Blue Alert
Peyroux Madeleine Lyrics
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Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
She comes so close
You feel her then
She tells you No and No again
Your lip is cut on the edge of her pleated skirt
Visions of her drawing near
Arise, abide, and disappear
You try to slow it down
It doesn't work
It's just another night I guess
All tangled up in nakedness
You even touch yourself
You're such a flirt
Blue Alert
You know how nights like this begin
The kind of knot your heart gets in
Any way you turn is going to hurt
There's perfume burning in the air
Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
Blue Alert
She breaks the rules so you can see
She's wilder than you'll ever be
You talk religion but she won't convert
Her body's twenty stories high
You try to look away, you try
But all you want to do is get there first
Blue Alert
You know how nights like this begin
The kind of knot your heart gets in
Any way you turn is going to hurt
There's perfume burning in the air
Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
Blue Alert
Blue Alert...
The lyrics to Peyroux Madeleine’s song “Blue Alert” describe a tense and sexually charged encounter between two people. There is a sense of danger and excitement in the air as the singer describes the scent of perfume and bits of beauty everywhere, juxtaposed with the image of shrapnel flying and a soldier hitting the dirt. The woman in the song is described as coming very close but then telling the singer “No” repeatedly, even as he cuts his lip on the edge of her pleated skirt.
The lyrics then move into a description of the singer’s inner thoughts and feelings. He envisions the woman drawing near and then disappearing, and tries to “slow it down” but is unsuccessful. There is a sense of inevitability and danger in his words as he describes being “tangled up in nakedness” and touching himself. The chorus repeats the image of perfume burning in the air and bits of beauty everywhere, but with the addition of the phrase “blue alert,” which underscores the sense of tension and danger that pervades the song.
Overall, “Blue Alert” is a masterful blend of sensual imagery and intense emotional and physical sensations. The lyrics hint at a deep psychological and existential struggle that is playing out between the two people, as well as within the singer himself. The song is a testament to Peyroux’s skill as a songwriter and storyteller and is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the thrill and danger of a charged encounter.
Line by Line Meaning
There's perfume burning in the air
The scent of desire is all around.
Bits of beauty everywhere
Beauty is present but disrupted by chaos.
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
The realities of violence and destruction are present.
She comes so close
The temptation is present and strong.
You feel her then
The tantalizing feeling of desire leaves an impression.
She tells you No and No again
The object of desire resists and denies.
Your lip is cut on the edge of her pleated skirt
The sharp edge of reality cuts through the fantasy of attraction.
Blue Alert
The warning signs of impending trouble are present.
Visions of her drawing near
The allure of temptation grows stronger.
Arise, abide, and disappear
The object of desire seems to come and go.
You try to slow it down
Attempting to resist temptation and slow the pace of desire.
It doesn't work
Resistance is futile.
It's just another night I guess
The cycle of temptation and denial repeats itself.
All tangled up in nakedness
Desire brings vulnerability and exposure.
You even touch yourself
The depth of desire is powerful and consuming.
You're such a flirt
Engaging in temptation with no intention of following through.
You know how nights like this begin
Experiencing the familiar pattern of temptation and desire.
The kind of knot your heart gets in
The internal struggle of desire and resistance.
Any way you turn is going to hurt
There may be no escaping the pain of unfulfilled desire.
She breaks the rules so you can see
The exhilaration of temptation and danger is too tempting to resist.
She's wilder than you'll ever be
The object of desire is exciting and dangerous.
You talk religion but she won't convert
Attempting to rationalize desire but ultimately failing to resist.
Her body's twenty stories high
The power of desire looms large and overwhelming.
You try to look away, you try
Resisting temptation and looking elsewhere.
But all you want to do is get there first
The overwhelming desire drives one to seek fulfillment.
Blue Alert
The warning signs of impending trouble are present.
There's perfume burning in the air
The scent of desire is all around.
Bits of beauty everywhere
Beauty is present but disrupted by chaos.
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
The realities of violence and destruction are present.
Blue Alert
The warning signs of impending trouble are present.
Blue Alert...
The cycle of temptation and desire continues, with no resolution in sight.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANJANI THOMAS, LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind