Luísa Sobral. A voice, guitar, paper and pen. From this an entire musical u… Read Full Bio ↴Luísa Sobral. A voice, guitar, paper and pen. From this an entire musical universe is created in each composition. 24 years of open choices. Instinctive and expectant. «The Cherry on my Cake» is the fruit of all those possibilities. Songs full of images. Videos that are imagined for the rhythm of each song. It’s her first full-length album under in her own name, outcome of a musical journey that started at the early age of 12.

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.

I'll Be Home With You Tonight
Luísa Sobral Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you're not here
When you're miles away
I feel the world could fall apart

I sing this song
But in my heart
I'll be home before It's dark

When nothing's wrong
But nothing's right
When you're not here by my side

I'm all alone
But in my mind
I'll be home with you tonight

No one will know I disappeared
No one will notice I am gone
The wont believe I traveled far
To take my heart to where you are

And If I go
And take too long
If I'm there after the dawn

Wait for me

Cause in my mind
I'll be home with you tonight

Overall Meaning

Luísa Sobral's song, I'll Be Home With You Tonight, reveals a profound longing for a loved one's physical presence. When the significant other is miles away physically, the singer feels as though the whole world is falling apart. The first two lines of the song express this quite succinctly. The chorus continues with the singer's desperate desire to be with her loved one "before it's dark." Even though the person might not be present physically, she knows that she will be with them in her heart.

The second verse shifts away from the focus on the physical distance and deals more with emotions. The singer sings that she has reached a moment when "nothing's wrong, but nothing's right." The absence of the significant other makes the singer feel all alone. She takes comfort in the fact that she will be with her loved one from afar, in her mind. The bridge part of the song talks of the singer going to her loved one no matter how far it might be. She will disappear, and no one will notice she is gone. The song ends on a hopeful note with the singer asking the significant other to wait for her, for she will be with them tonight in her mind.

Lyrics Interpretation:
The song brings forth a sense of belongingness and a sheer longing for someone you love, missing someone very dear to you yet finding a way to be with them. The focus is on the emotions that one feels when away from a loved one. The song expresses that physical distance can be difficult, but the bond they share is strong enough to withstand it. The emotions conveyed through the lyrics are powerful and potent for anyone who has ever been away from a loved one.

Line by Line Meaning

When you're not here
In the absence of your physical presence

When you're miles away
Separated by a far distance

I feel the world could fall apart
My world seems incomplete without you

I sing this song
Expressing my feelings about being away from you

But in my heart
Deep down inside of me

I'll be home before It's dark
I'll come back to you while there's still daylight

When nothing's wrong
Everything appears fine

But nothing's right
Something is missing

When you're not here by my side
In your absence from my physical proximity

I'm all alone
Feeling lonely

But in my mind
Mentally