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.
Some Lessons
Melody Gardot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a miracle that I'm alive
I do not think I can survive
On bread and wine alone
To think that I could have fallen
A centimeter to the left
Would not be here to see the sunset
Or have myself a time
Well why do the hands of time
So easily unwind
Some lessons we learn the hard way
Some lessons don't come easy
That's the price we have to pay
Some lessons we learn the hard way
They don't come right off and right easy
That's why they say some lessons learned we learn the hard way
Remember the sound of the pavement
World turned upside down
City streets unlined and empty
Not a soul around
Life goes away in a flash
Right before your eyes
If I think real hard well I reckon I've had some real good times
Well why do the hands of time
So easily unwind
Some lessons we learn the hard way
Some lessons don't come easy
That's the price we have to pay
Some lessons we learn the hard way
They don't come right off and right easy
That's why they say some lessons learned we learn the hard way
The lyrics to Melody Gardot's song, "Some Lessons" speaks about the fragility of life and how things can unravel in just a moment. Gardot expresses gratitude for being alive following a near-death experience. She sings about how even the smallest shift in circumstances could've led to her not being here to see the sunset and have some good times. The first verse shows how deeply she feels this, "Well I'm buckled up inside/It's a miracle that I'm alive/I do not think I can survive/On bread and wine alone." The second verse tells us about how she is reflecting on her life and the moments that make it worth living. "Remember the sound of the pavement/World turned upside down/City streets unlined and empty/Not a soul around" demonstrates how she is able to see the beauty in life even through tough times.
The song's chorus, "Some lessons we learn the hard way/Some lessons don't come easy/That's the price we have to pay/Some lessons we learn the hard way/They don't come right off and right easy/That's why they say some lessons learned we learn the hard way," is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful and profound lessons come from our struggles and hardships. The repetition in the lyrics also emphasizes the importance of these lessons and how they are not easily forgotten.
In conclusion, Melody Gardot's "Some Lessons" is a moving celebration of life and the appreciation for the lessons that come our way. Through her song, she reminds listeners to take a moment and appreciate life's ups and downs, as they are all valuable experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm buckled up inside
I am emotionally and mentally restrained, trying to hold myself together.
It's a miracle that I'm alive
I have survived instances in the past that could have taken my life away.
I do not think I can survive
Without something to hold on to, it seems like I might not make it anymore.
On bread and wine alone
I need something more substantial in my life than just the bare minimum.
To think that I could have fallen
Reflecting on how close I was to losing my life and all that I have.
A centimeter to the left
Just a slight variation, a small change that could have resulted in a drastic outcome.
Would not be here to see the sunset
I could have missed out on some of the beautiful moments in life if things had gone differently.
Or have myself a time
I would not have had the chance to enjoy my life and the simple pleasures in it.
Well why do the hands of time
Why does time seem to pass quickly and uncontrollably?
So easily unwind
Time moves on so quickly, and I cannot control how it slips away so fast.
Some lessons we learn the hard way
Sometimes, the only way to learn and grow is through difficult experiences.
Some lessons don't come easy
Learning some of life's lessons takes time and patience, and it is not always easy.
That's the price we have to pay
Experiencing difficult times and hardship is the cost of learning and growing.
They don't come right off and right easy
Learning life's lessons cannot be rushed or easily obtained. It takes time and resilience.
That's why they say some lessons learned we learn the hard way
The difficult lessons are the ones that truly stick with us and teach us enduring life skills.
Remember the sound of the pavement
I recall the noises and occurrences of the past that molded me.
World turned upside down
A major life event that caused my world to completely flip and change.
City streets unlined and empty
The absence of a familiar environment and routine.
Not a soul around
Being alone and facing the harsh reality of life on my own.
Life goes away in a flash
Life can seem to be incredibly short and fleeting, and it is important to make the most of it.
Right before your eyes
Taking a moment to step back and appreciate the world around us before it passes us by.
If I think real hard well I reckon I've had some real good times
Looking back on my life, I realize that I have had some amazing moments to treasure and cherish.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MELODY GARDOT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raven Meadows
Ohh... Well I'm buckled up inside
miracle that I'm alive
do not think I can survive
On bread and wine alone
To think that I could have fallen
A centimeter to the left
Would not be here to see the sunset
Or have myself a time
(refrain)
Well why do the hands... of time............
Soooooooooo easily unwind.......... ummmm
Some lessons we learn the hard way
Some lessons don't come easy
And that's the price we have to pay..ohhh
Some lessons we learn the hard way
They don't come right off and right easy
That's why they say some lessons learned we learn the hard way
Remember the sound of the pavement?
World turned upside down....
City streets unlined and empty
Not a soul around..ooohhh
Life goes away in a flash
Right before your eyes........
If I think real hard well I reckon
I've had some real good times...........
Why do the hands of timeeeeeee...
So---oooh easily unwind? ummmmmmm
Some lessons we learn the hard way
Some lessons don't come easy
And that's the price we have to pay.. ohhh well
Some lessons we learn the hard way
They don't come right off and right easy
That's why they say some lessons learned.... we learn the hard way fa-dah.. fa-dah....
MsJrzy
I love this whole album...she’s brilliant ❤️
Thomas Shevlin
I can relate to this song in ways most people couldn't even imagine. Love it but it gets me teary eyed.
michael sharp
Thomas Shevlin
I too was hit by a car at age 19 while riding my BICYCLE. I relate to this song on the same level as Melody. Our injuries were different but just as debilitating. Every song since this song is an inspiration to me!
yahighness
love this song. love her voice. love her story.
Amanda Amorim
a miracle of life and an immense beauty of music....🥰
larouroute
Quelle chanson magnifique et surtout quand on connaît le sens d texte. En ce moment je regarde la pluie et cette chanson me vide la tête. De toute façon dès que j'ai envie de m'évader je mets ce genre de chanson. MERCI Melody
aurore-colette gladu
Je ne connaissais pas ! c'est doux et mélodieux, j'aime !
Małgorzata Kowalczyk
rewelacyjne! :O)
Charles Haynes
Listening again in 2021... This girl was on my ipod for that smokey bluesesque sound of hers. "Some lessons you learn the hard way" hard words, hard times make you grow...
A nice lounge filled with smoke and music sounds
fantastic right now...
🤭 Socially distanced of course.
parisbrat
Listening in November, 2021. Long time ago, I was a victim of a violent crime. My emotional injuries haunt me still. This song calms me...reminds me that I'm a survivor.