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 a 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.
The song "Bird on a Wire" by Madeleine Peyroux uses vivid imagery to depict the struggles of someone who is desperately trying to break free from the constraints of society. The singer compares herself to a bird on a wire, a drunk in a midnight choir, a worm on a hook and a knight from an old-fashioned book. These metaphors suggest the feeling of being trapped and used against one's will, but also the willingness to endure this suffering in order to be free. The singer acknowledges her own flaws, admitting to being unkind and untrue, but she also promises to make up for it all in the end.
The mood of the song is melancholy, yet hopeful. The singer's voice is soft and soothing, but her words carry a deep sense of sadness and longing. The line "I have saved all my ribbons for thee" suggests that the person the singer is addressing is very important to her, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. The final verse introduces two characters – a beggar and a pretty woman – who offer contrasting perspectives on life. The beggar advises the singer to be content with what she has, while the pretty woman encourages her to ask for more. The singer seems to be torn between these two viewpoints, unsure of how to find the balance between wanting more and accepting what she already has.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a bird on the wire,
I feel trapped and powerless, unable to escape my circumstances.
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I feel lost and alone, surrounded by others who are also struggling.
I have tried in my way to be free.
I have attempted to find my own path towards freedom and independence.
Like a worm on a hook,
I have willingly allowed myself to be controlled and manipulated by others.
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have held onto ideals of chivalry and honor, even when they are not practical in the modern world.
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
I have devoted myself to someone who may not appreciate or deserve my love and attention.
If I, if I have been unkind,
I acknowledge my past mistakes and regret the pain I may have caused others.
I hope that you can just let it go by.
I ask for forgiveness and understanding from those I have wronged.
If I, if I have been untrue
I admit to being dishonest, but clarify that my actions were not intentional or hurtful towards a specific person.
I hope you know it was never to you.
I reassure someone who may have felt betrayed by me that they were not the target of my dishonesty.
Like a baby, stillborn,
I feel like something important to me has died before it had a chance to fully develop or grow.
Like a beast with his horn
I feel powerful and aggressive, but also dangerous and unpredictable.
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
I unintentionally hurt those who try to help or support me because I am unable to accept their kindness or love.
But I swear by this song
I make a promise or vow to right my wrongs and become a better person.
And by all that I have done wrong
I acknowledge and take responsibility for my past mistakes and transgressions.
I will make it all up to thee.
I pledge to make amends and rectify the harm I have caused in the past.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
I observed someone who has very little but still manages to find joy and hope in life despite their struggles.
He said to me, "You must not ask for so much."
The beggar advises me not to be greedy or demanding and to appreciate what I already have in life.
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
I encountered someone who is outwardly attractive and seems to have everything, but may be struggling or unhappy behind closed doors.
She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?"
The woman encourages me to pursue my dreams and desires, despite the risks or obstacles involved.
Oh like a bird on the wire,
I continue to feel trapped and vulnerable, but also hopeful that I will one day be free.
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!