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.
Clementine
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born not to love
Like you and me
No one's ever seen her cry
But hidden in her eyes
There’s a whole wide see
Talks the moonlight into sleep
Wakes up slowly taking her time
She has no one to meet
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
Clementine reads all day long
Carries the world of someone unknown
Finds her castle
Sits on her throne
Then she is not alone
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
Clementine was born not to be
like you and me in the sense that she was not born to love. However, the lyrics suggest that she is not robotic, emotionless or incapable of love. Hidden in her eyes is a whole wide sea, indicating that she is not transparent, and there is more to her than meets the eye. Despite being born not to love, she reads all day long and carries the world of someone unknown. This suggests that she is empathetic and capable of understanding the emotions and stories of others. She finds her castle, sits on her throne and is not alone. This indicates that she has found her place and is comfortable in her own company.
The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is comfortable being alone, perhaps even enjoys her own company. Despite the absence of love, Clementine is not pitied nor is she judged. Instead, she is described as being a part of the sea, a part of you and me, indicating that she is just like any other person. The lyrics also suggest that Clementine is content with who she is and does not seek approval from others. She talks the moonlight into sleep and wakes up slowly, taking her own time, indicating that she is not in a rush to conform to societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Clementine was born not to be
Clementine was born without a specific purpose or destiny
Born not to love
She wasn't born with the capacity to love like we do
Like you and me
We were born with the ability to love, unlike Clementine
No one's ever seen her cry
Clementine doesn't often show her emotions to others
But hidden in her eyes
Her feelings are concealed underneath her gaze
There’s a whole wide see
There is a vast ocean of emotions inside her
Clementine walks around at night
She takes solitary walks during the night
Talks the moonlight into sleep
She comforts herself by talking to the moonlight
Wakes up slowly taking her time
She takes her time in the mornings to start her day
She has no one to meet
She doesn't have any appointments or obligations
Clementine reads all day long
She spends most of her time reading books
Carries the world of someone unknown
She carries the burdens and experiences of fictional characters
Finds her castle
She escapes into her imaginative world
Sits on her throne
She gains a sense of power and control in her fictional world
Then she is not alone
She finds companionship in her fictional world
No one wonders where she’s from
No one knows Clementine's background
If she's ever had someone of her own
It's unknown if she's ever had someone to love or connect with
She is just a part of the sea
Clementine is just one small part of the world, like everyone else
A part of you and me
She is a part of humanity and shares common experiences with others
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@azraaktas9323
LYRICS:
Clementine was born not to be
Born not to love
Like you and me
No one's ever seen her cry
But hidden in her eyes
There’s a whole wide see
Clementine walks around at night
Talks the moonlight into sleep
Wakes up slowly taking her time
She has no one to meet
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
Clementine reads all day long
Carries the world of someone unknown
Finds her castle
Sits on her throne
Then she is not alone
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
Clementine was born not to be
@luimperiano77
Muito linda vossa musica Luisa e Salvador. Estou encantada com tanta delicadeza, musicalidade, amor e harmonia.Parabéns de uma brasileira de Berlin.
@felipeeyer4481
Linda música, linda interpretação, linda voz e lindo arranjo!
@daveklipschjr9464
wow..... words can't really describe the artistry and beauty of this very talented lady..... amazing voice amazing artist.... Thank you I am now a huge fan!
@ivonapoleao3646
Too much beautiful! I'm a great fan and I'm very proud of you, Luisa and Salvador. Viva de Timor-Leste.
@diportugal8687
Obrigada Luísa pelos belos momentos que nos oferece. Espero que haja mais paises a ter a honra de entender o poema,.. porque a música essa não precisa de traduções, é universal. E o sentimento não tem nem cor nem forma...nem estilos. A Luísa, se abrir a boca e dela sair um grito, será musical com certeza...
@LosMonosDelFunk
Wonderful discover!!
It is incredible
@huldakolbrun
Just fantastic music! Come to Iceland with Salvador!
@rondeneef
bro und sis-- magic combina
@gabebabe1
Just discovered this - really beautiful and what a unique voice! Thank you
@azraaktas9323
LYRICS:
Clementine was born not to be
Born not to love
Like you and me
No one's ever seen her cry
But hidden in her eyes
There’s a whole wide see
Clementine walks around at night
Talks the moonlight into sleep
Wakes up slowly taking her time
She has no one to meet
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
Clementine reads all day long
Carries the world of someone unknown
Finds her castle
Sits on her throne
Then she is not alone
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
No one wonders where she’s from
If she's ever had someone of her own
She is just a part of the sea
A part of you and me
Clementine was born not to be