Madeleine Peyroux is a jazz singer who was born in 1974 in Athens, Georgia,… Read Full Bio ↴Madeleine Peyroux is a jazz singer who was born in 1974 in Athens, Georgia, USA, and raised in New York City and Paris, France. She is noted for her vocal style, which is highly reminiscent of Billie Holiday. Madeleine also has qualities similar to Ella Fitzgerald. Though Peyroux may remind some listeners of Holiday, there are differences, and she has her own sense of phrasing and interpretation.

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.

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
And make believe it came from you
I'm gonna write words, oh, so sweet
They're gonna knock me off my feet
Kisses on the bottom
I'll be glad I've got 'em

I'm gonna smile and say "I hope you're feelin' better"

And sign "with love" the way you do
I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
And make believe it came from you

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
And make believe it came from you
I'm gonna write words oh, so sweet
They're gonna knock me off my feet
Kisses on the bottom
I'll be glad I've got 'em

I'm gonna smile and say "I hope you're feelin' better"
And sign "with love" the way you do
I'm gonna sit right down write myself a letter

And make believe it came from you
And make believe it came from you

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" by Madeleine Peyroux is a classic tune that tells the story of a person who is missing their loved one so much that they decide to write a letter to themselves, pretending it came from that special someone. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, emphasizing the importance of the written word in connecting people even when they are physically apart. The singer promises to write sweeter words that will knock them off their feet and bring them joy, and to sign the letter "with love" just like their beloved would.

The phrase "kisses on the bottom" is particularly interesting as it has sparked some debate among music historians. Some believe it refers to a practice in the early 20th century where men would write love letters to their wives or girlfriends and sign off with a kiss on the bottom of the page. Others think it refers to a popular song by the same name from the 1930s. The ambiguity of the phrase adds to the charm and nostalgic feel of the song.

Overall, the song is a testament to the enduring power of love and the written word. Whether it's through a handwritten letter or a modern-day text message, people have always found ways to connect with each other across distances and time. The song's catchy melody and upbeat tempo make it a beloved classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
I will write a letter to myself

And make believe it came from you
And pretend like it came from you

I'm gonna write words, oh, so sweet
I will write very affectionate words

They're gonna knock me off my feet
These words will make me very emotional

Kisses on the bottom
There will be affectionate kisses included in the letter

I'll be glad I've got 'em
I will be happy to have those sweet words and kisses

I'm gonna smile and say "I hope you're feelin' better"
I will write a message saying I hope you are feeling better

And sign "with love" the way you do
I will sign off using the same 'with love' phrase you use

And make believe it came from you
And still pretend like it came from you

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Bluewater Music Corp., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Fred Ahlert, Joseph Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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