Peyroux started singing at the age of fifteen, when she discovered street musicians in the Latin Quarter in Paris. She joined a group called the Riverboat Shufflers, first passing round the hat, and then singing. At sixteen she joined the The Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band, spending two years touring Europe performing songs by the likes of Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and others, which provided the basis for her first album, Dreamland.
Dreamland was released in 1996, and gained widespread attention. Time called it "the most exciting, involving vocal performance by a new singer this year". Dreamland, is a brilliant recording, as Peyroux's distinctive voice is not hindered by overly intricate arrangements. Most of the accompaniment on the record is light and sparse, the way it should be for a singer with such a unique voice. Peyroux soon found herself opening for Sarah McLachlan and Cesária Évora, and made appearances at jazz festivals and on the Lilith Fair tour.
In May 2002 she joined multi-instrumentalist William Galison, and together they appeared at such venues as the Bottom Line, Joe's Pub, and the Tin Angel. In 2003 the duo released a seven-song EP entitled Got You on My Mind, which they sold at shows and online. Got You on My Mind was re-released by William Galison in August 2004; the original EP was expanded by the addition of four tracks by Gallison.
Peyroux released her own sophomore effort, Careless Love, in September 2004. The album received generally positive reviews.
Her new album, Half the Perfect World, was released on September 12, 2006. She collaborated with several artists, including Jesse Harris, Walter Becker, Larry Klein (who also produced the album), and K.d. lang, with whom Peyroux duets on a cover of the Joni Mitchell song, "River".
On July 12, 2007, she was awarded Best International Jazz Artist at the BBC Jazz Awards.
Between The Bars
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stay up all night
Things you could do
You won't, but you might
The potential you'll be
You'll never see
Promises you'll only make
And forget all about
Pressure of days
Do what I say
And I'll make you okay
And drive them away
Images stuck in your head
People you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Drink up, baby
Look at the stars
And I'll kiss you again
Between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there
With your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught
Drink up one more time
And I'll make you mine
And keep you apart
Deep in my heart
Separate from the rest
Where I like you the best
Keep the things you forgot
The people you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
In the song "Between the Bars" by Madeleine Peyroux, the lyrics suggest a relationship between two people where one person is trying to convince the other to stay up all night and drink with them. The singer acknowledges that the other person has potential that they may not see, and promises to make them okay and drive away the negative images in their head. The song is essentially about escapism - using alcohol to forget about the pressures of daily life and the negative people from the past.
The chorus is particularly poignant, as the singer encourages the other person to look at the stars and kisses them "between the bars," which could represent the barriers or limitations that are holding them back from achieving their goals. The other person is depicted as being ready to be caught, as if they are waiting for someone to take them away from their current situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Drink up, baby
Let's have a drink or two, sweetheart
Stay up all night
Let's stay awake for as long as we want
Things you could do
You have choices and opportunities
You won't, but you might
You could take the chance, but you're scared
The potential you'll be
You have so much you could become
You'll never see
You may not have the confidence to reach your potential
Promises you'll only make
You'll make promises that may be hard to keep
Drink up with me now
Let's share a drink together
And forget all about
Let's put aside any worries or problems
Pressure of days
The stress and strain of everyday life
Do what I say
Trust in me and follow my lead
And I'll make you okay
I'll take care of you and make you feel safe
And drive them away
I'll help you forget your troubles and worries
Images stuck in your head
Memories or thoughts that won't go away
People you've been before
Your past mistakes or relationships
That you don't want around anymore
You want to move on from your past
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
Your past is controlling and difficult to escape
I'll keep them still
I'll help you let go of your past and find peace
Look at the stars
Let's appreciate the beauty of the night sky
And I'll kiss you again
I'll show you affection and love
Between the bars
In this moment, between our drinks and the night sky
Where I'm seeing you there
I'm imagining this scene with you here
With your hands in the air
Drinking and letting go of your problems
Waiting to finally be caught
Looking for someone to take care of you and make you feel safe
Drink up one more time
Let's have one more drink together
And I'll make you mine
I want to make you mine, to take care of you and love you
And keep you apart
Keep you safe and away from any dangers or troubles
Deep in my heart
I'll hold you close and cherish you
Separate from the rest
We'll find happiness away from any negative people or experiences
Where I like you the best
I love you and want to be with you always
Keep the things you forgot
Forget your past mistakes and only focus on the good times we'll have together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jane Castellani
Best copy!! Love her ♥️
hawk2million
It's so good isn't it. Can't get enough of this song.
Valentin Peralta
Maravillosa canción. Quise verte en un recital aqui y no pudo ser.
Nike is a Greek Goddess
That damn vibrato of yours is as haunting as always.
Silvio Nobre
✨❤️🌹
Annikat
Lovely
rummi72
Jazz with a capital letter.