referring to the chorus.
And you give me life
Loved ones providing continued support and motivation for her.
Like a butterfly?
Comparing her growth and transformation to a butterfly's metamorphosis.
Lyrics © Global Talent Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Corinne Bailey Rae, Rod Bowkett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind