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.
As The Night Comes Along
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a smile and a dozen roses
And as she whistles a song
She's all alone, she doesn't notice
She makes his coffee talks to him softly
Laughs at his hair but there's no one there
She sleeps alone but holds his hand
Although he can't understand
The next day she'll still pretend
She'll make his coffee talk to him softly
Laugh at his hair but he won't be there
She'll make his coffee talk to him softly
Laugh at his hair but he won't be there
She wakes up every day
With a smile and a dozen roses
The lyrics of Luísa Sobral's "As The Night Comes Along" depict a poignant and melancholic tale of a woman who is trapped in a delusion of a fictional relationship. The opening lines describe her daily routine of waking up with a smile and a dozen roses, suggesting a sense of happiness and contentment. However, as the verse progresses, it becomes apparent that she is living in a world of her own creation, as she whistles a song and interacts with an imaginary partner that only she can see.
The second verse delves deeper into the woman's solitary existence, emphasizing her connection to this invisible companion through small gestures like making his coffee and talking to him softly. Despite her efforts to engage with this illusion, the reality remains starkly clear - there is no one physically present beside her. This contradiction between her constructed reality and the harsh truth of her loneliness creates a sense of tragedy and sadness in the song.
The chorus, "And as the night comes along, she sleeps alone but holds his hand," highlights the woman's desperate attempt to cling to the illusion even in her moments of vulnerability and isolation. The imagery of holding hands with an absent partner signifies her deep longing for companionship and love, even if it is only a figment of her imagination. The repetition of the line "He can't understand" further underscores the disconnect between her fantasy and the real world.
The closing lines of the song bring the narrative full circle, as the woman continues her daily routine of waking up with a smile and a dozen roses, perpetuating the cycle of deception and loneliness. The repetition of the actions like making his coffee and laughing at his hair serves as a painful reminder of her unfulfilled longing for a presence that will never truly be there. Overall, "As The Night Comes Along" paints a poignant portrait of a woman lost in a world of make-believe, seeking solace in an imaginary love that will forever remain out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
She wakes up every day
Despite feeling alone, she puts on a brave face every morning
With a smile and a dozen roses
She tries to find joy in small gestures, like giving herself flowers
And as she whistles a song
She tries to distract herself from her loneliness with music
She's all alone, she doesn't notice
She is in denial about her solitude, avoiding facing it head-on
She makes his coffee talks to him softly
She maintains the routine of caring for him, even though he is no longer there
Laughs at his hair but there's no one there
She holds on to memories of their shared moments, finding comfort in them
And as the night comes along
When the day ends, her loneliness becomes more pronounced
She sleeps alone but holds his hand
In her dreams, she still clings to their connection, even if it's not real
Although he can't understand
Her love and longing for him remain unreciprocated
The next day she'll still pretend
She continues to deceive herself, living in a fantasy rather than facing reality
She'll make his coffee talk to him softly
Her routine gives her a sense of normalcy, even if it's built on illusion
Laugh at his hair but he won't be there
Despite her efforts, he will never return to fill the void in her life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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