She began playing the guitar at the age of five, first being taught the blues by her father in front of the family fire, and has been enthralled by the songs and lyrics of the likes of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and John Mayall ever since. It’s not just the “golden-oldies” that Laura admires; she also harbours a rather deep love for alt.country’s favourite son, Ryan Adams. “He’s brilliant, there’s nothing that even comes close, he can paint the most amazing pictures in your mind.” Ryan Adams in turn had her album 'I Speak Because I Can' given to him by a producer friend. Ryan had written a lot of the material for his forthcoming album 'Ashes and Fire' but upon listening to her album he said; "I actually threw out the record I was writing and re-wrote my record based on that album because I thought to myself somebody's actually taking this very seriously ... It was amazing, a great motivation ... And it felt good to ask: 'What am I really capable of? I felt competitive again to write great songs."
Jamie T personally invited her on tour with him after being impressed by her modern folk-pop when he caught her playing just her second ever gig. Marling is part of the extended Way Out West family, having played five eminent shows at the label’s Brentford FC night before the club was finally moved on, and was also a member of Noah and the Whale until May 2008, contributing vocals and instruments throughout, and seen in the "Five Years Time" video playing recorder.
Following her London Town EP, Marling's debut album Alas I Cannot Swim was released by Virgin on 4th February 2008. Originally released in a large Song Box containing mementos and trinkets personal to the songs, as well as a concert ticket., the album was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize.
Marling released her second album, I Speak Because I Can, on March 22nd 2010.
The first track from her third album, A Creature I Don't Know, to receive radio airplay was "Sophia." The song is an ode to a mythical deity. (Sophia Songfacts).
Breathe
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I already know
The dark before the dawn
Is the darkest I can go
The calm before the storm
Is what leaves me here to breathe
So breathe
Throwing fists against the wall
Screaming at the earth for what
It's done to one and all
I came here to tell you something
You already know
Just breathe
Breathe
How cruel I am to you
Cruel things I do
How cruel you were to me
How cruel time can be
I wrote you a book
But I left it out in the rain
Left it there to dry
But it got rained on once again
Us of constant banging
Throwing fists against the wall
Breathe
Breathe
How cruel you are to me
How cruel time can be
How cruel I was to you
How cruel the things I do
When you wake you'll know I'm gone
And where I'm going there's no one
So don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
Don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
When you wake you'll know I'm gone
And where I'm going there's no one
So don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
Don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
The lyrics of Laura Marling’s Breathe describe the push and pull of a relationship, with both parties feeling the weight of their past actions and unspoken emotions. The opening lines “You came here to tell me something, I already know” suggest a sense of familiarity or routine between the two individuals. The singer then highlights the importance of enduring through the toughest moments by referencing the phrase “the calm before the storm,” and how necessary it is to breathe in those moments.
The second verse brings forth the turmoil within the relationship, with the individuals “constant[ly] banging” and “throw[ing] fists against the wall.” They both acknowledge their cruel behavior towards each other and the effects of time on their relationship. The singer’s attempt to right their wrongs is shown in their failed gesture of writing a book for the other person.
The final verses suggest a sense of finality to the relationship, with one individual leaving and instructing the other not to follow. The repetition of “Whatever you may hear or see” implies that the other party may try to go after them or attempt to understand what happened, but ultimately it’s a journey they must take alone.
Line by Line Meaning
You came here to tell me something
the singer is knowingly having a conversation with someone who wants to disclose something to them
I already know
the singer already has knowledge about what the other person wants to say
The dark before the dawn
a metaphorical expression indicating the most difficult time before a positive change
Is the darkest I can go
the artist acknowledges that life can be tough and that the darkest moment they have faced so far is a period of hopelessness just before things got better
The calm before the storm
an expression for the time of peace immediately before a difficult period
Is what leaves me here to breathe
the singer finds solace in the quiet moments before the chaos and this is what keeps them going
So breathe
an encouragement to keep on living and find peace despite the difficulties
Us of constant banging
the artist refers to themselves and the other person as individuals who are always in conflict
Throwing fists against the wall
a metaphorical expression for a never-ending fight or struggle
Screaming at the earth for what
an expression of anger towards fate and its unkindness
It's done to one and all
the singer recognises that everyone has experienced hardship in life
I came here to tell you something
the artist intends to express something to the other person
You already know
the singer is aware that the other person is already aware of what she is going to say
How cruel I am to you
the singer admits to treating the other person with hurtful behavior
Cruel things I do
the singer acknowledges that they have been unkind to the other person
How cruel you were to me
the artist reflects on the other person's past actions towards them
How cruel time can be
an expression for how unfair and unpredictable life can sometimes be
I wrote you a book
the singer created something for the other person
But I left it out in the rain
the singer lost or misplaced the gift they made for the other person
Left it there to dry
the artist tried to fix or save the gift
But it got rained on once again
the attempts to fix the gift were unsuccessful, and it got ruined again by the rain
When you wake you'll know I'm gone
the artist has left without telling the other person
And where I'm going there's no one
the singer is going somewhere without the presence of other people
So don't follow me
an advice not to pursue or search for the artist
Whatever you may hear or see
an expression to ignore any potential rumors or relevant information
Don't follow me
an emphasis not to try to find the singer
Whatever you may hear or see
a repetition of the previous line as a reminder to the other person not to search for the singer
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Laura Marling
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Davis
Laura Marling, amazing talent, love her
Peter Ambrosia
This tune rocks!!!
john adams
Very good. A new fan.
Maty Rosti
Thank you, Laura...❤️