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"
Steady As She Goes
Corinne Bailey Rae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sell it to the crowd that's gathered 'round
Steady as she goes
Steady as she goes
Find yourself a girl and settle down
Live a simple life in a quiet town
Steady as she goes
Your friends have shown a kink in the single life
You had too much to think, now you need a wife
Steady as she goes
So steady as she goes
Well, here we go again
You found yourself a friend that knows you well
But no matter what you do
You'll always feel as though you tripped and fell
So steady as she goes
Steady as she goes
When you have completed what you thought you had to do
And your blood's depleted to the point of stable glue
Then you'll get along
Then you'll get along
So steady as she goes
Steady as she goes
Well, here we go again
You found yourself a friend that knows you well
But no matter what you do
You always feel as though you tripped and fell
Steady as she goes
So steady as she goes
So steady as she goes
So steady as she goes
You're steady now
Are you steady now?
You're so steady now
She's so steady as she goes
The lyrics to "Steady As She Goes" by Corinne Bailey Rae tell the story of someone who has reached a point in their life where they feel the need to settle down and live a simpler life. The opening lines suggest that this person is willing to compromise and settle for a world that is neither up nor down, as long as they can sell it to the people around them. The chorus then repeats the phrase "steady as she goes," emphasizing the idea of stability and consistency in this person's life.
The second verse focuses on finding a girl and settling down in a quiet town, again emphasizing the desire for a simple and stable life. The lyrics suggest that this person's friends have shown a "kink" in the single life, meaning that they have shown an interest in settling down as well. The bridge of the song addresses the idea of feeling lost or unsteady even after finding someone who knows you well. The lyrics suggest that no matter what you do, you'll always feel as though you've tripped and fallen, but that the key is to remain steady through it all.
Overall, the lyrics of "Steady As She Goes" suggest that stability and consistency are highly valued by this person, even if it means compromising their own desires. The song encourages listeners to remain steady and consistent in their own lives, even when things get difficult or uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Settle for a world, neither up or down
Choose to live in a world without extreme highs or lows
Sell it to the crowd that's gathered 'round
Convince others that this type of lifestyle is desirable
Find yourself a girl and settle down
Form a stable relationship and live a conventional life
Live a simple life in a quiet town
Choose a calm and peaceful existence
Your friends have shown a kink in the single life
Your friends have revealed that being single isn't perfect
You had too much to think, now you need a wife
You have had too many distractions, and now you crave a stable partner
Well, here we go again
Reflecting on the universal cycle of life's inevitable repetition
You found yourself a friend that knows you well
Formed a close bond with someone who understands you
But no matter what you do
Despite your actions and intentions
You'll always feel as though you tripped and fell
You'll persistently feel like you're failing, despite making progress
When you have completed what you thought you had to do
After finishing the tasks you believed were necessities
And your blood's depleted to the point of stable glue
And after you've expended so much energy that you're physically depleted
Then you'll get along
Only then you'll be content with your efforts
You're steady now
You are now consistent and reliable
Are you steady now?
Is your newfound steadiness genuine?
She's so steady as she goes
Referring to the central focus of the song who is steady and grounded
Contributed by Alexis J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
cleverboy283
I've heard a few covers from Corinne, but this is by far my favorite.
Create with Rose
Having a Corinne Bailey Rae discovery sesh whilst doing my dissertation! She's so divine <3
Dean Wright
Love this song. Love it by the Raconteurs and love it by Corinne. Great to see that she covered it, not what I was expecting of her and it has moved her up in my estimations. (I'm sure she's really bothered LOL).
Katie Potatie
I was at Applebees last night with my boyfriend. We heard this and we almost died. We LOVED this song and we were so excited to hear such a wonderful cover.
Andrew Steward
wow I first heard this from the raconteurs and I just fell in love with the whole thing and she just does it so much better I love this song
Andrés Gómez
@harvickfan100 Seriously? All that 'cause someone disagrees over a song?
harvickfan100
@Andrew Steward “... she does it so much better” seriously?!?! Are you deaf? If you think this is a better version then The Raconteurs you are in desperate need of an ear, throat and nose doctor!! What a dumbass! You probably think Keeping up with the Kardashians is the greatest tv show ever! LMAO!!!!!
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Love the way that its straight into it. Wasn't expecting this. Well done to her!
terrier2468
This was freaking awesome! I really love The Raconteur's version, but this was a reallt awesome twist on it! I love it!
harvickfan100
If that’s the case, you have no taste in music whatsoever!!!