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.
On My Own
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hit the floor, crack the door
And what do I see?
Strange kid standing there
Who is that in the mirror
Could it be me?
Someone opens the bedroom door
Someone's crossing my kitchen floor
Wasn't there somebody I loved
Who lived here before?
Oh, what am I missing here
Oh, something has disappeared
'Cause I'm all alone
Like a leaf that's blown
Into the great unknown
On my own
Stumbling down the stairs
Run my hands through my hair
What did I say that night?
Old friend weren't you with me then
Promising to hold me tight
Outside where the day is bright
But nothing is real
I wander the city streets
Trying to remind myself
How it felt to feel
Oh, what am I missing here
Oh, something has disappeared
'Cause I'm all alone
Like a pebble thrown
Into the great unknown
On my own
Maybe I'll change my style
Try to be nice for a while
Paint on a sincere smile
Get in touch with my inner child
Oh, something is missing here
Oh, something has disappeared
'Cause I'm all alone
Like a bird that's flown
Into the great unknown
On my own
The lyrics of Madeleine Peyroux's song "On My Own" tell the story of someone who wakes up in a new day but feels lost and disconnected from their surroundings. Even their own reflection in the mirror feels unfamiliar. Throughout the song, they describe a sense of missing something, something that has disappeared. They stumble down the stairs, trying to remember what happened the night before, wondering where a person they loved who used to live there has gone. As they wander through the city streets, they try to remind themselves of how it felt to feel. They consider changing their style or being nicer in an effort to connect with others, but ultimately they remain alone, like a leaf blown into the great unknown or a bird that has flown away.
The lyrics evoke a sense of loneliness and isolation that many people can relate to, especially during times of transition or change. The imagery of the strange kid in the mirror and the person walking through the kitchen floor who used to be loved suggests the sense of loss and disconnection that can come with moving on from a relationship or a familiar place. The repetition of the phrase "something is missing here" emphasizes the sense of emptiness and longing that the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Come to, the day is new
Waking up to a new day
Hit the floor, crack the door
Getting out of bed and opening the door
And what do I see?
Questioning what is seen
Strange kid standing there
Observing a stranger
Who is that in the mirror
Questioning one's own reflection
Could it be me?
Wondering if the reflection is oneself
Someone opens the bedroom door
Noticing someone entering the room
Somebody wanders the hall
Hearing someone walking in the hallway
Someone's crossing my kitchen floor
Hearing someone in the kitchen
Wasn't there somebody I loved
Reflecting on a lost loved one
Who lived here before?
Questioning who previously inhabited the space
Oh, what am I missing here
Questioning what is absent
Oh, something has disappeared
Feeling something is lost
'Cause I'm all alone
Feeling isolated
Like a leaf that's blown
Feeling directionless
Into the great unknown
Facing uncertainty
Stumbling down the stairs
Moving clumsily
Run my hands through my hair
Touching one's own hair
What did I say that night?
Recalling past events
Old friend weren't you with me then
Wishing for companionship
Promising to hold me tight
Remembering a comforting promise
Outside where the day is bright
Noticing the bright daylight
But nothing is real
Feeling disconnected
I wander the city streets
Walking aimlessly
Trying to remind myself
Attempting to jog memory
How it felt to feel
Recalling past emotions
Maybe I'll change my style
Considering personal change
Try to be nice for a while
Making an effort to be kinder
Paint on a sincere smile
Putting on a façade
Get in touch with my inner child
Seeking a return to childlike innocence
Oh, something is missing here
Feeling incomplete
Oh, something has disappeared
Feeling something significant is gone
'Cause I'm all alone
Feeling lonely
Like a bird that's flown
Feeling lost and adrift
Into the great unknown
Facing the unfamiliar
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian Macleod, David Francis Baerwald, Larry Klein, Madeleine Peyroux, Patrick Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TeoTalks
This is a masterful, warming, and insightful song.
Josefo Ludovico
Extraordinaria Madeleine, que voz, que canciones en inglés o francés, irresistible.
asha s
Extraordinaire Madeleine Peyroux 👍💝
Lina Doran
I love it ! Thank you for this beautiful song :)
Claudia Alvaran
I ❤️ it. 👏 Congrats 👏 Madeleine!!!
Rose S
Love it! Just heard of you on BBC Radio 3 where conductor Jonathon Heyward spoke of his love of your voice and music. I am now a fan too! :) <3
Laura stoian
Love it ❤️❤️❤️
Terry Feally
This one of my favorite songs from Madeleine.
Sam Coy Tanger
VERY GOOD SINGER! I was at her last show in S.Paulo, Brazil. Her band: Great musicians! She confessed, she is a BRAZILIAN high-class music, Bossa Nova!s fan", of course!
R BF
Ésto es ARTE 👌💙