Melody Gardot (b. 1985) is a Grammy-nominated U.S. jazz singer, writer, and… Read Full Bio ↴Melody Gardot (b. 1985) is a Grammy-nominated U.S. jazz singer, writer, and musician.

Born on the 2nd February 1985 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gardot took up piano and played as a youngster on the nightclub scene of Philadelphia, influenced by jazz, folk, rock, and pop musics. At the age of nineteen she was a fashion student at the Community College of Philadelphia. While cycling in Philadelphia in November 2003 she was hit by a car whose driver had ignored a red traffic light. In the accident she suffered serious head and spinal injuries, and her pelvis was broken in two places. Because of these severe injuries she was confined to her hospital bed for a year. Her musical beginning was prompted by a tending physician who was concerned with her cognitive impairment as a result of head injury sustained in the accident. He believed that music would help her brain injury improve, as it has been known to show remarkable results in improving people's cognitive ability after such trauma.

Following her doctor's suggestion, Gardot made recordings bedside, while still unable to walk, and eventually released the works as an EP: Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions (2005). Gardot's desire to be well, combined with a bit of luck, brought her to the attention of a local radio DJ at the AAA station WXPN (known for launching the careers of artists such as Amos Lee and Norah Jones). Her cognitive powers slowly but surely became pronounced, leading to the independent recording and release of her debut CD, Worrisome Heart, which was reissued in 2007 by Verve records.

Gardot is hypersensitive to light and noise, so wears dark glasses; she also uses a cane to walk. Onstage she requires a special seating unit, and wears a Transcutaneous Electro-Nerve Stimulator, a TENS device, to assist in alleviating her neuralgic muscle pain. Though touring is difficult, she has been performing in major cities on the East Coast of the U.S. to support her recordings. In 2009, working with producer Larry Klein and arranger Vince Mendoza - both known for their work with Joni Mitchell - Gardot followed up her Verve debut with My One and Only Thrill.

In 2012, she released the album The Absence.

Amalia
Melody Gardot Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well when you wake in the morning
Little eyes open wide
When there's no tender warning
No surprises, no surprise

Maybe your wing may be broken
Maybe you're learning to fly
Well so am I

Amalia, finding a way out on the open road
Amalia, going whichever way the wind gon' go
Amalia, taking your chances on the open sea
Amalia, open the breeze they're gonna carry me

Maybe fate, maybe reason
Made you fall from the sky
Like the tide, like the seasons
Ever changing, you and I

So where do you go when worry takes you?
Where do you go when somebody makes you cry?

Amalia, finding a way out on the open road
Amalia, going whichever way the wind gon' go

Amalia, taking your chances on the open sea
Amalia, such a funny little bird and you're now with me

Overall Meaning

In Melody Gardot's song Amalia, the lyrics speak of a little bird named Amalia who is learning to fly and taking chances on the open sea. The song begins by describing Amalia waking up with open, curious eyes and not necessarily knowing what the day will bring. There's no tender warning or surprises, but perhaps that's a good thing. Amalia may have a broken wing or may be learning to fly, and the singer acknowledges that they too are learning and growing.

The chorus repeats Amalia's name while painting a picture of her journey. She's finding her own way on the open road, going whichever way the wind may take her. She's taking chances on the open sea and embracing the freedom that comes with it. The singer compares Amalia's journey to the changing tide and seasons, ever shifting and evolving.

The song concludes with a question of where Amalia goes when worry or sadness takes over. However, despite any hardships, she's now with the singer and they'll face whatever comes together. Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a little bird bravely exploring the world, taking risks, and embracing the unknown. It's an encouragement to embrace change and find the courage to take risks, even if you may be a little broken or unsure along the way.

Line by Line Meaning

Well when you wake in the morning
Starting the day with fresh eyes

Little eyes open wide
Being observant to the world

When there's no tender warning
When there's no one around to guide you

No surprises, no surprise
With nothing unexpected happening in your life

Maybe your wing may be broken
Maybe something's holding you back

Maybe you're learning to fly
Maybe you're in the process of growing

Well so am I
I am also trying to grow and learn

Amalia, finding a way out on the open road
Taking risks and finding your path

Amalia, going whichever way the wind gon' go
Embracing the unknown

Amalia, taking your chances on the open sea
Going out into the world without fear

Amalia, open the breeze they're gonna carry me
Allowing myself to be guided by the universe

Maybe fate, maybe reason
Whether it was meant to be or not

Made you fall from the sky
Brought you into existence

Like the tide, like the seasons
Like the cyclical nature of life

Ever changing, you and I
Constantly growing and evolving

So where do you go when worry takes you?
What do you do when life overwhelms you?

Where do you go when somebody makes you cry?
How do you deal with emotional pain?

Amalia, finding a way out on the open road
Finding your path even in hard times

Amalia, going whichever way the wind gon' go
Letting go and trusting the universe

Amalia, taking your chances on the open sea
Taking risks and living fully

Amalia, such a funny little bird and you're now with me
A unique and interesting person who is now a part of my life

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HEITOR TEIXEIRA PEREIRA, MELODY GARDOT, PHIL ROY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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