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.
Was I?
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought I'd step out one night
I longed to get the thrilling life I've missed
I met a youth
A bit uncouth
Although he seemed alright
I knew him by the moment when we kissed
My girlfriend asked if I'd had fun I said,
"Was I drunk?
Was he handsome?
Did momma give me hell?
Did I get a thrill?
Am I full of quiver?
Was he rough?
Did I care?
Am I glad I fell?
Every time I think of him do I shiver?
Was he hot?
And was I?
And would he stand for maybe?
He would not?
Did I lie?
Does he still think I'm a baby?
If I was, am I still?
Do I care?
Don't be silly
Was I drunk?
Was he handsome?
And did momma give me hell?
Was I drunk?
Was he handsome?
Did momma give me hell?
With his hands loose as no refusin'
Did he fight?
Was I blue?
Almost shamed to tell
And I don't know yet the system he was usin'
Well I said, stop, please, behave!
Well what's the use of breathin'?
He said, give
So I gave
After all, what was I savin'?
Am I glad?
Holy gee,
Have I had fun, you're askin' me?
Was I drunk?
Was he handsome?
And did momma give me hell?"
The lyrics to Madeleine Peyroux's song "Was I" describe the internal monologue of a young girl who has gone out and had a sexual encounter with a boy she has just met. The girl is unsure of her feelings about the experience and asks herself a series of questions to try to understand her emotions. She wonders if she was drunk, if the boy was handsome, if her mother will be angry, if she got a thrill, and if she still cares about the boy. She also asks herself more probing questions about the nature of the encounter, such as whether it was consensual, whether the boy was rough, and whether she was ashamed.
The song captures the ambiguity and confusion that many young people feel after having sex for the first time. The girl is trying to make sense of her own feelings and reconcile the conflicting messages she has received about sex and relationships from society, her friends, and her family. She is both excited and scared, curious and ashamed, confident and vulnerable. Through her questions, she is searching for meaning and understanding, trying to figure out who she is and what she wants.
Overall, "Was I" is a powerful and poignant exploration of the complex emotions that accompany sexual awakening. It is a reminder that sex is not just a physical act, but a deeply emotional one, with consequences that can last a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet young thing of sixteen
I was a naive and inexperienced girl of sixteen.
Thought I'd step out one night
I decided to go out to explore the world.
I longed to get the thrilling life I've missed
I wanted to experience the excitement of life that I haven't had.
I met a youth
I encountered a young man.
A bit uncouth
He was rough around the edges.
Although he seemed alright
Despite his flaws, he appeared decent.
I knew him by the moment when we kissed
I felt a connection with him when we kissed.
Then I got home, next day with a swollen head
The next day, I woke up with a headache.
My girlfriend asked if I'd had fun I said,
My friend asked about my experience and I replied,
"Was I drunk?
"Did I consume alcohol?
Was he handsome?
Was he attractive?
Did momma give me hell?
Did my mother scold me?
Did I get a thrill?
Did the experience excite me?
Am I full of quiver?
Am I trembling with excitement?
Was he rough?
Was he forceful?
Did I care?
Did I have any concern?
Am I glad I fell?
Am I happy I took the risk?
Every time I think of him do I shiver?
Do I feel a rush of excitement whenever I think of him?
Was he hot?
Was he attractive?
And was I?
Was I appealing?
And would he stand for maybe?
Would he consider me as a potential partner?
He would not?
He rejected me?
Did I lie?
Did I deceive him?
Does he still think I'm a baby?
Does he consider me as immature?
If I was, am I still?
If I was inexperienced before, am I still that way?
Do I care?
Do I have any concern about that?
Don't be silly
That thought is ridiculous.
With his hands loose as no refusin'
He was very handsy and didn't take no for an answer.
Did he fight?
Did he resist me?
Was I blue?
Was I sad or regretful?
Almost shamed to tell
I'm almost embarrassed to admit it.
And I don't know yet the system he was usin'
I still don't understand his motives.
Well I said, stop, please, behave!
I asked him to stop and behave himself.
Well what's the use of breathin'?
What's the point of living if we don't take risks?
He said, give
He insisted that I give in to him.
So I gave
I relented and gave in to him.
After all, what was I savin'?
I thought to myself, what do I have to lose?
Am I glad?
Am I happy with my decision?
Holy gee,
Wow,
Have I had fun, you're askin' me?
Did I have a good time, you're asking me?
Was I drunk?
Did I consume alcohol?
Was he handsome?
Was he attractive?
And did momma give me hell?
Did my mother scold me?
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLIE FARRELL, CHICK ENDOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!