So Long Marianne
John Cale feat. Suzanne Vega Lyrics


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Come over to the window, my little darling,
I'd like to try to read your palm.
I used to think I was some kind of gypsy boy
Before I let you take me home.
Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began
To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.

Well you know that I love to live with you,
But you make me forget so very much.
I forget to pray for the angels and then the angels forget to pray for us.

Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began

We met when we were almost young
Deep in the green lilac park.
You held on to me like I was a crucifix,
As we went kneeling through the dark.

Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began

Your letters they all say that you're beside me now.
Then why do I feel alone?
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
Is fastening my ankle to a stone.

Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began

For now I need your hidden love.
I'm cold as a new razor blade.
You left when I told you I was curious,
I never said that I was brave.

Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began

Oh, you are really such a pretty one.
I see you've gone and changed your name again.
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside,
To wash my eyelids in the rain!





Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began

Overall Meaning

The song "So Long Marianne" by John Cale is a melancholic yet wistful love ballad that tells the story of his relationship with his former lover Marianne Ihlen, whom he met on the Greek island of Hydra in the 1960s. The lyrics are rich in imagery, and Cale employs a variety of symbols and metaphors to convey his feelings of love, loss, and regret.


In the first stanza, Cale invites Marianne to join him at the window so that he can read her palm, harking back to his earlier days as a self-styled "gypsy boy." He then bids her farewell by repeating the chorus "so long, Marianne," suggesting that they are parting ways but also acknowledging that their relationship will always occupy a special place in his heart. The second stanza reveals that Cale has a complicated relationship with Marianne, one in which he both loves and resents her for making him forget the important things in life, such as prayer and faith. Despite this, he still longs for her companionship and wishes to start afresh.


The third and final stanza takes a darker turn, as Cale admits to feeling alone and desperate without Marianne's love to sustain him. He likens himself to a razor blade, cold and sharp, and accuses Marianne of abandoning him when he needed her most. Yet even in the midst of this turmoil, he cannot help but appreciate Marianne's beauty, humorously noting that she has changed her name once again. The song ends on a hopeful note, as Cale muses that he has climbed a mountain to wash his eyes in the rain, perhaps symbolizing his desire to start anew and leave the pain of his past behind.


Line by Line Meaning

Come over to the window, my little darling,
I would like you to come to the window, my dear, so that I can try to read your palm.


I'd like to try to read your palm.
I want to predict your future by looking at your palm.


I used to think I was some kind of gypsy boy
Before I met you, I thought I was a wandering and carefree person.


Before I let you take me home.
Before I allowed you to bring me to your home.


Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began
Goodbye, Marianne, it's time for us to start a new chapter in our lives.


To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.
Let's reminisce and have mixed emotions about our past experiences.


Well you know that I love to live with you,
You are aware that I enjoy living with you.


But you make me forget so very much.
Yet, being with you makes me forget a lot of things.


I forget to pray for the angels and then the angels forget to pray for us.
I become so engrossed with you that I forget to acknowledge the higher power, hence, the higher power forgets to protect us.


We met when we were almost young
We met when we were still youthful, despite being on the brink of adulthood.


Deep in the green lilac park.
We met in a serene park filled with lilac trees.


You held on to me like I was a crucifix,
You embraced me tightly and held on to me as if I was a religious relic.


As we went kneeling through the dark.
We walked through the park on our knees in the dark, perhaps as an act of devotion or playfulness.


Your letters they all say that you're beside me now.
Your letters claim that you are by my side at this moment.


Then why do I feel alone?
Yet, why do I feel lonely and isolated?


I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
I am standing on the edge of something great, but your delicate trap binds me to a stone.


Is fastening my ankle to a stone.
Your trap is tightly holding my ankle to a heavy rock, thereby limiting my freedom and movement.


For now I need your hidden love.
Currently, I crave for your concealed affection and devotion.


I'm cold as a new razorblade.
I feel as chilly as an icy and sharp razorblade.


You left when I told you I was curious,
You abandoned me after I confided that I was eager to explore new things.


I never said that I was brave.
But I never asserted that I was courageous either.


Oh, you are really such a pretty one.
You are genuinely beautiful and attractive as a person.


I see you've gone and changed your name again.
I noticed that you have altered your name once more.


And just when I climbed this whole mountainside,
Of all the times, you decided to change your name again when I have already climbed a mountain.


To wash my eyelids in the rain!
I went up the peak to let the rain cleanse my eyes of something emotional or spiritual.


Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began
Farewell, Marianne, it's time for us to commence afresh.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leonard Cohen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@angel.rocknroll8000

incredible song!

@tomcat3360

Thank you! I’m sure the angels haven’t forgotten Leonard

@davorjakara

Nice pair!

@ksbeditor

I have this CD!

@TimothyCahillSSI

Thank you for this.

@patriciathewisher2315

V v good

@smallbluecaramel9144

Thanx for posting it :-)

@jimishawcross7409

As Mr.Burns from the Simpsons would say.... EXCELLENT!!!!

@amelmater

yes

@tomcat3360

When did they record this?

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