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.
Darling Fare Thee Well
Melody Gardot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What is this bitter taste?
Where is that warm embrace I loved
I thought that I had found?
Oh, my love
What happened to your heart?
Weren't you the one who started upThis fire in my veins?
What of us remains?
What's waiting 'round the bend?
In Melody Gardot's song "Darling Fare Thee Well," the lyrics portray a sense of longing and disappointment in a romantic relationship. The singer addresses their beloved, expressing confusion and sadness over the changes that have occurred. The opening line, "Oh, my love, what is this bitter taste?" suggests that something has soured in their relationship, leaving a bitter feeling behind. The singer wonders why the warmth and affection they once cherished have disappeared, leaving them feeling lost and abandoned.
The next lines, "What happened to your heart? Weren't you the one who started up this fire in my veins?" further emphasize the singer's confusion and hurt. They question how their partner's feelings could have changed so drastically when it was initially their partner who ignited their passion and desire. The lyrics convey a sense of betrayal and longing for the love that was once shared.
The final lines, "What of us remains? What's waiting 'round the bend?" reflect the singer's uncertainty about the future of their relationship. They are left wondering if anything can be salvaged and if there is any hope for reconciliation. The lyrics leave the listener with a sense of unresolved questions and the realization that sometimes even the most promising love can fade away.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, my love
My dear, beloved one
What is this bitter taste?
Why do I feel this unpleasant, sour sensation?
Where is that warm embrace I loved
Where is the affectionate hug that brought me comfort and joy?
I thought that I had found?
I believed I had discovered it and it was within my grasp
Oh, my love
My dear, beloved one
What happened to your heart?
What caused your heart to change or become distant?
Weren't you the one who started up
Weren't you the person who initiated and ignited
This fire in my veins?
This intense passion or fervor within me?
What of us remains?
What is left of our relationship or connection?
What's waiting 'round the bend?
What lies ahead in the future, just out of sight or beyond the current moment?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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