From the recording Sometimes I Wake Up Naked
About The Song
This is one of those ‘come out of nowhere’ songs. I was flipping through a magazine and my attention was caught by the name Madeleine. I have no idea why the name should have caught my eye like it did, or why it led to this song. The name did have a certain resonance and rolled off the tongue quite easily. It occurs to me now that the name has the added advantage of not being all that common, which hopefully won’t cause problems to the real Madeleine’s out there.
At the time, I had not been thinking about writing a song about child abuse, and yet the issue of child abuse certainly had a subconscious relevance to me. When I wrote the song I had been working in a local primary school with 5-10 year olds, and I was acutely aware of the risk that some child or adult might misinterpret an action or word on my part. The risk was constantly in the back of my mind, and it may be this that led to the song.
Personnel
JIM LESSES (vocal & guitar); JOHN MUNRO (lead guitar); DON HOLDERNESSE (bass guitar, keyboard); HUGH GORDON (violin); JANE BARR (vocal).
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Lyrics
Madeleine & The Devil
© 1999, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
Madeleine stands at the edge of the photo;
And quietly closes her eyes.
The Devil is playing at ‘Happy Families’;
Madeleine plays with the lies.
He smiles the craven look of the fallen,
Pretending that everything’s fine.
Madeleine skips off to play with the fairies
That wait in the back of her mind.
Madeleine lies in her bed under covers;
And quietly cries in the dark,
The Devil is creeping from out of his corner;
Carefully finding his mark.
Light from the street filters in through the window;
Shadows creep over the walls.
Madeleine slowly descends into nightmares,
As Devil is making his calls.
Chorus
And Madeleine is playing with teddy and friends,
Always afraid to ask, Why?
Wondering whether the nightmare will end.
Praying for Devil to die.
Madeleine looks at the tree through the window;
Flowers are starting to bud.
The Devil himself is now under the covers,
As Madeleine wipes away blood.
The sky is a river of thunder and lightning;
Rain with a venom it falls.
The Angel of Mercy is riding the thunder,
As Devil tip-toes down the hall.
Chorus
Madeleine whispers; Madeleine dances,
Madeleine hides behind dreams.
The neighbourhood children are having a party,
But Madeleine jumps at their screams.
The eyes of the child are losing their wonder,
Rainbows are lost behind clouds,
Rain is pouring like tears down the window,
The Devil fades into the crowd.
Last Chorus
And Madeleine is playing with teddy and friends,
Always afraid to ask, Why?
Wondering whether the nightmare will end.
Praying for Devil to die.
Praying for Devil to die.
Praying for Devil to die.