Her music is centered on her singing, in a fairly low register and a traditional bluesy-jazz style, and her piano playing, which is technically accomplished. Her repertoire includes many of her own compositions, but also a selection of standards drawn mostly from the classic-rock genre; examples include "Ode to Billie Joe," "A Taste of Honey," and "Black Magic Woman." She is known for her apparent above-average intelligence and vocabulary, which results in complex and witty lyrics. Her last album to date, Mythologies is a set of songs based on Ovid's Metamorphoses. In September 2008, Patricia is releasing "The Cole Porter Mix," a collection of Patricia's renditions of the Porter songbook along with three Barber originals inspired by Cole Porter.
Patricia Barber is a lesbian. Interviews with her suggests that she does not try to hide this fact, but that she 'tires' of the public interest in her sexuality – disliking the fact that it contributes to her fame.
Her albums Cafe Blue, Modern Cool, Companion, Nightclub, Verse have been reissued by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab on SACD and limited edition 45 rpm 1/2 speed mastered, 180 gram audiophile vinyl.
Morpheus
Patricia Barber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though my best sleep is dressed in black
Ample hours to dream, still I lack
Repose, and wander through the night
A drink or two, blackjack straight through
Till dawn, ever unrequited love
Nothing brings peace, Heaven above
Will you sing softly? Will you keep
Watch as the light begins to wane?
Steadfast and sweet, will you remain
God of my dreams, and let me sleep?
The song "Morpheus" by Patricia Barber delves into the singer's difficulty in finding rest and peace despite ample hours to dream. The first line reflects a sense of exhaustion and dissatisfaction with the harsh winter white which may symbolize sadness or emptiness. However, the phrase "my best sleep is dressed in black" throws the listener off with a paradoxical statement. Sleep is usually associated with rest and comfort, while black is commonly tied with mourning and darkness. This could suggest that the singer may have found solace in the darkness, or that they may be drawn to something bleak and mysterious.
Despite having enough time to dream, the singer still lacks repose and "wanders through the night." The reference to "a drink or two, blackjack straight through till dawn" reveals the singer's attempts to find peace and satisfaction through vices such as gambling and alcohol. However, nothing seems to provide the rest that the singer seeks, including religion as shown in the line "nothing brings peace, Heaven above." Ultimately, the singer calls upon Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, to provide them peaceful slumber.
The song's introspective nature and the contrasting images of black and white make it a poignant exploration of the beauty and sadness often found in the pursuit of peace and rest.
Line by Line Meaning
Downright tired in this winter white
I am completely exhausted in this cold and colorless winter.
Though my best sleep is dressed in black
Despite the fact that I usually sleep best when wearing black attire.
Ample hours to dream, still I lack
Even though I have plenty of time to sleep, I still do not have enough.
Repose, and wander through the night
I want to relax and explore my dreams throughout the night.
A drink or two, blackjack straight through
I will have one or two drinks and play blackjack until the morning.
Till dawn, ever unrequited love
Until the morning comes, I will be thinking about my unreturned love.
Nothing brings peace, Heaven above
I cannot find any peace or tranquility, not even in heaven.
Send Morpheus to me, for I am due
Please send the god of dreams, Morpheus, to me because I am in need of his help.
Will you sing softly? Will you keep
Can you please sing softly and continue to do so?
Watch as the light begins to wane?
Can you watch over me as the daylight slowly fades?
Steadfast and sweet, will you remain
Please continue to be unwavering and kind.
God of my dreams, and let me sleep?
Morpheus, the god of my dreams, please let me rest and fall asleep.
Contributed by Nathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.