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.
Quiet Fire
Melody Gardot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my hand do with it what you will
I'm in dire need
Cause'
All I want is somebody to love me like I do
All I want is somebody to love me like I do
And I, no I don't understand
Cause'
All I want is somebody to love me like I do
All I want is somebody to love me like I do
Well you can call me half crazy call me certifiably nuts
All for love
What do you get for letting me win so easily?
Put up your dukes baby what are you made of?
This isn't right no this isn't right you know that
I'm not one to fuss but what have you done to me you hardly
Make love to me now oh my poor hearts about to bust right out of its seams
Cause'
All I want is somebody to love me like I do
All I want is somebody to love me like I do
The song "Quiet Fire" by Melody Gardot is a poignant ballad with a deep emotional commentary on love, relationships and the challenges that come with it. The opening line "I'm burning up quiet fire" perfectly captures the intense passion and yearning for love that the singer feels, but cannot express. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and loneliness as the singer asks to be loved and held. The line "Take my hand do with it what you will, I'm in dire need" illustrates how the singer is willing to surrender herself to love and take a chance at a deep connection, even if it means risking heartbreak.
As the song continues, the singer laments a failed relationship. The line "You walk away nothing left to say but bye, bye blue eyes" shows how the singer feels abandoned and confused by the lack of closure or understanding. The line "All I want is somebody to love me like I do" is repeated throughout the song, underscoring the need for mutual love and understanding in a relationship. The singer's frustration is palpable as she says, "This isn't right, you know that I'm not one to fuss but what have you done to me you hardly make love to me now, oh my poor heart's about to bust right out of its seams." The song ultimately expresses the need for love to be reciprocated in a relationship, making a profound commentary on the human condition and the universality of this need.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm burning up quiet fire
I am experiencing an intense, suppressed passion
Take my hand do with it what you will
I surrender control to you and trust you to handle me as you see fit
I'm in dire need
I have an urgent longing or desire
Cause' All I want is somebody to love me like I do
This is the reason for my passionate expression and need for a partner who reciprocates my love
You walk away nothing left to say but bye, bye blue eyes
You leave without explanation, leaving me with only the memory of your blue eyes
And I, no I don't understand
I am unable to comprehend your sudden departure
Well you can call me half crazy call me certifiably nuts
You may consider me irrational or unstable, but my love remains steadfast
All for love
My actions and emotions are driven solely by my love for you
What do you get for letting me win so easily?
You may question why I am easily won over, but love is not a game to me
Put up your dukes baby what are you made of?
I challenge you to show your true character and strength in love
This isn't right no this isn't right you know that
Something feels wrong or off in our relationship, and you are aware of it
I'm not one to fuss but what have you done to me you hardly Make love to me now oh my poor hearts about to bust right out of its seams
I am not usually one to complain, but I feel neglected and my heart is overwhelmed with emotion
Cause' All I want is somebody to love me like I do
My desire for a reciprocating love remains the driving force behind my emotions
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MELODY GARDOT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind