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).
Don’t Let Me Bring You Down
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know how to play
Are you really not anybody
Until somebody knows your name?
I'm not sure where that's going
Somebody used to show me,
They don't feel like showing
Please don't let me bring you down
Do I look like I'm fucking around?
Love seems to be some kind of trickery
Some great thing to which I am a mystery
I'm not sure I can do it
You had it on me once before,
I only just got through it
Please don't let me bring you down
Did you think I was fucking around?
I'm a woman now, can you believe?
Only one thing I'm sure of and that's that you deceive
What have you got hidden up your sleeve?
Some kind of release without relief
I'm not sure I can do it
You had it on me once before I only just got through it
Why did you let me bring you down?
Did you think I was fucking around?
In the first verse of Laura Marling's song Don't Let Me Bring You Down, she's questioning the nature of living in society. She compares it to a game she doesn't know how to play, and wonders if her identity only gains value once it's recognized by others. The second stanza is equally pensive, as she reflects on somebody who used to help her but doesn't anymore. These lines feel like the inner workings of someone who's struggling to find their place in the world, questioning their own actions, and looking for guidance.
The pre-chorus repeats twice, with Marling imploring the listener "Please don't let me bring you down / Do I look like I'm fucking around?" These lines feel like a plea, someone reaching out to somebody else who vexes them - the "you" could well be herself - to try and understand and comfort them.
The chorus is a call and response, "Why did you let me bring you down? / Did you think I was fucking around?" These lines feel like a release of pent-up frustration, the singer grappling with somebody - or attempting to deal with herself - who is causing her angst. She's trying to work out whether she's being self-destructive or whether the other person is causing her pain, and the repetition of the question feels like a struggle to get to the bottom of things.
Line by Line Meaning
Living here is a game
The experience of existence is perceived as a game
I don't know how to play
Uncertainty about how to approach or navigate through life
Are you really not anybody / Until somebody knows your name?
The value of a person's being or achievements are only recognized if they are acknowledged by others
I'm not sure where that's going / Somebody used to show me, / They don't feel like showing
Lack of clarity about the direction of life and the absence of a guiding force that was once present
Please don't let me bring you down
A request to avoid being the cause of someone else's negative emotions or experiences
Do I look like I'm fucking around?
Questioning the perception of being unserious or insincere
Love seems to be some kind of trickery / Some great thing to which I am a mystery / I'm not sure I can do it / You had it on me once before, / I only just got through it
Ambivalence and skepticism towards the concept of love, while acknowledging that past experiences have been challenging
I'm a woman now, can you believe? / Only one thing I'm sure of and that's that you deceive / What have you got hidden up your sleeve? / Some kind of release without relief
Reflecting on the passage of time and disillusionment with a deceitful partner, expressing frustration and confusion
Why did you let me bring you down? / Did you think I was fucking around?
Questioning why a partner allowed themselves to be negatively impacted by the artist's actions, and doubting their own intentions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind