"Labour", her most popular track to date and a viral hit, was released in March 2023.
"UK singer songwriter Paris Paloma channels the experience of womanhood into her songwriting, speaking to the female experience, grief, love, death, and power. Her songwriting reads like poetry, drawing inspiration from figures throughout mythology, art history and the Romantics. Ranging from the tender and heartbreaking to the sublimely aggressive and vengeful. Her ethereal sound takes influences from dark pop, folk, and indie genres; creating a magical discography that evokes something primal and innately feminine." - Nettwerk Music
Notre Dame
Paris Paloma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's cold up here
Between walls of stone
I made my home
And the air hangs
Heavy with the incense
Feathers fall from pigeons
Cooing in the tower
I rarely go down there
The view is just so beautiful from here
And I can see everybody at their worst points
At their worst points
I′m not a sadist I enjoy just being able be witness
Of the loneliness and be a higher power
In case there isn't one
In case there isn't one
I′m not a higher power
I just live in the ceiling, cause I′m lonely
On the fringes and it gives
My life some meaning in my exile
In my exile
The grey light filters through roof slats
And the flagstones glow
Red from the stained glass
A hundred feet below
And I tiptoe
Creaking over prayers
Pleading with their maker
Crying at the choir
I'm not immune to the sincerity below me
Makes me feel it makes me holy
But through tears I understand that I do not belong
I watch the figures all the saints
But mostly sinners come and go
And some are desperate but
The others have this sense of certainty
And how it hurts me
Some only turn towards the heavens
When the end is feeling desperate
Have the overwhelming feeling that
There′s nobody who's looking down
At least I′m looking down
The song "Notre Dame" by Paris Paloma is a hauntingly beautiful ode to loneliness and the desire for meaning. The lyrics describe a person who has made their home in the rafters of the famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, France. From their perch, the singer observes the world below them and reflects on the beauty of being able to witness the darkest moments of people's lives.
The opening lines set the scene - it's cold and the walls are made of stone. The singer has found solace in their solitude and appreciates the view from the rafters. They can see people at their most vulnerable and this brings a sense of power and meaning to their life. However, despite this feeling of being a higher power, the singer is also keenly aware that they are just a lonely person living in the ceiling.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the sincerity and desperation of the people below them. They watch as sinners and saints alike come and go, some seeking solace in the heavens, while others feel there is no one looking down on them. The singer feels a sense of kinship with the people they observe, but also acknowledges that they do not truly belong in the world below.
Overall, "Notre Dame" is a hauntingly beautiful song that explores themes of loneliness, power, and connection. The image of the singer living in the rafters of the famous cathedral adds to the sense of mystique and longing present throughout the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m in the rafters looking down
I am in the high ceiling, observing the actions of the individuals below
It's cold up here
The rafters have a severe and cold temperature
Between walls of stone
My home is contained in the midst of sturdy, unyielding walls
I made my home
I reside in this place, away from society
And the air hangs
The atmosphere includes a lingering feeling
Heavy with the incense
The air is intense with fragrances
Feathers fall from pigeons
Bird feathers float down from the rafters
Cooing in the tower
The birds vocalize with soft murmurs
I rarely go down there
I seldom leave my perch
The view is just so beautiful from here
The perspective from my spot is quite stunning
And I can see everybody at their worst points
I see individuals when they are emotionally, mentally, or physically low
At their worst points
I see them during their hardest and most challenging moments
I’m not a sadist I enjoy just being able be witness
Although I am not cruelly entertained by others' troubles, I find gratification from observing them
Of the loneliness and be a higher power
I feel powerful and significant from seeing other people's loneliness
In case there isn't one
In situations where there may not exist a God or higher being
I’m not a higher power
I am not an almighty being
I just live in the ceiling, cause I’m lonely
My isolation leads to me living in the ceiling
On the fringes and it gives
Living on the outskirts of society furnishes me with something
My life some meaning in my exile
My banishment from normalcy gives my life purpose
The grey light filters through roof slats
Dim light diffuses through the openings in the roof
And the flagstones glow
The flat stones on the ground floor radiate light
Red from the stained glass
The red hue of the stained glass permeates the area
A hundred feet below
The ground stands a hundred feet beneath me
And I tiptoe
I walk quietly and carefully
Creaking over prayers
The sound of the prayer echoes from below
Pleading with their maker
The prayer requests guidance from God
Crying at the choir
The choir's singing moves the prayer to tears
I'm not immune to the sincerity below me
The genuineness from the people below me resonates with me
Makes me feel it makes me holy
Feeling their sincerity influences me to feel religious
But through tears I understand that I do not belong
As tears roll down my cheeks, I realize that I am not a part of them
I watch the figures, all the saints
I observe the different people, including the holy ones
But mostly sinners come and go
The majority of individuals I see are people who sin
And some are desperate but
There are people who are overwhelmed
The others have this sense of certainty
Another group has a feeling of sureness
And how it hurts me
The impenetrable beliefs disturb me
Some only turn towards the heavens
There are people who only pray when they desire something
When the end is feeling desperate
During their last resort, when they are in dire need
Have the overwhelming feeling that
Feeling that there is an overpowering force
There’s nobody who's looking down
Believing that no one is watching their actions
At least I’m looking down
At the very least, I am with them in some way
Writer(s): Paris Paloma
Contributed by Ellie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Me
on the fruits
this song is about women being treated as objects and not people, existing to serve men. It isn’t about lovers. Theres no enjoyment for the singer- it’s a feminine rage song . The below interpretation misses the point of the song. This singer isn’t relishing anything or experiencing lust or temptation, she’s speaking of the oppression and objectification of women.
The lyrics of Paris Paloma's "The Fruits" revolve around the concept of temptation and the idea of surrendering oneself to sin. The song's title and the first few lines of the opening verse are references to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, who are tempted by the serpent into eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, leading to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The singer is addressing her lover, asking if he's the devil, indicating that her attraction to him is dangerous and sinful but irresistible. She expresses her willingness to worship him rather than God and her blasphemous thoughts that prevent her from going to confession, for she is too busy committing sins.
As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal the singer's inner turmoil, as she grapples with the conflict between her carnal desires and religious beliefs. She admits to being the original sinner and forsaken by God, but she finds solace in her lover's embrace. The lyrics are a metaphor for the idea of transgression and the appeal of sin, which is often portrayed as irresistible, even for the faithful. The song's chorus is a repetition of the opening verse, further emphasizing the singer's obsession with her lover and her willingness to embrace her sinful desires.