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.
California Rain
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can hear the summer calling
Far away, far away
A song that's fading
Put me on a plane tomorrow
I'll try to run from all my sorrow
Far away, far away
It's so cold here without my sun
I'm so sad here, far away from everyone
What a fool to be ambitious
Moving here with all of my wishes
Far away, far away
From where my heart is
Shut the phone off and pack my bags
No more boys who boast and brag
Far away, far away
Where I belong
I'm so sorry for some things I've done
I'll be lonely till I can see my only one
California rain keeps falling
I can hear my old love calling
Far away, far away
Where I started
I'm going back, back where I belong
Gonna catch a train
I gotta get back where I belong
Get back...
The lyrics of Madeleine Peyroux's song California Rain is a poignant expression of a longing for home and for a love that was left behind. The song speaks of the loneliness and sadness that comes with being away from everything that is familiar and comforting. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with a mournful description of the falling rain, which serves as a metaphor for the singer's tears. She can hear the "summer calling" from far away, and the song that she used to know is now "fading".
The second verse is a plaintive plea to be taken away from the misery of her current situation. She is willing to go anywhere to get away from her sorrows, even if it means leaving behind everything and everyone that she knows. She acknowledges that she made a mistake by leaving her home, and now she is paying the price.
The final verse is a declaration of her intention to return to where she belongs. The repetition of the phrase "where I belong" emphasizes her deep need to be back where she feels she is loved and appreciated. The final line, "I gotta get back where I belong", is a passionate cry that reflects the singer's determination to make things right.
Overall, the lyrics of California Rain can be seen as an expression of homesickness, longing, and regret. The rain serves as a powerful symbol of sadness and separation, while the singer's yearning for home and love is palpable throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
California rain is falling
It is raining in California.
I can hear the summer calling
The rain reminds the singer of the summer season.
Far away, far away
The singer is physically far away from where they want to be.
A song that's fading
The singer's memory of the place they want to be is fading.
Put me on a plane tomorrow
The singer wants to leave as soon as possible.
I'll try to run from all my sorrow
The singer hopes that leaving will help them escape their problems.
From endless waiting
The singer is tired of waiting for things to improve.
It's so cold here without my sun
The singer is missing someone important, referred to as 'my sun'.
I'm so sad here, far away from everyone
The singer feels lonely and isolated where they are.
What a fool to be ambitious
The singer regrets being too ambitious and leaving where they belonged.
Moving here with all of my wishes
The singer left their previous place with high hopes and dreams.
Shut the phone off and pack my bags
The singer is ready to disconnect from their current situation and leave.
No more boys who boast and brag
The singer wants to leave behind negative people they have encountered.
Where I belong
The singer has a specific place in mind where they feel they truly belong.
I'm so sorry for some things I've done
The singer has some regrets about their past behavior.
I'll be lonely till I can see my only one
The singer is missing someone important, referred to as 'my only one', and knows they will feel lonely until they can see them again.
California rain keeps falling
It is still raining in California.
I can hear my old love calling
The singer is reminded of a past love due to their current situation.
Where I started
The singer wants to go back to where they began, in more ways than one.
I'm going back, back where I belong
The singer has made the decision to go back to the place where they feel they truly belong.
Gonna catch a train
The singer has practical plans to get to where they need to go.
I gotta get back where I belong
The singer feels a strong sense of urgency to return to where they belong.
Get back...
The song ends abruptly, indicating the singer's strong desire to take action and get back to where they belong.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JESSE HARRIS, LARRY KLEIN, MADELINE PEYROUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!