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).
Cross Your Fingers
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mountains stand around you they're not your own.
When white squares and bodies are all you see
Since you broke down
Since I broke down
Since we broke down
Now my word you'll give up your whole life for me
And you'll be reborn big and stronger and less alive
Cross your fingers hold your toes
We're all gonna die when the building blows
Cross your fingers hold your toes
We're all gonna die when the building blows
And the house you were born in
Is crumbling at the corners
Sagging skin and feet of crows
Feet of crows
Now I jump into your grave and die
Now my word you'll give up your whole life for me
And you'll be reborn big and stronger and less alive
The lyrics of Laura Marling's song "Cross Your Fingers" evoke a sense of helplessness and foreboding. In the first verse, she refers to a body that has grown, but is not your own, which could mean experiencing an out-of-body or dissociation episode. The mountains that surround you represent the daunting obstacles and challenges that one might face in life. The second verse describes an emotional breakdown, which has left the singer feeling dead or empty inside. The line "Now I jump into your grave and die" is particularly poignant as it signifies a deep sense of loss and despair.
The chorus of the song is particularly bleak, as it describes the inevitability of death and the futility of hoping to escape it. "Cross your fingers hold your toes, We're all gonna die when the building blows" is a metaphor for the end of life and the collapse of the world as we know it. The repetition of the line "Now my word you'll give up your whole life for me" suggests a kind of bargaining with a higher power or deity, asking for the chance to live again, but acknowledging that this wish might never be granted.
Overall, the song is a haunting and introspective exploration of the human condition, and the struggles that we all face in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Look down on the body that you have grown
Reflect on the physical form you have developed
Mountains stand around you they're not your own.
Obstacles loom ahead that you did not create
When white squares and bodies are all you see
When your surroundings are sterile and lifeless and people are just impersonal shapes to you
Since you broke down
Since you experienced a personal crisis
Since I broke down
Since I experienced a personal crisis
Since we broke down
Since we both experienced a personal crisis
Now I jump into your grave and die
I offer myself to help you, even if it means losing myself completely
Now my word you'll give up your whole life for me
You'll place all your trust and loyalty in me, even if it means sacrificing everything else
And you'll be reborn big and stronger and less alive
You'll emerge from this experience with a new perspective and newfound strength, but also with a sense of detachment from the world
Cross your fingers hold your toes
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
We're all gonna die when the building blows
We are all equally vulnerable to catastrophic events
And the house you were born in
Your place of origin
Is crumbling at the corners
Is deteriorating over time
Sagging skin and feet of crows
Signs of aging and decay
Now I jump into your grave and die
I am willing to go to great lengths to support you, no matter the cost to myself
Now my word you'll give up your whole life for me
You'll trust me implicitly and prioritize my needs above your own
And you'll be reborn big and stronger and less alive
Our shared experience will transform us both, leaving us with a greater sense of purpose but also a sense of detachment from the world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAURA MARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J. Denisiuk
I have just loved this song. I heard it first at skins and I could not find it anywhere cause I did not know it starts like this. But well. I love it anyway.
Angela HM3Giggles79
I bet it was beautiful to have been there. The acoustics in the church must have been just amazing!! I love her voice...I don't care whether she's straight faced or making silly faces cos than you'd make fun of her for that. Some great guitarist make crazy faces. Either way the artist is showcasing the true talent, and LM's happens to be a killer voice and an amazing songwriter. Thank you for posting these amazing performances!!
seeyouinheaven
She's so fragile... and so strong, at the same time. It's beautiful.
actressinny
Wow, she really is remarkable. I love this part (04) best so far. Also, considering that at the time no-one knew who Mumford & Sons were.... maybe not even who Pete Roe was, the fact that the video she released with her album gives SO MUCH face/on camera time to her backing band, is remarkable too.
jacob holding
I think the lack of expression is actually due to the face that she's really rather shy, even without all the new fame and the way that she's been thrust into the spotlight. None of us could really analyse her appropriately without actually having known her, and I believe that we shouldn't make too many assumptions as to her nature as a human, but her. Still, it works to make her live performances more powerful.
Gh
What a voice...
2MinutesToMidnightt
I find it beautiful that she is so entranced in her own music.
La mujer dormida
so fucking beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!, when you see laura, must be the word that repeats more "beautiful"
Angela HM3Giggles79
Ok I Absolutely love Laura and Love Mumford and Sons and I love this whole show. In this song tho the tone of her voic in the beginning reminds me of Dolores (from the Cranberries)
Alexia F
i love that she crosses her legs when singing 'cross your fingers'