Devil
Laura Marling Lyrics


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I might be a part of this
Ripple on water from a lonesome drip
A fallen tree that witness me
I'm alone, him and me

And then life itself can not aspire
To have someone be so admired
I threw creation to my king
With the silence broken by a whispered wind

All of this can be broken
All of this can be broken
Hold your devil by his spoke and spin him to the ground

And root to root and tip to tip
I look at him my country gip
Let it up I own his fears
But someone brought you close to tears

Many trains and many miles
Like you to me on this sunny isle
And what of which you wish to speak
Have you come here to rescue me?

All of this can be broken
All of this can be broken
Hold your devil by his spoke and spin him to the ground

But the love of your life
Lives but lies no more
And where she lay a flower grows

The arms are fed and the babes have wed
And the backs have bled, keeping her in tow

But I am your keeper
And I hold your face away from light
I am yours till they come
I am yours till they come

Eye to eye
Nose to nose
Ripping off each other's clothes
In a most peculiar way

Eye to eye
Nose to nose




Ripping off each other's clothes
In a most peculiar way

Overall Meaning

The song “Devil in 2” by Laura Marling is an intricate and thought-provoking piece that can be interpreted in several ways. At its core, the song tells a story of a deep and complex relationship between two people. The opening lines of the song, “I might be part of this, ripple on water from a lonesome drip, a fallen tree that witnessed me, I'm alone, him and me” create an image of a person who is part of nature but is also isolated and alone. The singer is alone with their thoughts and emotions, introspecting and reflecting on their relationship.


As the song progresses, the singer seems to be contemplating the fragility of life and relationships. “And then life itself cannot aspire, to have someone be so admired,” suggests that the singer holds the other person they are with in high regard, someone who is so important that even life cannot aspire to be like them.


Throughout the song, the singer grapples with the idea that everything is temporary and that relationships can end at any moment, “All of this can be broken, hold your devil by his spoke and spin him to the ground.” Despite this, the singer is still willing to fight for the relationship, “But I am your keeper, and I hold your face away from light, I am yours until they come.”


The use of the phrase “ripping off each other’s clothes in a most peculiar way” creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability between the two. The ambiguous nature of the song leaves room for personal interpretation, making it a poignant and thought-provoking listen.


Line by Line Meaning

I might be a part of this
I could be a small part of the wider universe


Ripple on water from a lonesome drip
Even a single drop can create a ripple effect


A fallen tree that witness me
The only witness to my loneliness is a fallen tree


I'm alone, him and me
I'm all alone with my thoughts and the devil inside me


And then life itself can not aspire
Nothing in life can compare to the feeling of being admired


To have someone be so admired
To be looked up to and respected is a rare and special thing


I threw creation to my king
I gave everything I had to the one I love


With the silence broken by a whispered wind
The only sound that accompanies me is the soft breeze


All of this can be broken
Everything is fragile and can be destroyed


Hold your devil by his spoke and spin him to the ground
Take control of your inner demons and conquer them


And root to root and tip to tip
Looking at him from top to bottom, I see my country's customs


I look at him my country gip
I see my country's culture reflected in him


Let it up I own his fears
I have the power to control and overcome his fears


But someone brought you close to tears
Despite my efforts, someone has still managed to hurt you


Many trains and many miles
There have been many journeys and long distances


Like you to me on this sunny isle
Just like you, I too have come to this beautiful island


And what of which you wish to speak
What is it that you want to talk about?


Have you come here to rescue me?
Did you come here to save me from my demons?


But the love of your life
The person you love the most


Lives but lies no more
They are no longer living a lie


And where she lay a flower grows
Even though she is gone, something beautiful has come in her place


The arms are fed and the babes have wed
Everyone is growing up and moving on with their lives


And the backs have bled, keeping her in tow
But the hard work and sacrifice has all been worth it to keep her close


But I am your keeper
I will always be there to protect you


And I hold your face away from light
I shield you from the harsh realities of the world


I am yours till they come
I will always be yours until the end of time


Eye to eye Nose to nose Ripping off each other's clothes In a most peculiar way
We are connected intimately and share everything with each other, even in unconventional ways




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@knightraider1362

Yes just saw the movie The Invitation on Netflix so naturally I came here coz this was the ending song , now I'm into her music 😁

@BeckBeckGo

heh exactly same.

@knightraider1362

@@BeckBeckGo strange how life is right??? How things just kinda happen lol

@fallguybirdy7998

I seen the devil then I seen you 3333333333333333333333333⁶3333333333333333333⁷33333333333333⁶333333333334

@PeterMillerSyd

I've been a fan for many years. Go and enjoy her "old" music

@juliaharris3685

Lol same. Never knew she existed until the credits of The Invitation. Still... very good stuff!

4 More Replies...

@tilobley9407

Heard this song first at the end of THE INVITATION. People who turn off after the last picture miss this extraordinary piece of music. I added it at once to my playlist. A fascinating powerful voice, a brilliant composition and fine dark lyrics. A masterpiece. And to me the most inspiring voice since Melanie Safka and Loreena McKennitt.

@FM.1987

This is definitely growing on me. I can see why some listeners are disappointed, as this is not some traditional heart-breaking ballad, but its a very powerful piece, a natural show-opener and fits very well in her song catalogue. There's some skills involved in composing such a song and not making it boring. And the way she gets back to the main rhythm after the middle eight (around 2.18) is masterful. See what a talented songwriter can do with an overplayed riff!

@sampomme

I love this type of music so much.

@mr.e695

It's modern mountain music, and I agree, it's awesome

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