Anne Marie
American Aquarium Lyrics


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Late night call from an old friend, her voice it was shaking at the other end. She said "i didn't know who else to call." I know he doesn't treat her right but she'll crawl back into bed tonight and lie awake just wondering what could have been.

Oh Anne Marie wont you please, please, please. Tell me what has he done. Oh Anne Marie i'm begging you please. Get out while there's still time to run

Well he starts to yell when he starts to drink and he starts a lot of trouble never stops to think about the damage that is being done. But one night the bourbon flooded his veins like a raging black river of lust and pain and that would be the last time he raised his hand. She was shaking like a rocket on the boulevard and her tears they were cold and her eyes they were hard as she returned that angel to the bedside drawer. Then she packed her bags and she moved away, you know he's the only reason that she ever stayed. Now she is out there living on the run.

Oh Anne Marie wont you please, please, please. Tell me what have you done. Oh Anne Marie i'm begging you please. Get out while there's still time to run
Well me telephone don't ring no more and last I heard she's at the jersey shore and if I believed in god I'd pray for you. But a prayer without belief is like a pill without relief, so I'll just save us both the letting down.





Oh Anne Marie wont you please, please, please. Tell me what have you done. Oh Anne Marie i'm begging you please. Stay out, please stay out on the run

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Anne Marie" by American Aquarium tell the story of a woman named Anne Marie who is stuck in a toxic relationship with a man who mistreats her. The song begins with the singer receiving a late-night call from Anne Marie, who is shaken and unsure of what to do. She admits that she knows her partner doesn't treat her right but continues to stay with him, unable to let go of what could have been. The chorus urges Anne Marie to leave before it's too late and to tell the singer what has been going on.


The second verse describes the man's violent tendencies and his drunken outbursts. One night, he lets his anger get the best of him and raises his hand to Anne Marie. She packs her bags and leaves, finally recognizing that she needs to get out. The singer hasn't heard from Anne Marie since, but knows that she is out there living on the run.


The lyrics of "Anne Marie" are a poignant reminder of the dangers of staying in an abusive relationship. They underscore the importance of paying attention to warning signs and taking action to protect oneself. While the song has a melancholy tone, it ultimately offers a message of hope, urging listeners to remember that it's never too late to leave and start anew.


Line by Line Meaning

Late night call from an old friend, her voice it was shaking at the other end.
An old friend calls late at night and her voice is shaky with fear.


She said 'I didn't know who else to call.'
She confides that she doesn't know who to turn to for help.


I know he doesn't treat her right but she'll crawl back into bed tonight and lie awake just wondering what could have been.
The woman acknowledges that her partner mistreats her, but she stays, lying awake at night, pondering the what-ifs.


Well he starts to yell when he starts to drink...
The woman's partner has a drinking problem and becomes abusive when he's drunk.


But one night the bourbon flooded his veins like a raging black river of lust and pain and that would be the last time he raised his hand.
One night, the man became extremely drunk and abusive, but it was the last time he raised his hand.


She was shaking like a rocket on the boulevard and her tears they were cold and her eyes they were hard as she returned that angel to the bedside drawer.
The woman was shaken and cried as she put away her partner's gun after he became violent.


Then she packed her bags and she moved away, you know he's the only reason that she ever stayed. Now she is out there living on the run.
The woman finally leaves her abusive partner and moves away, continuing to live a life on the run.


Well me telephone don't ring no more...
The artist hasn't heard from the woman since she left and doesn't know how to contact her.


And if I believed in god I'd pray for you. But a prayer without belief is like a pill without relief, so I'll just save us both the letting down.
The artist wishes he could pray for the woman but doesn't believe in God, so he won't pretend to have faith in something he doesn't.


Oh Anne Marie wont you please, please, please...
The artist pleads with the woman to make the right choice and stay away from her abusive partner.


Stay out, please stay out on the run
The singer begs the woman to continue living on the run to protect herself from her abusive partner.




Contributed by Christopher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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