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 ↴
In my mother's house
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
An infinity
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
[Chorus:]
Shower me with your love
All of everyday
You make the milk, gold sun shine on me
Lift me up so high
Watch me fly away
Would you give me life
Like a butterfly?
In my mother's house
There was happiness
I ride 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?
"Make your own mistakes"
And when you would
Make sure that you remain the same
Now I realize
What was on your mind
When I left your side
Like a butterfly?
[Chorus]
Shower me with your love
All of everyday
You make the milk, gold sun shine on me
Lift me up so high
Watch me fly away
And you give me life
Like a butterfly?
The opening lines of Corinne Bailey Rae's song "Butterfly" set the stage for a story of growth, maturation, and the lessons that family can teach. At the beginning of the song, the singer recalls a photograph in her mother's house, a snapshot of a bygone day. In that picture, she sees a little girl who is "wary of the world" and has "much to learn." This young girl is the singer herself, and the memory of her own timidity seems to make her laugh in retrospect.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that this timidity and naivety were overcome, but not without the guidance and support of those around her. The singer remembers the advice of her family, encouraging her to take risks and make her own mistakes. At the same time, she acknowledges the importance of familial bonds, the "infinity between you and me" that cannot be broken. She also recognizes that this connection requires effort from both sides, promising to "give me all your time" and then later acknowledging her own departure from this unity, "And I left your side like a butterfly."
The metaphor of the butterfly is a powerful one, symbolizing not only the singer's growth and transformation, but also the beauty and fragility of life. The chorus of the song asks to be "showered with love" in order to be lifted up and allowed to fly away, much like a butterfly. This request for love and support is a recurring theme in the song. Ultimately the song celebrates the beauty of family and the joy of growing into oneself, even as it addresses the bittersweet nature of leaving home and leaving behind the cocoon of familiarity.
Line by Line Meaning
In my mother's house
The setting of the story: the house where the singer grew up
There's a photograph
The presence of a memory from the past
Of a day gone past
The photograph is from a far-away time
Always makes me laugh
The photograph is connected to a happy memory
There's a little girl
A portrayal of the singer as a young child
Wary of the world
A description of the singer's initial attitude towards the world
She got much to learn
The realization that the singer had (and still has) much to learn
Get her fingers burned
Acknowledgement of the fact that mistakes and failures are sometimes inevitable
An infinity
A metaphor illustrating the strong bond between family members
Between you and me
Referring to the bond between the singer and someone close to her
'Cause we're family
Family ties are emphasized as the reason behind the strong bond
Yeah, said that I'd be fine
Assurance given to the singer that everything will be okay
Give me all your time
Suggesting that the person close to the singer is willing to dedicate their time to her
And I left your side
The singer recalls a time when she distanced herself from someone who was always there for her
Like a butterfly
A simile used to describe the singer's detachment from the person who was always there for her
Shower me with your love
The artist asks for affection from the person she previously distanced herself from
All of everyday
The artist desires constant expressions of affection
You make the milk, gold sun shine on me
The singer associates the person she is addressing with positive imagery
Lift me up so high
The singer desires to feel encouraged and supported
Watch me fly away
The artist wants to be able to grow and flourish, even if it means leaving the person who supported her in the past
Would you give me life
The artist asks if the person she's addressing would be willing to give her what she needs to thrive
In my mother's house
The setting where the story takes place, recalled once again
There was happiness
The singer remembers a time when happiness was present
I ride myself in it
The artist takes pride in that time
Was my chrysalis
The happy past is likened to a cocoon, where the singer had the chance to develop and transform
As my life unfolds
The singer recalls how her life progressed
See a pattern through
The singer recognizes a recurring pattern
Of you protecting me
The artist acknowledges that she was protected by someone who cared for her
And I protecting you
The artist recognizes that her relationship with this person was reciprocal
What was that you'd say?
A direct quote from the person the singer is addressing
"Make your own mistakes"
The advice given by the person addressing the singer
And when you would
The artist recalls a time when she didn't heed that advice
Make sure that you remain the same
The person addressing the singer asks that, regardless of mistakes, the singer doesn't lose her true self
Now I realize
The artist has come to an understanding
What was on your mind
The singer is reflecting on what the person addressing her must have felt
When I left your side
The moment when the singer distanced herself from the person addressing her is recalled once again
Like a butterfly?
A question that sums up the central metaphor of the song
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CORINNE BAILEY RAE, ROD BOWKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arara
In my mother's house
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 burned
An infinity
Between you and me
'Coz 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
All of everyday
You make the milk of
Sunshine on me, yeah
Lift me up so high
Watch me fly away
Would you give your 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 I to say?
Make your own mistakes
And when you woke
Made sure that you remained the same
Now I realize
What was on your mind
When I left your side
Like a butter fly
Shower me with your love
All of everyday
You make the milk of
Sunshine on me, yeah
Lift me up so high
Watch me fly away
And give me a life
Like a butterfly
Hey, shower me, yeah
Shower me with your love
All of everyday
You make the milk of
Sunshine on me, yeah
Lift me up so high
Watch me fly away
And to give me a life
Like a butterfly
Melani M
So pure. Corrine Bailey Rae is one of the most underrated artists of this generation, what a gem she is
McKevin Johnson
Im a single dad of a 12yr old daughter. When I listen to this I realize that one day she will leave me to go on her own journey through life. Tear up every time. But I know she's gonna spread those wings and fly. My baby girl.
Li Li
Rooting for you being a man despite being a single dad. Hope and courage from NewZealand.
OKeba Anahata Ra
🙂 yes. And she will remember moments and interactions with you. Let them be Beautiful! Help her be a Beautiful butterfly in the World ;o). Be well
Fearless Angi
I remember when I was 16 I spent my first week away from my mother for a choir competition in Hawaii. I listened to this song at take off the plane and cried like a baby. I’m 29 now. I love my mommy.
Jackie
I was feeling really down and came across this. My mom gave me this cd in 2006 and I loved it. There’s no voice like hers. This brought me to a lighter and happier mood. Missing my mom ❤️😢
작은별
My mother passed away about 2 months ago. The song makes me remind my dear mom... and I recall her excellent qualities. She was always showing love.... I miss her so hard.
The F-ing Man
2:57-3:30 is the definition of love and happiness. Amazing arrangements.
Daveorozco1
This beautiful song always makes me cry, makes me recognize that I have a great family and they support me in every step I take. I'm not alone, and most importantly I shouldn't have reason to be depressed. I'm a lucky guy.
Gavin Heaphy
It's allright for you