Reader was born in Glasgow, the daughter of a welder, and the eldest of seven children (her brother, Francis, is vocalist with the band The Trash Can Sinatras). She began playing the guitar at the age of ten, and started her musical career busking, first in Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street, then in the early 1980s around Europe (where she also worked with circus and performance artists).
Back in Scotland, she joined the punk band Gang of Four as a backing singer which led to her first US tour. After leaving the band she started working as a session vocalist in London, singing with such acts as Eurythmics, Alison Moyet and Language.
In 1984, Reader sang for a brief time with disco group Outbar Squeek. Around the same time she teamed up with Mark E. Nevin, a guitarist and songwriter, to record a few of his songs. They subsequently formed Fairground Attraction, together with Simon Edwards and Roy Dodds. In 1988 the band released their first single, Perfect, which became a UK number one, winning best single at the 1989 Brit Awards. Their first album, The First of a Million Kisses, was also a success, reaching number two in the UK album chart, and winning best album at the 1989 Brit Awards.
This success was short-lived, however. In November, 1989, after a break, during which Reader had her first child, Charlie with her French-Algerian partner Milou, Mark Nevin abandoned a recording session for the second album, which would eventually lead to the splitting of the band. A makeshift second album, a collection of B-sides and live tracks, Ay Fond Kiss was rushed out the following year.
Reader returned to Scotland, but before she embarked on her solo career she took a temporary detour into acting. She played Jolene Jowett, a singer and accordionist, in John Byrne's Your Cheatin' Heart, a comedy-drama series for BBC television, set in the country music scene in Scotland.
Returning to London, Reader worked on new material with a backing band calling itself "The Patron Saints of Imperfection" (made up of Roy Dodds, Neill and Calum MacColl, and Phil Steriopoulos). This became her first solo album, recorded for RCA: 1992's Mirmama. It was followed by Eddi Reader (1994), which won her the "Best female singer" Brit Award that year, Candyfloss and Medicine (1996), Angels & Electricity (1998), Simple Soul (2001) and Driftwood (2002) - a "homegrown" release of songs recorded during the Simple Soul sessions.
In 2003, she recorded her album of material by Robert Burns with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra leading to excellent reviews and an international resurgence in interest in Scotland's Bard.
The Song "Bell Book And Candle" was included in the final soundtrack of the TV show by WB "Charmed", The name of the disc is "Charmed: The Final Chapter".
In the 2006 New Years Honours List, Reader was awarded the MBE for services to music.
Her eighth studio album Peacetime was released in the UK on 29 January 2007 on the Rough Trade label. Critically praised and produced by fellow Scottish folk musician John McCusker the album features a few Burns songs alongside brand new material with longtime collaborator Boo Hewerdine and Trashcan Sinatras' John Douglas. Reader promoted the album with a 15 date UK tour in February.
Edén
Eddi Reader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
nights are falling in
and all the light is dragging
shadows round me
hey can you see me?
in dreams I hold you well
the dawn can break
Eden take the two of us and all the world
leaving is easy
at closing time you turn around
and you’re the best
the circle I’m circumf’rencing
Eden take the two of us and all the world
don’t even think tomorrow is another day
Eden take the two of us and all the world
The lyrics of Eddi Reader's song "Eden" are poetic and highly evocative, delving into themes of darkness, longing, and the power of love. The opening lines of the song express a sense of isolation and vulnerability, as the singer asks if anyone can hear them and notes that the night is closing in around them. This sets a tone of introspection and introspection that permeates the entire track, as we get a glimpse into the singer's inner thoughts and emotions.
The second verse reveals a sense of hope and connection, as the singer reflects on dreams where they can hold someone they love closely. The dawn breaking symbolises a life-changing event or moment, something that changes the way an individual understands and interacts with the world around them. The chorus is the most memorable part of the song, as it expresses a desire to escape from the troubles of daily life and find a kind of paradise, represented by the titular Eden. This Eden is a place where the singer and their loved one can find peace and happiness together, unencumbered by the worries of the world.
The final verse brings the song full circle, as the singer reflects on the ease with which we can leave people and places behind at "closing time". Our everyday lives often have a circular pattern, and the singer here suggests that they are stuck in one specific cycle, that of mourning and hopelessly searching for something that they may never truly find. Yet, through it all, the hope of Eden remains, an ideal to strive towards even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
hey can you hear me?
Asking if the listener is paying attention.
nights are falling in
Night is approaching or beginning.
and all the light is dragging
Darkness is enveloping everything.
shadows round me
The absence of light is causing shadows to appear around the artist.
hey can you see me?
Asking if the listener is paying attention visually.
in dreams I hold you well
The singer has pleasant dreams about holding someone they care about.
the dawn can break
The morning can come, but it will not shake the singer from their dream state.
take more than that to wake me up
It would take something significant to interrupt the artist's current state.
Eden take the two of us and all the world
The artist suggests that a place called Eden could unite the entire world, including the artist and their loved one.
leaving is easy
It is easy to leave a place or situation.
at closing time you turn around
When it is time to leave, one must turn away from what they are leaving behind.
and you’re the best
The person being addressed is the best option for the artist.
the circle I’m circumf’rencing
The singer is moving in a circular pattern, possibly indicating a feeling of being stuck or trapped.
don’t even think tomorrow is another day
The singer suggests that there may be no tomorrow and implies a sense of urgency or desperation.
Eden take the two of us and all the world
The singer repeats the idea that a place called Eden can bring unity to the world, including themselves and their loved one.
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.