Imelda Mary Higham (born Imelda Mary Clabby on 10 July 1974), professionall… Read Full Bio ↴Imelda Mary Higham (born Imelda Mary Clabby on 10 July 1974), professionally known as Imelda May, is an Irish musician and singer-songwriter. Born and raised in The Liberties area of Dublin, May began her career in music at age sixteen - performing with a number of local bands and musicians - before forming her own band in 2002. She released her debut studio album, No Turning Back, in 2003 and relocated to London, United Kingdom, with husband and guitarist Darrel Higham after its release. Following an appearance on the BBC music programme Later... with Jools Holland in 2008, she released her second studio album, Love Tattoo (2009). At the 2009 Meteor Awards she won the Best Female Artist of the Year award . Her 2010 album, Mayhem, earned her a nomination for the Choice Music Prize.

Although known primarily as a singer, May also plays the bodhrán, guitar and tambourine. Described as "a unique vocal talent," May is known for her musical style of rockabilly revival and has also been compared to female jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday.

Born in Dublin, the youngest of five children, she fell in love with rockabilly at the age of nine, though was also exposed to a range of musical styles, from Irish traditional music to Elvis Presley. She now specialises in rockabilly, singing her own material and covers. Her debut album with Blue Harlem was No Turning Back, which was followed by Swing Street, and Talk to Me. Her first solo release was Love Tattoo.

May has shared the stage with Alison Moyet, Dionne Warwick, Bryan Ferry, Anastasia, The Supremes, Sister Sledge, Scissor Sisters, Matt Bianco, Elvis Costello, Jools Holland, Elton John, and Jeff Beck.

Gypsy In Me
Imelda May Lyrics

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The gypsy in me can never be free
Never be wild like the wind
The gypsy in me I keep in a cage
Locked up like a soul that has sinned
Time and again I dream of a life
I'm wandering with no home
So I soar to the skies
No restraints, no goodbyes

No place that I'd never roam
But these wings I will tie
So I cannot fly
Away to the arms of the breeze
So don't stay by my side as I have to deny
The gypsy in me

Time and again I dream of a life
I'm wandering with no home
So I soar to the skies
No restraints, no goodbyes
No place that I'd never roam
But these wings I will tie
So I cannot fly
Away to the arms of the breeze

So don't stay by my side as I have to deny
The gypsy in me

Overall Meaning

In "Gypsy In Me," Imelda May sings about the internal struggle between wanting to live freely and being restrained by society's expectations. She compares the "gypsy" within herself to a caged animal, unable to truly be free and wild. She dreams of a life without a fixed home, where she can wander without any restraints or goodbyes. However, she realizes that these dreams come at a cost, and she must sacrifice some of her freedom to conform to societal norms.

May uses vivid imagery to portray her desire for freedom, comparing it to flying without constraints and being embraced by the wind. However, she also acknowledges the reality of her situation, symbolized by the tied wings that prevent her from flying away. The song is ultimately about the struggle to balance one's desires with the constraints of the world, a feeling that many can relate to.

Overall, "Gypsy In Me" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the universal experience of wanting to break free from restrictions and fully embrace oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

The gypsy in me can never be free
My inherent wandering persona can never be set completely free

Never be wild like the wind
I can never be as free and wild as the wind

The gypsy in me I keep in a cage
I keep my wandering and adventurous self restrained and confined

Locked up like a soul that has sinned
I keep it locked like a guilty soul in confinement

Time and again I dream of a life
I often imagine a life without boundaries

I'm wandering with no home
I want to roam without any specific destination or home

So I soar to the skies
I use my imagination to escape my present confinement

No restraints, no goodbyes
In my imagination, I face no limitations and no goodbyes

No place that I'd never roam
No place exists that I would not be willing to explore in my imagination

But these wings I will tie
However, I have to tie my wings in reality

So I cannot fly
I am unable to fly in reality and have to remain confined