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.
Down On Me
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Credit cards stopped coming, my attorney's in jail
Just broke a law I never heard of before
Landlord thinks I'm made so he bust down my door
Used to think I was pretty damn smart
Smart enough to see I'm falling apart
I keep going down down down
It's all coming down on me
My little bit of self esteem has gone up in flames
Teenagers getting wealthy playing video games
The local beat cop keeps giving me that look
Don't even know what drugs I just took
The more I run the more I end up where I start
Stuck in the same place tearing myself apart
I keep going down down down
It's all coming down on me
I remember back in Waikiki
Doing the Limbo by the sea
"How low can you go?"
The cabana boys teased
Now I'm down on my knees
Can't keep this up But I hear it's worse to stop
If I dry out lay me to rest at the corner coffeeshop
I don't feel brave And I don't feel free
My only chance at winning is in the lottery
Used to see myself above it, Set myself apart
Now I'm stealing mini-vodkas from the Mighty Mart
I keep going down down
It's all coming down on me
In the lyrics of Madeleine Peyroux's song "Down On Me," the singer paints a vivid picture of their lives spiraling out of control. The first stanza describes a series of unfortunate events that have befallen the singer, from losing their job to facing legal troubles and financial struggles. The singer reflects on their past arrogance, thinking they were smart enough to avoid these pitfalls, but now they find themselves falling apart as their world crumbles around them. The repetition of "down down down" emphasizes the sense of continuous descent and overwhelming pressure that the singer is experiencing.
The second stanza delves deeper into the singer's emotional turmoil, as they lament the loss of self-esteem and the disparity between their struggles and the ease with which others seem to succeed. The mention of the local beat cop's judgmental gaze and the singer's confusion over their own actions and choices highlight a sense of alienation and self-destructive behavior. Despite their efforts to escape their circumstances, the singer feels trapped in a cycle of self-sabotage and despair, torn between a desire for change and a feeling of helplessness.
The reference to a past memory of carefree days in Waikiki juxtaposed with the current reality of being brought to their knees symbolizes the stark contrast between innocence and hardship. The act of doing the Limbo by the sea, once a playful and carefree activity, now serves as a poignant reminder of how far the singer has fallen. The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia for better times and a longing for a simpler existence, highlighting the singer's longing for escape from their current struggles.
In the final stanza, the singer contemplates their bleak future, acknowledging the destructive path they are on and the desperate measures they are willing to take to cope with their troubles. The singer grapples with feelings of fear, lack of courage, and a sense of entrapment, seeking solace in temporary distractions like alcohol and the hope of a miraculous lottery win. The imagery of stealing mini-vodkas from a convenience store encapsulates the desperation and moral compromise that the singer is willing to endure in their pursuit of relief. The repeated refrain of "down down" underscores the inevitability of their downward spiral and the mounting pressure that threatens to consume them completely.
Line by Line Meaning
My job's gone missing, insurance is a fail
I've lost my job and insurance doesn't cover my needs
Credit cards stopped coming, my attorney's in jail
My credit cards are maxed out and my lawyer is imprisoned
Just broke a law I never heard of before
I unknowingly committed a crime
Landlord thinks I'm made so he bust down my door
My landlord thinks I'm rich and forcefully entered my home
Used to think I was pretty damn smart
I used to believe I was intelligent
Smart enough to see I'm falling apart
Now I realize I'm crumbling
I keep going down down down
I continue to spiral downwards
It's all coming down on me
Everything is crashing on top of me
My little bit of self esteem has gone up in flames
My confidence has been destroyed
Teenagers getting wealthy playing video games
Youngsters are becoming rich through gaming
The local beat cop keeps giving me that look
The police officer keeps eyeing me suspiciously
Don't even know what drugs I just took
I consumed drugs without knowing their identity
The more I run the more I end up where I start
No matter how much I try to escape, I remain in the same place
Stuck in the same place tearing myself apart
Caught in a cycle of self-destruction
I remember back in Waikiki
Recalling a time in Waikiki
Doing the Limbo by the sea
Participating in the Limbo dance near the ocean
"How low can you go?"
The taunt of 'How low can you go?'
The cabana boys teased
The cabana boys made fun
Now I'm down on my knees
Now I'm in a desperate situation
Can't keep this up But I hear it's worse to stop
I can't continue like this, but stopping would be even more detrimental
If I dry out lay me to rest at the corner coffeeshop
If I sober up, bury me near the local cafe
I don't feel brave And I don't feel free
I lack courage and freedom
My only chance at winning is in the lottery
I have no hope except to win the lottery
Used to see myself above it, Set myself apart
I used to view myself as superior
Now I'm stealing mini-vodkas from the Mighty Mart
Now I'm resorting to stealing small bottles of vodka from the market
I keep going down down
I keep descending further
It's all coming down on me
Everything is crashing down around me
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Madeleine Peyroux
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
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