Garrett has performed across the whole world and has also sung opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall to celebrate the arrival of the new century on Millennium Eve, in the grounds at the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum.
She played the lead role of Hanna Glawari, in the Welsh National Opera's production of The Merry Widow, which toured the United Kingdom in 2005. As of November 2006, Garrett was performing as Mother Abbess for six months, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music.
As a recording artist, Garrett has released eleven solo albums. Many of her albums have received gold and silver status. Soprano in Red received the Gramophone Award for "Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year". Garrett was also a featured artist on the platinum selling Perfect Day single released by the BBC in aid of Children in Need.
Garrett is a member of the board of the English National Opera. In 2002, she was awarded the CBE for services to music.
She is also a presenter on the UK commercial radio station "Classic FM".
La mer
Lesley Garrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That one sees dancing along the clear bays
Has silver reflections
The sea
Changing reflections
In the rain
The sea
Its white horses
With angels so pure
The sea
Shepherdess of
The infinite sky
See
Near the ponds
Those tall, wet reeds
See
Those white birds
And those rusted houses
The sea
Has rocked them
Along the clear bays
And with a love song
The sea
Has rocked my heart for ever
Lesley Garrett's song "La Mer" is a beautiful and poetic reflection on the sea - its ever-changing nature, its beauty and its ability to inspire wonder and awe. The opening lines describe the silver reflections on the sea's surface, created by the way the light dances across the clear bays. The sea is always changing, and its reflections can shift with the weather - in the rain, the sea takes on a different character, reflecting the color and mood of the clouds above.
The second verse of the song conjures images of summer skies and white horses - the waves of the sea that crash against the shore. This image is contrasted with the idea of angels, which are "so pure" that they seem to blend in with the white horses of the sea. The sea is also seen as a "shepherdess" of the infinite sky, perhaps indicating that it has a powerful, guiding influence on the world around us.
The final verse of the song brings us back to earth, as it were, with a description of wet reeds, white birds, and rusted houses. These are all images that likely evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing, perhaps suggesting that the singer is reflecting on a cherished memory from the past. The sea has played a role in this memory, rocking the houses along the clear bays, and inspiring the singer's heart with a love song that will last forever.
Line by Line Meaning
The sea
The vast body of salt water that one can observe.
That one sees dancing along the clear bays
The sea can be seen moving gracefully along the shorelines, forming clear waves.
Has silver reflections
The sea has the ability to reflect light beautifully, creating a stunning silver sheen.
The sea
The vast body of salt water that one can observe.
Changing reflections
The sea has the ability to create different reflections based on its surroundings and the time of day.
In the rain
Even the rain has the potential to create a transformative effect on the sea, altering its behavior and appearance.
The sea
The vast body of salt water that one can observe.
Under the summer sky confuses
During the summer months, the sea can be visually deceiving and appear as if it is rising to the sky itself.
Its white horses
The crests of waves that form at sea can give the impression of white horses galloping through the water.
With angels so pure
The sea can make one feel as though they are witnessing angels floating through the air with grace and purity.
The sea
The vast body of salt water that one can observe.
Shepherdess of
The sea has the ability to guide and protect the infinite sky through its vastness.
The infinite sky
The vast expanse of sky that stretches beyond the horizon and marks the boundaries of our world.
See
Witness and behold the beauty that surrounds us.
Near the ponds
By the small bodies of water that dot the landscape.
Those tall, wet reeds
The green, grass-like plants that often grow near water sources and become wet due to their proximity to them.
See
Witness and behold the beauty that surrounds us.
Those white birds
The pure and beautiful birds that often flock near the sea and water sources.
And those rusted houses
The homes near the sea that have been weathered over time, taking on an orange-brown color due to exposure to salt and water.
The sea
The vast body of salt water that one can observe.
Has rocked them
The sea has the ability to gently move nearby structures and naturally occurring elements with its movements over time.
Along the clear bays
The beautiful and clear natural curves that bodies of water form on their periphery.
And with a love song
The beautiful, harmonious movements of the sea can create a calming, peaceful feeling of love and tranquility.
The sea
The vast body of salt water that one can observe.
Has rocked my heart for ever
The beautiful, transformative nature of the sea has the power to touch one's heart and soul in an everlasting way.
Contributed by Leo C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.