Between The Bars
Peyroux Madeleine Lyrics
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Stay up all night
Things you could do
You won't, but you might
The potential you'll be
You'll never see
Promises you'll only make
And forget all about
Pressure of days
Do what I say
And I'll make you okay
And drive them away
Images stuck in your head
People you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Drink up, baby
Look at the stars
And I'll kiss you again
Between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there
With your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught
Drink up one more time
And I'll make you mine
And keep you apart
Deep in my heart
Separate from the rest
Where I like you the best
Keep the things you forgot
The people you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
The first verse of Peyroux Madeleine's song, "Between The Bars" opens with an invitation to a loved one to let their guard down and drink up. The singer promises to take away the pressures and stresses of daily life and make everything okay. However, the second verse suggests that this person may have a history of unresolved hurts and issues- people from their past they'd rather not deal with anymore. The singer promises to help keep those things at bay, to make them still- out of sight, out of mind.
The chorus of the song is a tender moment of affection between the two lovebirds- the singer kisses the person as they look up at the stars together. The bars of the song's title here could be interpreted both literally and figuratively- as the metal bars surrounding a drinking establishment or as the figurative barriers keeping them apart. The singer promises to make this person theirs, to keep them safe and separate from the rest of the world, in their own little cocoon of bliss.
Overall, "Between The Bars" is a song about the promise of love and the desire to escape the pressures and stresses of daily life. It touches on themes of addiction, escapism, and promises that we make to ourselves and others as we navigate the complexities of our emotions and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Drink up, baby
Let's have a drink, my dear
Stay up all night
Let's stay up late and have fun
Things you could do
You have so many options
You won't, but you might
You're hesitant, but you might try
The potential you'll be
You have so much potential
You'll never see
But you don't even realize it
Promises you'll only make
You make promises you can't keep
Drink up with me now
Let's have a drink together
And forget all about
Let's forget our worries
Pressure of days
Our everyday problems
Do what I say
Trust me and follow my lead
And I'll make you okay
I'll make everything okay for you
And drive them away
I'll help you forget your troubles
Images stuck in your head
Your troubling memories
People you've been before
Those you've had bad experiences with
That you don't want around anymore
Who you don't want to be associated with
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
Those who resist your control
I'll keep them still
I'll make sure they don't bother you anymore
Look at the stars
Let's appreciate the beauty around us
And I'll kiss you again
I'll show you affection once more
Between the bars
Here, in this place
Where I'm seeing you there
Where I'm envisioning you
With your hands in the air
With excitement and anticipation
Waiting to finally be caught
Waiting for someone to love and cherish them
Drink up one more time
Let's have one more drink
And I'll make you mine
I'll make you mine and only mine
And keep you apart
I'll keep you separate from the rest of the world
Deep in my heart
In my innermost being
Separate from the rest
You are different from everyone else
Where I like you the best
Where I love you the most
Keep the things you forgot
Don't worry about your troubles and forget them
The people you've been before
Those who have hurt you in the past
That you don't want around anymore
Those you want to forget and move on from
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
Those who resist your attempts at control
I'll keep them still
I'll make sure they don't bother you anymore
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vanessam954
Drink up, baby, stay up all night
With the things you could do, you won't but you might
The potential you'll be that you'll never see
The promises you'll only make
Drink up with me now and forget all about
The pressure of days, do what I say
And I'll make you okay and drive them away
The images stuck in your head
People you've been before that you
Don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Drink up, baby, look at the stars
I'll kiss you again, between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there, with your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught
Drink up one more time and I'll make you mine
Keep you apart, deep in my heart
Separate from the rest, where I like you the best
And keep the things you forgot
People you've been before that you
Don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
@stuartkane9828
A rare cover that adds to the original. Smith's original has the connection to his own personal experience but there's an intensity and speed to his version that's replaced by a more sultry insidiousness and in Peyroux's seductive version.
@nicolaowen7376
Stuart Kane rag bone man
@peachespulaski5981
@@nicolaowen7376 spot on
@booklover-hu9tw
yeah exactly love this cover sm
@sercastamere9853
I personally love this version the most of all I've heard. I originally listened to it on repeat whilst reading "Strawberry Spring" by Steven King late into the night. The misty atmosphere and the sounds of swinging gates in this song mixed perfectly with the story, as did the melancholy music. Great memories.
@Waverer
The smooth sexy voice of Madeleine and the emotionally grappling songwriting genius of Elliott. Cool mix
@MadamFoogie
No End House brought me here. Truly lovely.
@corialicetales5249
same
@247sapphire
i used to hide in the storage loft at the place where I used to work, listen to this song and cry.
@dickervasti
Love this! Raw, visceral, compelling, and elegant. I'm inspired.