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.
If You Love Me
Melody Gardot Lyrics
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Tell my heart which way to go
Come in close but come in slowly, now
If you love me let me know
Other hearts may fly away
But my hope is that you'll stay
We're two weary hearts aglow now
Once the moon should take her bow
Maybe you'll find the words to say
Still I've often thought that words
Would only get into your way
So if you love me let me know
Tell my heart which way to go
Come in close but come in slowly, now
If you love me let me know
Once the moon should take her bow
Maybe you'll find the words to say
Still I've often thought that words
Would only get into your way
So if you love me let me know
Tell my heart which way to go
Come in close but come in slowly, now
If you love me let me know, mmm
If you love me let me know
If you love me let me know
The lyrics to Melody Gardot's "If You Love Me" allude to the uncertainty and ambiguity that comes with love. The singer invites their lover to let them know their true feelings so that they can navigate the relationship in the right direction. The repetition of the line "If you love me let me know" emphasizes the importance of communication in the relationship.
The singer recognizes that other hearts may fly away, but they hope that their lover will stay. The phrase "weary hearts aglow now" implies that although the relationship may be difficult, it still has the potential to flourish. The second verse suggests that the singer doesn't need words to know if their lover loves them; actions and affection speak louder than words. The final repetition of the chorus serves as a plea for their lover to not leave them in the dark but to provide clarity regarding their feelings.
Facts about the song:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
If you love me let me know
Please don't keep me waiting, let me know how you feel about me
Tell my heart which way to go
Give me direction, guide me to make the right choices in this relationship
Come in close but come in slowly, now
Come towards me, but in a gentle and cautious manner
Other hearts may fly away
Others may abandon me, but I hope you won't
But my hope is that you'll stay
I want you to be here with me, through thick and thin
We're two weary hearts aglow now
Though we may have been hurt before, our spirits are ignited by each other's presence
Once the moon should take her bow
When things seem to be at their worst and everything is falling apart
Maybe you'll find the words to say
Perhaps you'll express your emotions and thoughts more clearly
Still I've often thought that words
I've considered many times that words are not enough to express how we feel
Would only get into your way
Words can sometimes hinder communication rather than facilitate it
So if you love me let me know, mmm
Once again, I ask that you reveal your feelings to me
If you love me let me know
Don't leave me guessing, tell me if you truly love me
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Melody Gardot, Dadi Carvalho, Pierre Aderne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind