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.
Bird On The Wire
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a worm on a hook,
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I, if I have been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
I hope you know it was never to you.
Like a baby, stillborn,
Like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song
And by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
He said to me, "You must not ask for so much."
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?"
Oh like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Madeleine Peyroux's song "Bird on the Wire" is a cover of Leonard Cohen's classic song. In the song, the singer likens themselves to various things that are bound in some way but still strive for freedom. The singer says they have tried their best to be free but have been caught on a wire like a bird or hooked like a worm. The singer recognizes that they have hurt people and begs for forgiveness. They believe they will make it up to those they have harmed, swearing by the song itself and by all they have done wrong. Amidst these confessions, the singer meets two people who offer contrasting advice. A beggar tells them they cannot ask for too much, and a pretty woman encourages them to ask for more.
The song has a theme of inner turmoil and the desire for redemption. The singer acknowledges their past faults and looks towards a brighter future. Despite their mistakes, they have not lost the hope of being free.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a bird on the wire,
I feel exposed and vulnerable, like a bird perched on a wire.
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I feel lost and disoriented just like drunk people singing in a choir late at night.
I have tried in my way to be free.
I have attempted to find my own path to freedom.
Like a worm on a hook,
I feel trapped and helpless, just like a worm caught on a hook.
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have tried to live like a chivalrous knight from a classic tale.
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
I have reserved all my treasured belongings for the one I love.
If I, if I have been unkind,
If I have hurt you in any way,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
I hope you can forgive me and move on.
If I, if I have been untrue
If I have been dishonest to you,
I hope you know it was never to you.
Please understand that my disloyalty was never towards you.
Like a baby, stillborn,
I feel helpless and mournful, like the birth of a stillborn baby.
Like a beast with his horn
I feel aggressive and wild, like a horned animal.
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
I have pushed away anyone who tried to help me.
But I swear by this song
I promise,
And by all that I have done wrong
And by acknowledging all the mistakes I've made,
I will make it all up to thee.
I will make amends to you and set things right.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
I once encountered a beggar relying on a makeshift crutch,
He said to me, "You must not ask for so much."
He advised me not to be too demanding.
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
Also, I noticed an attractive woman lingering at her threshold,
She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?"
She encouraged me to not limit myself and to aim high.
Oh like a bird on the wire,
Once again, I feel exposed and vulnerable like a bird perched on a wire.
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
Once again, I feel lost and disoriented like drunk people singing in a choir late at night.
I have tried in my way to be free.
I have tried to achieve my freedom, but my journey is still ongoing.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!