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.
Lay Your Sleeping Head My Love
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Human on my faithless arm
Time and fevers burn away
Individual beauty from
Thoughtful children, and the grave
Proves the child ephemeral:
But in my arms till break of day
Let the living creature lie
The entirely beautiful
(Soul and body have no bounds:
To lovers as they lie upon
Her tolerant enchanted slope
In their ordinary swoon
Grave the vision Venus sends
Of supernatural sympathy
Universal love and hope
While an abstract insight wakes
Among the glaciers and the rocks
The hermit′s carnal ecstasy.)
Certainty, fidelity
On the stroke of midnight pass
Like vibrations of a bell
And fashionable madmen raise
Their pedantic boring cry:
Every farthing of the cost
All the dreaded cards foretell
Shall be paid, but from this night
Not a whisper, not a thought
Not a kiss nor look be lost
Beauty, midnight, vision dies:
Let the winds of dawn that blow
Softly round your dreaming head
Such a day of welcome show
Eye and knocking heart may bless
Find the mortal world enough
Noons of dryness find you fed
By the involuntary powers
Nights of insult let you pass
Watched by every human love
The lyrics to Madeleine Peyroux’s song, “Lay Your Sleeping Head My Love,” contain deep insights into love and death. The opening lines, “Lay your sleeping head, my love / Human on my faithless arm,” suggests the idea of mortality and vulnerability. The persona acknowledges that time and fevers take away individual beauty, leaving only ephemeral remains. However, that does not change the entirely beautiful nature of the living creature lying on the persona’s arm until daybreak. The persona may view the living creature as guilty and mortal, but, to him/her, love transcends all.
The second part of the song talks about the uncertainty of life and the fickleness of love. Certainty and fidelity may pass on the stroke of midnight, but the persona reminds us that we must cherish every moment, thought, and look as they may never come again. The idea of beauty, midnight, and vision dying also portrays the inevitability of death. The persona then calls on the winds of dawn to bring a new day that shows us enough of the world despite its mortality.
The third paragraph has a comforting tone as the persona implores the listener to be nourished by the involuntary powers during times of dryness. The persona also reminds us that every human love watches us during nights of insult. The lyrics emphasize how everyone experiences love and loss, no matter their station or class in life. In summary, “Lay Your Sleeping Head My Love” urges listeners to cherish every moment of life, love, and beauty, as it may all be fleeting.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay your sleeping head, my love
Come here and rest your head on me, my love.
Human on my faithless arm
You may rest on my arm even though I have been unfaithful.
Time and fevers burn away
The passage of time and hardships wear away one's individual beauty.
Individual beauty from
Everyone's beauty fades away due to time and difficulties.
Thoughtful children, and the grave
Even the most intelligent and thoughtful children will eventually perish.
Proves the child ephemeral:
The short-lived existence of children proves their ephemeral nature.
But in my arms till break of day
But for this moment, rest in my arms till morning.
Let the living creature lie
Let the alive and thriving creature rest.
Mortal, guilty, but to me
You may be a mere mortal and have your faults, but to me, you are entirely beautiful.
The entirely beautiful
You are entirely and purely beautiful despite your flaws.
Soul and body have no bounds:
The soul and body transcend all limitations and are boundless.
To lovers as they lie upon
For lovers in their intimate moments on the tolerant and enchanting landscape.
Her tolerant enchanted slope
The tolerant and magical hill upon which lovers lie.
In their ordinary swoon
In their typical yet intense emotional state.
Grave the vision Venus sends
The message that the Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus, conveys is profound.
Of supernatural sympathy
An otherworldly manifestation of compassion and understanding.
Universal love and hope
Love and hope transcend all barriers and are universal emotions.
While an abstract insight wakes
A sudden burst of abstract understanding arises.
Among the glaciers and the rocks
In a desolate and barren environment, glaciers and rocks.
The hermit’s carnal ecstasy.)
The sexual pleasure of a reclusive person.
Certainty, fidelity
The assurance and faithfulness of the heart.
On the stroke of midnight pass
At the stroke of midnight, they vanish.
Like vibrations of a bell
Just like the sound waves produced by a bell.
And fashionable madmen raise
Trendy and foolish people cry out.
Their pedantic boring cry:
A cry that is tiresome and lacks knowledge.
Every farthing of the cost
The complete price of something.
All the dreaded cards foretell
All the ominous signs predict that things will take a turn for the worse.
Shall be paid, but from this night
Everything will be paid starting from tonight.
Not a whisper not a thought
No words or thoughts must be shared about this private moment.
Not a kiss nor look be lost
Not a single kiss or gaze should be forgotten.
Beauty, midnight, vision dies:
The beauty, night, and vision fade away into obscurity.
Let the winds of dawn that blow
Let the gentle wind of dawn surround you.
Softly round your dreaming head
Gently enveloping your head as you sleep.
Such a day of welcome show
Such an inviting and pleasing day will be welcomed.
Eye and knocking heart may bless
The sight and feelings within ones heart may be blessed.
Find the mortal world enough
One may find satisfaction in the finite world they live in.
Noons of dryness find you fed
Even during the dull times, you will find satisfaction.
By the involuntary powers
By the uncontrolled and unconscious forces of nature.
Nights of insult let you pass
Pass through the times of disappointment or offense.
Watched by every human love
Being observed by all people who feel love and compassion.
Writer(s): Lennox R Berkeley, Wystan Hugh Auden
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!