Goodbye England
Laura Marling Lyrics
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In your jacket and coat.
My softest red scarf was warming your throat.
Winter was on us,
At the end of my nose,
But I never love England more than when covered in snow.
And a friend of mine says it's good to hear you believe in love even if set in fear
I wont make believe that love is frail and willing to break.
I will come back here,
Bring me back when I'm old.
I want to lay here forever in the cold.
I might be cold but I'm just skin and bones
And I never love England more than when covered in snow.
I wrote my name in your book,
Only god knows why,
And I bet you that he cracked a smile,
And I'm clearing all the stuff out of my room,
Trying desperately to figure out what it is that makes me blue,
And I wrote an epic letter to you,
But it's 22 pages front and back and it's too good to be used
And I tried to be a girl who likes to be used
I'm too good for that.
There's a mind under this hat,
And I called them all and told them I've got to move.
Feel like running
Feel like running,
Running off.
And we will keep you
We will keep you little one,
Safe from harm,
Like an extra arm you are part of us.
You were so smart then
In your jacket and coat
And my softest red scarf was warming your throat.
Winter will leave us,
Left the end of my nose,
So goodbye old England 'till next years snow.
Laura Marling's "Goodbye England" is a somber ballad, reflecting on a bittersweet memory. The lyrics open with the image of the singer's lover, a person who was smart and confident, wearing a jacket and coat with a red scarf warming their throat in the depths of winter. The scene fills her with nostalgia, and she confesses her love for England in the snow. The singer then recounts a conversation with a friend who told her that it's good to believe in love, even if it may be insecure. However, she maintains her confident belief that love is not frail and won't break easily.
The song moves to the present tense, where the singer visits her old room, trying to figure out what makes her feel blue. She finds a book with her name written on it, and amid the tearful journey to pack and leave, she finds a 22-page letter that she had intended to send to her lover. The letter is too valuable and too good to be shared with someone who isn't worthy of it. In the end, she calls everyone she knows to tell them that she is moving away and feels like running off. The song ends with the sentiment "Goodbye old England, till next year's snow," a goodbye to a nostalgic time filled with heartbreak and unanswered questions.
Line by Line Meaning
You were so smart then
In your jacket and coat.
You looked so impressive, all wrapped up in your winter clothes.
My softest red scarf was warming your throat.
Winter was on us,
At the end of my nose,
But I never love England more than when covered in snow.
We were out in the cold, but it was worth it because I love England most when it's snowy and beautiful.
And a friend of mine says it's good to hear you believe in love even if set in fear
Well I'll hold you there brother and set you straight
I wont make believe that love is frail and willing to break.
A friend says love is brave even if scary, but I won't pretend love is weak and fickle.
I will come back here,
Bring me back when I'm old.
I want to lay here forever in the cold.
I might be cold but I'm just skin and bones
And I never love England more than when covered in snow.
I want to come back to England when I'm old and stay forever, even if it means being cold. The beauty of snowy England makes me happy.
I wrote my name in your book,
Only god knows why,
And I bet you that he cracked a smile,
And I'm clearing all the stuff out of my room,
Trying desperately to figure out what it is that makes me blue,
And I wrote an epic letter to you,
But it's 22 pages front and back and it's too good to be used
And I tried to be a girl who likes to be used
I'm too good for that.
There's a mind under this hat,
And I called them all and told them I've got to move.
I did silly things like writing my name in your book and wrote a long, amazing letter that I don't want to use. I'm figuring out why I'm sad and trying to move on. I won't allow myself to be used because I know I'm worth more than that.
Feel like running
Feel like running,
Running off.
And we will keep you
We will keep you little one,
Safe from harm,
Like an extra arm you are part of us.
I want to run away, and you'll be safe with us - like an extra member of the family.
You were so smart then
In your jacket and coat
And my softest red scarf was warming your throat.
Winter will leave us,
Left the end of my nose,
So goodbye old England 'till next years snow.
You looked smart in your warm clothes, and my scarf kept you cozy. Winter is ending and I say goodbye to England, but I'll be back for the next beautiful snowfall.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
zan zan
You were so smart then
In your jacket and coat
My softest red scarf was warming your throat
Winter was on us
At the end my nose
And I'll never love England more than when covered in snow
But a friend of mine says it good to hear
That you believe in love even if set in fear
Well I'll hold you there brother and set you straight
I only believe true love is frail and willing to break
I will come back here, bring me back when I'm old
I want to lay here forever in the cold
I might be cold but I'm just skin and bones
And I'll never love England more than when covered in snow
I wrote my name in your book
Only God knows why
And I bet you that He cracked a smile
And I'm clearing all the crap out of my room
Trying desperately to figure out what it is that makes me blue
And I wrote an epic letter to you
And it's 22 pages front and back but it's too good to be used
And I tried to be a girl who likes to be used
I'm too good for that, there's a mind under this hat
And I called them all and told them I've got to move I'm out now
It's too hard
I'm on my own
It's too hard
Feel like running
Feel like running
Running off
And we will keep you
We will keep you, little one
Safe from harm
Like an extra arm, you are a part of us
You were so smart then
In your jacket and coat
My softest red scarf was warming your throat
Winter will leave us
Left the end of my nose
Well goodbye old England until next years snow
zan zan
You were so smart then
In your jacket and coat
My softest red scarf was warming your throat
Winter was on us
At the end my nose
And I'll never love England more than when covered in snow
But a friend of mine says it good to hear
That you believe in love even if set in fear
Well I'll hold you there brother and set you straight
I only believe true love is frail and willing to break
I will come back here, bring me back when I'm old
I want to lay here forever in the cold
I might be cold but I'm just skin and bones
And I'll never love England more than when covered in snow
I wrote my name in your book
Only God knows why
And I bet you that He cracked a smile
And I'm clearing all the crap out of my room
Trying desperately to figure out what it is that makes me blue
And I wrote an epic letter to you
And it's 22 pages front and back but it's too good to be used
And I tried to be a girl who likes to be used
I'm too good for that, there's a mind under this hat
And I called them all and told them I've got to move I'm out now
It's too hard
I'm on my own
It's too hard
Feel like running
Feel like running
Running off
And we will keep you
We will keep you, little one
Safe from harm
Like an extra arm, you are a part of us
You were so smart then
In your jacket and coat
My softest red scarf was warming your throat
Winter will leave us
Left the end of my nose
Well goodbye old England until next years snow
mwstriker98
I know that this song is not about this, but whenever I hear it I think of my Grandad who told me once that during the war he would dream of England at Christmas time. He died two years ago and now whenever I hear this song I think of him.
David Ellis
As a Brit living overseas this gets me in the feels every time. 💙
Sarah Hoffman
I heard this live.... I think everyone in that room was in awe of her, her voice, how she drew us in. Because by the end she had told an incredible story. It happens fast, you know.... falling in love with her songs.
ect
I try and sing along to this, but I always start crying during the first refrain of "I never love England more than when covered in snow"
Ashley Smith
One of my favourites. Saw her in Gloucester cathedral a few years ago, it was utterly magical.
Philip Brown
I heard this first on a free disc from the Observer and I was driving the car. I had to pull over and listen with a tear in my eye - Its so beautiful. And the words are so picturesque. It reminds me of Roy Harper. A masterpiece of poetry and music. BRAVO!
AJ Morrison
What a song. Gorgeous.
Laura Wilkins
"Goodbye old england til next years snow" I love that line so much, she says it in such a lovely way! I have to admit i do enjoy the england snow, the variation there never stops to amaze me
Hana O'Glatison
Laura doesn't need any typical TV advertisement to become a star, she's a star already!