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.
River
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
The song River, originally written and performed by Joni Mitchell in 1971, tells the story of a person feeling out of place during the holiday season. As the city prepares for Christmas by cutting down trees, putting up decorations and singing joyous carols, the singer feels alone and disconnected from the happiness around them. In a moment of escape and reflection, they express the desire for a river to skate away on, a metaphor for a spiritual journey to find internal peace.
Madeleine Peyroux’s rendition of the song, featuring k.d. lang, keeps the original melancholic and introspective spirit of the lyrics. The singer, despite feeling lost and disconnected, finds comfort in their loved ones, particularly their partner, who tries to understand and support them even though they are “so hard to handle”. Unfortunately, the character’s inner conflicts and emotional struggles ultimately lead them to push their partner away and lose the best love they have ever known. The song’s use of seasonal images, such as Christmas trees and reindeer, contrasted with the singer’s sadness, reinforces the feeling of isolation and dislocation experienced by some during the holidays.
Overall, River is a poignant meditation on the complexities of the human heart, especially during the festive season, when societal pressures can heighten feelings of loneliness and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching
They're cutting down trees
People are preparing for Christmas by cutting down trees to decorate
They're putting up reindeer
Reindeer are being placed as decorations for Christmas
And singing songs of joy and peace
People are celebrating the holiday with music and positivity
I wish I had a river
The artist desires an escape from their current situation
I could skate away on
The singer imagines using a river for a peaceful retreat
But it don't snow here
The current location of the singer does not have the desired winter climate
It stays pretty green
The surroundings remain lush and vibrant, lacking the desired winter wonderland
I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist plans to seek financial security as a solution to their problems
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist desires to leave their current lifestyle behind once they have the means to do so
I wish I had a river so long
The singer yearns for an escape that is impressive in scale
I would teach my feet to fly
The artist imagines achieving the impossible if they could change their surroundings
I made my baby cry
The singer caused their loved one pain
He tried hard to help me
The singer's loved one attempted to support them through their struggles
You know, he put me at ease
The loved one's presence brought comfort and security to the singer
And he loved me so naughty
The artist's loved one expressed their affection playfully
Made me weak in the knees
The artist was overcome with emotion due to their loved one's attentions
I'm so hard to handle
The singer is aware of their own difficulties
I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer recognizes aspects of themselves that hinder their own happiness
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The artist regrets their actions that resulted in the loss of their loved one
That I ever had
The artist reflects on the significance of their loss
Oh I wish I had a river so long
The artist continues to yearn for an escape to a grand, peaceful location
I would teach my feet to fly
The singer imagines leaving their troubles behind if they could access such a place
I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's actions resulted in the end of their relationship with their loved one
I wish I had a river
The singer still desires an escape from their struggles
I could skate away on
The river represents a peaceful retreat that the singer longs for
It's coming on Christmas
The cycle of holidays and celebrations continues
They're cutting down trees
The traditions of the holiday season continue
They're putting up reindeer
Decorations are being put up in honor of the holiday
And singing songs of joy and peace
People continue to celebrate with music and positivity
I wish I had a river
The singer continues to hold on to their desire for escape
I could skate away on
The artist imagines experiencing peace and freedom if they could access a river
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!