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.
The Way Of All Things
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never wanted to
Never learned how
As others do
It was me who′d sigh
Was me who's ask
And I′m guessing me
Who writes this (?)
Maybe that is the way of all things
The way that a glance carries romance
On the quiet of strings
The way that you dance
The way that you sing
Maybe that is the way of all things
It's someone else's night
It′s someone else′s air
Someone else's right
Someone else′s prayer
I hear a whisper close
Pull myself away
And when I speak a name
I thought I'd never say
Maybe that is the way
Of all things
They way that all hopes
Play their jokes
And have their sting
And the way that you dance
The way that you sing
Maybe that is the way of all things
Whatever way all things must go
Maybe better we never know
Maybe that is the way
Of all things
The way that our plans fake (?)
So faithfully bring
It′s the way that you dance
The way that you sing
Maybe that is the way of all things
The lyrics to Madeleine Peyroux’s song “The Way Of All Things” reveal a sense of resignation and acceptance towards life’s vicissitudes. Starting with how the singer has never thought or learned as others, the song deals with the realization that many things in life are beyond our control, and that this may just be how “all things” are. The singer reflects on how even romance is a product of fate or chance, alluding to the idea that we may have less control over the affairs of the heart than we might think. Similarly, the impersonal pronouns like “someone else’s” and “something else’s” are used to convey the idea that despite feeling a sense of separation and alienation, there is some common destiny that connects all of humanity. The song ends on a sobering note, with the recurring idea that we may never know what lies ahead, but that we must embrace life as it unfolds, with all its surprises and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I never thought I would
I never thought I would experience this.
Never wanted to
I never wanted to experience this.
Never learned how
I never learned how to deal with this.
As others do
As others normally deal with situations like this.
It was me who'd sigh
It was me who would breathe a deep, audible breath to show sadness or relief.
Was me who's ask
It was me who was making a request.
And I'm guessing me
And I am assuming that it is me.
Who writes this (?)
Who wrote this is uncertain.
Maybe that is the way of all things
Perhaps this is just how life goes for everyone.
The way that a glance carries romance
The way that a brief look can be filled with romantic feeling.
On the quiet of strings
Through the sound of a soft musical instrument.
The way that you dance
The way you move your body rhythmically in time to music.
The way that you sing
The way you use your voice to produce musical notes in a pleasing way.
It's someone else's night
Today is a special occasion for someone else.
It's someone else's air
Someone else is the focus of attention.
Someone else's right
Someone else has the privilege.
Someone else's prayer
Someone else is hoping for something, and it is not me.
I hear a whisper close
I hear a soft, hushed sound nearby.
Pull myself away
I remove myself from the situation.
And when I speak a name
And when I say a person's name.
I thought I'd never say
I never thought I would ever mention this person.
Maybe that is the way of all things
Maybe this is just how life is for everyone.
The way that all hopes
The way that all expectations or desires.
Play their jokes
Can be a source of amusement or disappointment, depending on the outcome.
And have their sting
Can also be painful when they don't come to fruition.
Whatever way all things must go
However, fate may dictate the course of events.
Maybe better we never know
Perhaps it is better not to know what the future holds.
The way that our plans fake (?)
The way our plans can deceive us.
So faithfully bring
Even though we make them with the best of intentions.
Writer(s): Madeleine Peyroux
Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!