The empathy with the musical instruments started with the guitar. It was with the guitar that she realised were the chords of her parent’s music come from. From The Beatles and from many others. And it was on an early age that she gave herself to the unique melodies that the jazz immortalized. The capacity of a melody to stand by itself, without the instruments. She embraced such artists as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzerald, Chet Baker, and many others and with them in her heart she set off to the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, USA, to study music. In her 4 year stay in Boston she was nominated for the «Best Jazz Song» at the Malibu Music Awards (2008); «Best Jazz Artist» at the Hollywood Music Awards ; «International Songwriting Competition» (2007) and «The John Lennon Songwriting Competition» (2008).
More than being nominated or completing her studies, Luísa was also discovering herself every year that went by. Her musical identity would further develop in New York, where she moved after finish her degree in Boston (2009). In her bags a lot of what would eventually give shape to songs that where already wandering inside her head. Hers and her mother’s who confessed to her she had dreamed that her first album would be called «The Cherry on My Cake». Maternal magic that made a dream come true.
The learning of the jazz standards, the practice done by playing a Brazilian music in bars and the stamina of her creativity all filtered into songs that would either gain live in paper or in chords. One after another. Well thought melodies with images inside. «I Would Love To», «Don`t Let Me Down», «Why Should I», among other songs that came together in an EP («My Funny Clementine»). The emphasis on the starting theme was obvious: «Not There Yet». A triple time rhythm, like a jazz waltz, colorful, an imposing chorus and violins in heaven. The record composition wasn’t to become limited to the English language. Between trips to and from Portugal, Luisa performed at the Super Bock Super Rock festival in Stock 2009. At this gig she mentions how much she would like to have a song in Portuguese. Upon her return to the States Luisa sketches a poem and melody for “O Engraxador” (the shoe shine man). That is followed by “Xico and Dolores”. For the upcoming record the will for a Portuguese cover song was still very much present. Nobody would be better to fill this part than Rui Veloso, artist that Luisa’s father listens to insistently. Luisa registers Carlos Te’s lyric and tries a different version of “Saiu para a Rua”.
«The Cherry on my Cake» is the result of all of this: of the person who dreams to live in Paris - totally inspired by French cinema. Result of the hectic New York vibe, of the familiar affection for Lisbon. From Regina Spektor to Elis Regina. From Billie Holiday to Bjork. From the 50’s to ingenuousness. From sound to image. From voice and talent: “I have a good life” she concludes.
After All
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And after all there's no reason to be sad
There's no reason to cry anymore
'Cause after all you're home
After all we're finally together
But after all I miss you more than ever
And we sit here and pretend
'Cause after all you're home
I see only the past in your eyes
How I wish, how I wish they were alive
How I wish those same eyes
Could recognize me
After all I look into those eyes
And after all I do realize
That I still feel alone
But after all you're home
I see only the past in your eyes
How I wish, how I wish they were alive
And I still cry on my own
But after all you're home
Luísa Sobral's song "After All" is a melancholic reflection on reuniting with a loved one who has been away for some time. The song explores the conflicting emotions that arise in realizing that the person has returned, but the relationship has changed. The opening lines, "After all you come back, and after all there's no reason to be sad, there's no reason to cry anymore, 'cause after all you're home" express relief at the return of the person, but the emotion is subdued; there is no longer a need to cry or feel sad, yet there is still an underlying sense of melancholy.
The second stanza continues with the paradoxical emotions of the singer, who is happy to be reunited with the loved one but misses them more than ever. They sit and pretend that everything is fine, and that "this isn't the end". But while the loved one is physically present, the relationship is over. The line "But after all you're home" serves as a bittersweet consolation, as the singer is thankful for the loved one's return but still feeling lonely.
In the final stanza, the singer notices that the eyes of the loved one only reflect the past. She wishes that those eyes could see her as they once did, and the final lines "But after all you're home" and "And I still cry on my own" illustrate the ambivalent feelings that arise in a failed relationship- the loved one is physically present, but emotionally absent, and the singer has to find a way to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
After all you come back
Despite whatever happened, you have returned
And after all there's no reason to be sad
There is no reason to feel unhappy anymore
There's no reason to cry anymore
There is no reason to shed tears anymore
'Cause after all you're home
Because, ultimately, you are with us and where you belong
After all we're finally together
Finally, we are in each other's company once again
But after all I miss you more than ever
No matter what, I still yearn for your presence deeply
And we sit here and pretend
We are trying to hide our true feelings
This isn't the end
We will not let this be our final goodbye
'Cause after all you're home
Because, ultimately, you are with us and where you belong
I see only the past in your eyes
I see a reflection of what was before in your gaze
How I wish, how I wish they were alive
I long for the presence of those who have since departed
How I wish those same eyes
I miss those who used to look at me with those eyes
Could recognize me
I wish they could remember who I am
After all I look into those eyes
Despite everything, I still meet your gaze
And after all I do realize
I understand more deeply now
That I still feel alone
I am still without companionship
But after all you're home
Despite my loneliness, I am still grateful you returned
I see only the past in your eyes
I can only reminisce when I see those same eyes
How I wish, how I wish they were alive
I long for the presence of those who have since departed, yet again
And I still cry on my own
I still find myself shedding tears when I am by myself
But after all you're home
Nevertheless, I am comforted knowing you are now with us
Contributed by Austin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.