She was born in Hampshire and has lived in Devon, Brighton and London. She is of Finnish descent.
Hackman went to Bedales School where she met Cara Delevingne. Together they formed a short-lived band where Hackman played drums and Delevingne played guitar and sang.
Johnny Flynn also studied at the same school and knew and appreciated Hackman's music. He was instrumental in getting her first record deal with Transgressive and produced her debut single.
In 2013 she toured Australia and Europe as an opening act for Laura Marling
Deep Green
Marika Hackman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doesn't mean I'll jump in
The water's clean and warm and green
I'm not allowed to swim
I'm scared of getting in
Batteries and Holy Ghosts
Buried in my bag of bones
She said they would help me to grow
Said feeding the stomach is feeding the soul
Spider web and harlequins
Wrapped around your sticky wings
It's pretty but it's hurting like hell
Cause I know that I'm unwell
My body's made of shell
And I know that you can tell
Beat me at my own damn game
Fucking with my goddamn brain
Now I will never win again
Better to love than to have and to hold
I heard that you like to swim
Doesn't mean I'm gonna jump in
But I'll put on my swimming set
Cause I know I'm going to get wet
I know I'm going to get wet
I know I'm going to get wet
The song "Deep Green" by Marika Hackman is a deeply reflective piece that delves into themes of love, fear, and self-preservation. The opening lines, "Just because I love your skin / Doesn't mean I'll jump in / The water's clean and warm and green / I'm not allowed to swim / I'm scared of getting in" reveal a reluctance to fully commit to love, even when it seems alluring and inviting. The metaphor of the deep green water implies that the love is deep and passionate, but the singer is held back by their own fears and insecurities.
The next line, "Batteries and Holy Ghosts / Buried in my bag of bones" suggests that the singer has carried a lot of emotional baggage in their life. The use of batteries and holy ghosts as symbols shows contrasting ideas of power and spirituality, and it is implied that these things have weighed the singer down in some way. The next line, "She said they would help me to grow / Said feeding the stomach is feeding the soul" could be interpreted as a wise person's advice to the singer, encouraging them to find sustenance and growth in their emotional life, like one finds in food that nourishes the body.
The remainder of the song delves further into the singer's emotional state, using vivid imagery and metaphor to describe their feelings of vulnerability, hurt, and uncertainty. The lyrics, "Spider web and harlequins / Wrapped around your sticky wings / It's pretty but it's hurting like hell / Cause I know that I'm unwell / My body's made of shell / And I know that you can tell" continue to use powerful images like spider webs and the character of Harlequin, who traditionally represented a fool or a jester, to emphasize the singer's feelings of entrapment and being used for someone else's pleasure. The lines, "Beat me at my own damn game / Fucking with my goddamn brain / Now I will never win again / Better to love than to have and to hold" imply that the singer has made a mistake in the past and is now seeking redemption. The use of expletives in these lines expresses the frustration and anger that the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Just because I love your skin
My attraction to you doesn't necessarily mean I'll engage in a physical relationship with you.
Doesn't mean I'll jump in
Despite the water being clean and warm, I'm still hesitant to get in.
The water's clean and warm and green
The water looks inviting and pleasant.
I'm not allowed to swim
There's some sort of restriction or rule that prevents me from getting in the water.
I'm scared of getting in
I'm afraid to take the risk of getting into the water.
Batteries and Holy Ghosts
I carry around both physical and emotional baggage.
Buried in my bag of bones
This baggage is deep within me and difficult to get rid of.
She said they would help me to grow
Someone else believed that these burdens would help me become stronger as a person.
Said feeding the stomach is feeding the soul
Eating is not only nourishing for the physical body, but also for the emotional and spiritual components of oneself.
Spider web and harlequins
There are elements of beauty and complexity in my life.
Wrapped around your sticky wings
These beautiful and complex elements may be trapping me or impeding my ability to move forward.
It's pretty but it's hurting like hell
The situation may look nice on the surface, but it's actually causing me pain.
Cause I know that I'm unwell
I am aware that something is not right within me or my current situation.
My body's made of shell
My exterior may appear strong or well put-together, but it's actually fragile and lacking substance.
And I know that you can tell
Others can sense my vulnerabilities or insecurities despite my attempts to hide them.
Beat me at my own damn game
Someone has outsmarted or defeated me in a situation where I thought I had the upper hand.
Fucking with my goddamn brain
This defeat has affected me mentally or emotionally in a negative way.
Now I will never win again
This loss has made me feel like I'll never be able to succeed in a similar situation again.
Better to love than to have and to hold
It's more important to experience love and human connection than to simply possess or control someone or something.
I heard that you like to swim
I know that you enjoy being in the water.
Doesn't mean I'm gonna jump in
Just because you like being in the water, doesn't mean I'll change my mind about getting in.
But I'll put on my swimming set
I'm willing to at least prepare myself for the possibility of getting in the water.
Cause I know I'm going to get wet
It's inevitable that if I do decide to get in the water, I will get wet.
I know I'm going to get wet
I am fully aware of the consequences that come with taking a risk or making a decision in life.
Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.