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).
Held Down
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clear as all hell that you'd already gone
(Gone, gone, gone)
Your note said, "Dear, you know I hate to disappear
But the days are short and the nights are getting long"
(Long, long, long)
And I just meant to tell you
(Down, down, down)
And I just meant to tell you
That I don't want to get you wrong
(Wrong)
Think about now with my legs wrapped around you
How many times before have you seen me run?
(Run, run, run)
It's a cruel kinda twist that you'd leave like this
Just drop my wrist and say, "Well, that's us done"
(Done, done)
I was just gonna tell you
That I don't want to let you down
Get lost in the crowd
Seen or unseen
Say what you mean
Simply a book, but you gave up a look
But I just don't care for and I cannot get through
(Through, through, through)
That you're writing again, and I'm glad old friend
I'll make sure you write me out of where you get to
(To, to, to)
I was just gonna tell you
That I don't want to let you down
Get lost in the crowd
Seen or unseen
Say what you mean
'Cause we all want to be here now
And we all want to be held down
And we all want to here now
And we all want to be held down
I woke up, it was four in the morning
Clear as all hell that you'd already gone
Your note said, "Dear, you know I hate to disappear
But the days are short and the nights are getting long"
And I just mean to tell you
That I don't want to be let down
Get lost in the crowd
Seen or unseen
Say what you mean
Laura Marling's song "Held Down" seems to describe a situation where the singer's partner has left her in the wee hours of the morning. The singer is hung up on getting her feelings across to her former partner but is unable to do so. She is in disbelief that her partner has left and is trying to come to terms with the abrupt end of the relationship. She mentions wanting to be "held down" and expressing what she truly means.
The first verse is a straight forward depiction of the singer waking up at 4 in the morning to discover that her partner had already left. The note left by the partner seems like a justified explanation for their disappearance, but the singer is left confused and hurt by the sudden decision. The chorus reveals the singer's predicament of not being able to express how she feels to her partner. In the second verse, she imagines a moment of intimacy with her partner but realizes that their relationship has gone through such phases before. The bridge references a book that the partner is writing and the singer vows to make sure that she is never included in it. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, with the singer expressing the desire for clarity and honesty in all relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up, it was four in the morning
I suddenly awoke at 4 AM
Clear as all hell that you'd already gone
Realized you had left me
Your note said, "Dear, you know I hate to disappear
I received a note from you explaining that you don't like leaving me without notice
But the days are short and the nights are getting long"
You left because you wanted to experience more of life, but the seasons are changing
And I just meant to tell you
I was planning on saying
That I don't want to let you down
I don't want to disappoint you
And I just meant to tell you
I wanted to express
That I don't want to get you wrong
I don't want to misunderstand what you're feeling or saying
How many times before have you seen me run?
I am acknowledging that I often run away from problems or situations
It's a cruel kinda twist that you'd leave like this
It's unfortunate and ironic that you left when I was planning on expressing my feelings
Just drop my wrist and say, "Well, that's us done"
You broke up with me and ended our relationship with disinterest
I was just gonna tell you
I had the intention to tell you
That I don't want to let you down
That I wanted to make you happy
Get lost in the crowd
Drift aimlessly in the world
Seen or unseen
Whether people notice me or not
Say what you mean
Speak honestly and directly
Simply a book, but you gave up a look
You gave me a glance when I was reading
But I just don't care for and I cannot get through
It wasn't of interest to me and I couldn't finish it
That you're writing again, and I'm glad old friend
I'm happy that you're writing, nostalgic of when we were just friends
I'll make sure you write me out of where you get to
I don't want to influence your writing, so I'll ensure you're not writing about me
'Cause we all want to be here now
Everyone wants to live in the present moment
And we all want to be held down
We all want to feel grounded and secure
And we all want to here now
We all want to be present in this moment
And we all want to be held down
We all want to feel grounded and secure
And I just mean to tell you
I want to express
That I don't want to be let down
I don't want to be disappointed
Get lost in the crowd
Drift aimlessly in the world
Seen or unseen
Whether people notice me or not
Say what you mean
Speak honestly and directly
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Laura Marling
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@modest8930
I woke up, it was four in the morning
Clear as all hell that you'd already gone
(Gone, gone, gone)
Your note said, "Dear, you know I hate to disappear
But the days are short and the nights are getting long"
(Long, long, long)
And I just meant to tell you
That I don't want to let you down
(Down, down, down)
And I just meant to tell you
That I don't want to get you wrong
(Wrong)
Think about now with my legs wrapped around you
How many times before have you seen me run?
(Run, run, run)
It's a cruel kinda twist that you'd leave like this
Just drop my wrist and say, "Well, that's us done"
(Done, done)
I was just gonna tell you
That I don't want to let you down
Get lost in the crowd
Seen or unseen
Say what you mean
Simply a book, but you gave up a look
But I just don't care for and I cannot get through
(Through, through, through)
That you're writing again, and I'm glad old friend
I'll make sure you write me out of where you get to
(To, to, to)
I was just gonna tell you
That I don't want to let you down
Get lost in the crowd
Seen or unseen
Say what you mean
'Cause we all want to be here now
And we all want to be held down
And we all want to here now
And we all want to be held down
I woke up, it was four in the morning
Clear as all hell that you'd already gone
Your note said, "Dear, you know I hate to disappear
But the days are short and the nights are getting long"
And I just mean to tell you
That I don't want to be let down
Get lost in the crowd
Seen or unseen
Say what you mean
@offshoretomorrow3346
Can't believe they didn't make a video for this - perhaps her most beautiful song of all.
@ranjitverdi5702
❤️
@wellmadegifts
Sshh
.. Keep it to ourselves x
@maanamusic2611
The best hook I've heard in a while. Beautiful song
@sidekickcleveland7365
Since hope we meet again or fortune? Or the previous track?
@maanamusic2611
@@sidekickcleveland7365 Both great tracks, its difficult to pick a favourite from a near perfect album. Something about the nostalgic vibe of this song just really does it for me
@Onesmo
My soul was not ready for this.
@mikeymadnez
I hope it found you well.
@Onesmo
@@mikeymadnez It most definitely did. Thank you.
@legendofmalo
The harmony sounds SO GOOD, this song is a masterpiece