Born and raised in Glasgow with his signature falsetto singing style, he happens to also be a left-wing human rights activist.
He went solo when the Communards split up in 1988.
Eve
Jimmy Somerville Lyrics
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A ring of fire
She is seven deadly sins
Some man's woman
One man's daughter
But another's baby doll
She's dancing as fast as she can
Eve wants to sleep
But seldom does
Lives the other side of midnight
Eve's got something
For everyone
When they come she calls it loving
She's dancing as fast as she can
But there's trouble in paradise
On a clear day she can see forever
The threshold of one more time
She's dancing as fast as she can
But there's trouble in paradise
Trouble in paradise
Trouble
in paradise
The lyrics to Jimmy Somerville's song Eve are open to interpretation, as they are quite abstract and poetic. Essentially, the song is about a woman named Eve who is described as a "ring of fire," representing her intense and passionate nature. She is also portrayed as embodying the seven deadly sins, suggesting that she has a dark side to her personality. Despite this, she is desired by men, as she is "some man's woman" and "one man's daughter," but also "another's baby doll," indicating that she can play different roles for different partners.
Eve is depicted as a complex character who is constantly moving and dancing, but also has trouble in her life. She wants to sleep, but rarely manages to get enough rest, and is always up late on the other side of midnight. Despite this, she is always available to those who want her and offers them love, which she calls "loving." The chorus repeats the line "she's dancing as fast as she can, but there's trouble in paradise," suggesting that while Eve tries to keep up her energetic and vivacious persona, there are problems brewing under the surface.
Overall, the song Eve is a deep and introspective piece that explores the complexities of human nature and the struggles we face in life. Through its poetic lyrics and haunting melody, it speaks to universal human experiences and emotions, making it a powerful and memorable song.
Line by Line Meaning
Eve is a redhead
A physical descriptor of the character
A ring of fire
The intensity of her personality and the passion that follows her everywhere
She is seven deadly sins
She is temptation personified and represents all that is considered sinful in Christianity
Some man's woman
Eve belongs to a man, but is not his property, and cannot be tamed by him. She is a free spirit
One man's daughter
She is someone’s child, and he would go to great lengths to protect her from harm
But another's baby doll
To someone else, she is a toy that he misuses for his own satisfaction, without caring about her feelings
She's dancing as fast as she can
She is trying to move, express herself, and live her life despite various obstacles and challenges
But there's trouble in paradise
She is not enjoying her life as much as she wants to, something is not right, and there may be underlying issues
Eve wants to sleep
She craves peace and rest from her hectic lifestyle
But seldom does
However, she does not often get to sleep because she is too busy being the life of the party
Lives the other side of midnight
Her life is dark and dangerous, and she only comes alive when the sun has set and the night has taken over
Eve's got something
Eve possesses a unique quality of making everyone feel wanted and cherished in her presence
For everyone
Her love is indiscriminate; anyone who seeks it receives it
When they come she calls it loving
She expresses her love in a very physical way, and doesn’t see this as anything other than loving
On a clear day she can see forever
She has boundless optimism and sees the world as full of possibilities and opportunities
The threshold of one more time
She is always on the cusp of something new and exciting
Trouble in paradise
Something is wrong in her life and is causing her to be unhappy and dissatisfied
Trouble
An extension of 'trouble in paradise', something that is unsettling and threatens to disrupt her life at any moment
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES SOMERVILLE, SALLY HERBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind