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.
Fickle Dove
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always dreaming of the sky above
Wonder when they′ll bring the one you love
To you
When you coo
For the one who only coos for you
Your feathers heed no calling to
When they woo to love
For all you want is fate
To make
The one who'd call you mate
He′s late
But he's heard every song
Every word
That any other lover would choose
So here's to love
And any fickle dove who′ll do
You wait
For all you want is fate
To make
The one who′d call you mate
He's late
But he′s heard every song
Every word
That any other lover would
Would choose
So here's to love
And any fickle dove who′ll do
The lyrics to Madeleine Peyroux's song Fickle Dove are a poetic ode to the longing and hope that is inherent in love. The fickle dove is a metaphor for a person who is endlessly dreaming of that special someone who will complete them. The dove waits and coos for their mate, hoping that fate will bring them together. The dove's feathers "heed no calling" when others try to woo them, as they are focused solely on finding their true love.
The repetition of "you wait" and "he's late" emphasizes the bittersweetness of love, as it can be an agonizing wait for the right person. The line "he's heard every song, every word" suggests that the dove's intended mate is aware of their love and is listening for their call.
Overall, the lyrics speak to the universal experience of longing for love and the often-unpredictable nature of fate when it comes to matters of the heart. The song is a beautiful tribute to the hope that keeps us all searching for that special someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Fickle dove
The bird that constantly changes its mind.
Always dreaming of the sky above
Always thinking about the limitless possibilities.
Wonder when they'll bring the one you love
Hopeful and longing for the arrival of their true love.
To you when you coo
Your love song deserves a response.
For the one who only coos for you
Your true love will only respond to your love song.
Your feathers heed no calling to when they woo to love
Other suitors are not important because your true love will find you.
You wait
Patience in waiting for true love.
For all you want is fate to make the one who'd call you mate
Hoping that destiny will bring the perfect partner for life.
He's late
The true love has not arrived yet.
But he's heard every song every word that any other lover would choose
The true love has heard all the love songs other suitors could sing, but none are you.
So here's to love and any fickle dove who'll do
Cheers to love and anyone who will suffice if true love doesn't arrive.
Writer(s): Jenny Scheinman, Madeleine Peyroux
Contributed by Christian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!