Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.
She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.
Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.
Promises
Joan Armatrading Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stay by my side
Don't try to fake it
With little white lies
I want you to be always by my side
The burden of proof is for you to deny
I found you out
For us to survive
Promise love that never dies
Paint a blue and perfect sky
Come to me baby
Stay by my side
Where we stand now
Is our default line
I want you to be always by my side
We've both made mistakes
But we're human and so
As much as we think we're infallible
We get it wrong sometimes
Promise love that never dies
Paint a blue and perfect sky
Everything changes
As much as we wish
There is nothing that remains
And this feeling
That we're both searching for
It's elusive like chasing the clouds
Still I want you to
Come to me baby
Promise love that never dies
Paint a blue and perfect sky
Promise love that never dies
Paint a blue and perfect sky
The lyrics of Joan Armatrading's song "Promises" convey a plea for honesty and commitment in a relationship. She asks her lover to be truthful with her and not resort to telling little lies to escape from situations. The lyrics show a yearning for the partner to remain by their side, to navigate the hardships of life together. Armatrading sings about the need for both partners to own their mistakes, to admit that they’re not infallible, and to apologize for their misdeeds. The song touches upon the impermanence of life while stressing the importance of making a promise of love that will endure.
The chorus, "Promise love that never dies, paint a blue and perfect sky," is a beautiful metaphor for the couple's shared promises. The blue sky symbolizes the beauty and optimism of a thriving relationship, and the promise of love that never dies signifies the commitment the partners make to one another. Despite the challenges that life may throw at them, the singer hopes that the promises made will serve as a foundation for their enduring love.
"Promises" is a song that expertly weaves the themes of honesty and fidelity. While it's a beautiful love song, it's also an acknowledgment that relationships require work and commitment to grow and flourish. The lyrics are powerful, and the melody is soulful, making for a beautiful, stirring song that speaks to anyone who's ever been in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Come to me baby
I want you to be with me
Stay by my side
Never leave me
Don't try to fake it
Don't lie to me
With little white lies
Even the smallest lies matter
I want you to be always by my side
I need you in my life no matter what
The burden of proof is for you to deny
You need to prove to me that you're trustworthy
I found you out
I know the truth now
Now let's do whatever it takes
We need to work together to fix this
For us to survive
Our relationship is at stake
Promise love that never dies
Promise me commitment
Paint a blue and perfect sky
Create a beautiful future for us
Where we stand now
This is our starting point
Is our default line
This is where we always end up
We've both made mistakes
Neither of us is perfect
But we're human and so
We need to forgive each other
As much as we think we're infallible
We make errors
We get it wrong sometimes
Mistakes happen
Everything changes
Nothing is constant
As much as we wish
Despite our hopes
There is nothing that remains
Things come and go
And this feeling
Our desire for love and connection
That we're both searching for
Something we're seeking together
It's elusive like chasing the clouds
Finding true love is challenging
Still I want you to
Nevertheless, I need you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOAN ANITA BARBARA ARMATRADING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind