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).
London Town
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But she knocked my drink over too.
And I know, I know that she wants you,
She looks at you the way that I do.
Well if you think that I'm lying,
Why would I give up trying so soon?
Where'd you go, where'd you go,
Where'd you leave me of my soul?
And how's it now, how's it now, how's it back in London Town,
Where you let me down?
And I know, I know what you've been through,
You think I don't care but I really do.
And I know, I know that it hurts you,
But you'd be pleased that she is,
Now what would you do?
Well if you think that I'm lying,
Why would I give up trying so soon?
Where'd you go, where'd you go,
Where'd you leave me of my soul?
Where'd you go?
How's it now, how's it now, how's it back in London Town,
Where you let me down?
And it's all of bad things,
I wish I hadn't done.
I know your rule about the dancing,
But I, I just don't find it fun.
Would you care if i cared to?
Would you run from you?
Where'd you go, where'd you go,
Where'd you leave me of my soul?
Where'd you go?
And how's it now, how's it now, how's it back in London Town,
Where you let me down?
The lyrics of Laura Marling's song, London Town, are about unrequited love and a failed relationship. Marling addresses a former lover who has moved on to someone new. She acknowledges that the new woman in his life is objectively better for him, but she also implies that she was pushed away by his lack of reciprocation of her love. The line "she came to save you, but she knocked my drink over too" suggests that the new woman in his life is unintentionally causing Marling harm, despite also being a positive influence on his life. Marling is struggling to come to terms with the loss of the relationship, as well as the feeling that she was not enough for her lover. The line "Where'd you go, where'd you go, where'd you leave me of my soul?" underscores these feelings of abandonment and loss, and suggests that she is trying to come to terms with her own emotions.
Throughout the song, Marling repeatedly asks her former lover how he is doing back in London Town, where they first met. This can be seen as a metaphor for their relationship in general, as "London Town" represents the shared memories and experiences they once had, and the sense of longing that Marling feels for what once was. She acknowledges that the relationship "let her down", but also expresses regret for things that she did wrong. The line "And it's all of bad things, I wish I hadn't done" suggests that she is struggling to come to terms with the fact that the relationship is over, and also that she has regrets about how she treated her former lover.
Overall, the song is a melancholy meditation on love and loss, and the way that relationships can shape our lives and identities. The lyrics are deeply personal and emotionally honest, and they highlight Marling's ability to write powerful songs about the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I know, I know she came to save you,
I acknowledge that she came to rescue you,
But she knocked my drink over too.
However, she also accidentally spilled my drink in the process.
And I know, I know that she wants you,
I am aware that she desires you.
She looks at you the way that I do.
She gazes at you with the same intensity as I do.
Well if you think that I'm lying,
If you believe that I'm deceitful,
Why would I give up trying so soon?
Then why would I abandon all my efforts so soon?
Where'd you go, where'd you go,
Where did you disappear, where did you vanish,
Where'd you leave me of my soul?
Where did you abandon my emotional wellbeing?
Where'd you go?
Where did you go?
And how's it now, how's it now, how's it back in London Town,
How is it doing now, what’s the situation in London town,
Where you let me down?
Where you betrayed me by not being there for me?
And I know, I know what you've been through,
I understand the struggles you had to endure,
You think I don't care but I really do.
You believe I don’t empathize, but I truly care for you.
And I know, I know that it hurts you,
I acknowledge that it is causing you pain.
But you'd be pleased that she is,
But it might make you happy to know that she is.
Now what would you do?
What action would you take?
And it's all of bad things,
It's just all the bad stuff,
I wish I hadn't done.
I regret doing it.
I know your rule about the dancing,
I acknowledge your rule about dancing,
But I, I just don't find it fun.
But to me, it's just not enjoyable.
Would you care if I cared to?
Would you mind if I was concerned as well?
Would you run from you?
Would you evade or flee from yourself?
Where'd you go, where'd you go,
Where did you disappear, where did you vanish,
Where'd you leave me of my soul?
Where did you abandon my emotional wellbeing?
Where'd you go?
Where did you go?
And how's it now, how's it now, how's it back in London Town,
How is it doing now, what's the situation in London town,
Where you let me down?
Where you betrayed me by not being there for me?
Contributed by Ryan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@helenhelenhelenhelenhelen
Wow I used to listen to this song on repeat about 7 years ago and just completely forgot about it but I’m back, better than I remember honestly
@BohemianConspiracy
It's quite different of what i've heard from her... and it's no less interesting... it's more up-tempo... I'm curious to know ...what she is capable to bring us in the future... As it's the 1st time that i listen to this song... at first i thought that it was maybe a cover of the 1978 "Wings" song "London Town" :)
@vansiddmalsidh1916
Wow increible la:-)amoooooooooooooo
@yokehuatgoh
0:04 laura marling at the grand canyon singing london town...
@RamonN08
:)
@gruffp
rudegyal dem Marling!
@grassandrogers
Are you high? This isn't making any sense...
@zlewis2643
What are you on about?