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).
Night Terror
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I roll over and shake him tightly and whisper
If they want you, oh, they're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me
I woke up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green
Oh, a candle at my chest and a hand on his knee
I got up it was dark, there's no one in the park at this hour
Oh, fight me
If I look back and he is screaming, I'd left him dreaming
The dangers fade
And I'll run back and shake him tightly and scream
If they want him, oh, they're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me
But if I wake up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green
Oh, a candle at my chest and a hand on his knee
I'll roll over and hold him tightly and scream
If you want him, oh, you're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me
Don't fight me
The lyrics of Laura Marling's song Night Terror is a haunting account of a woman's internal thoughts manifesting as a dream. The song seems to be about her fears and anxieties, particularly in relation to her partner. The opening lines describe a disturbing dream where the woman wakes up to her partner screaming. She panics and shakes him, telling him that anyone who wants him will have to fight her.
The next verse describes the woman waking up alone on a bench in Shepherd's Bush Green with a candle on her chest and a hand on her partner's knee. She questions how she keeps ending up in this place and repeats her earlier refrain about fighting anyone who wants her partner. The song seems to be cyclical in nature, with the woman questioning if her nightmares will ever end.
Overall, the song seems to be an exploration of the woman's fears and anxieties in her relationship. While she is willing to fight to protect her partner, she also recognizes that her fears are irrational and that she needs to come to terms with them. The haunting melody and repeated refrain add to the dreamlike quality of the song and enhance the sense of unease that the woman is feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up and he was screaming, I'd left him dreaming
I abruptly awoke and realized that the man lying beside me was shouting in distress because I had forgotten to bring him with me from my dream world
I roll over and shake him tightly and whisper
I gently grab him and gently shake him while speaking in a low voice
If they want you, oh, they're gonna have to fight me
I'll do anything to protect you, even if it means putting up a tough fight against whoever is threatening you
Oh, fight me
I'm willing to engage in a physical confrontation if it means protecting the one I love
I woke up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green
I regained consciousness while sitting on a bench in a public park in Shepherd's Bush Green
Oh, a candle at my chest and a hand on his knee
I was holding a lit candle close to my chest while also touching his leg with my hand
I got up it was dark, there's no one in the park at this hour
I stood up and noticed it was dark outside, thus there wasn't anybody else in the park during the time
How do I keep finding myself here?
I question how I end up in this place frequently
If I look back and he is screaming, I'd left him dreaming
If I remember and see him yelling, then I know that I have left him in my dream world
The dangers fade
The potential hazards of the dreamlike state turn into an afterthought
And I'll run back and shake him tightly and scream
I'll rush back to him and firmly shake him while screaming
If they want him, oh, they're gonna have to fight me
I am determined to protect him, and anyone who threatens him will have to fight against me
Don't fight me
I was just reiterating my determination to keep him safe and prevent situations that lead to strife
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mia
I woke up and he was screaming,
I'd left him dreaming.
I'll roll over and shake him tightly
And whisper, 'If they want you, they're gonna have to fight me.
Oh fight me.'
I woke up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green,
A candle at my chest, and a head on his knee.
I got up it was dark there is no one in the park at this hour.
How do I keep finding myself here?
'Oh fight me.'
If look back and he is screaming,
I'd left him dreaming
A dangerous feat.
And I'll run back and shake him tightly
And scream, 'If they want him they're gonna have to fight me.
Oh fight me.'
But if I wake up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green,
A candle at my chest, and a head on his knee
I'll roll over and hold on tightly
And scream, 'If you want him, you're gonna have to fight me.
Oh fight me. Oh fight me'
سارة خالد عطوان
I woke up and he was screaming
I'd left him dreaming
I roll over and shake him tightly
And whisper, "If they want you, they're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me"
I woke up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green
Oh, a candle at my chest and a head on his knee
I got up, it was dark, there is no one in the park at this hour
How do I keep finding myself here?
"Oh, fight me"
If I look back and he is screaming
I'd left him dreaming
A dangerous feat
And I'll run back and shake him tightly
And scream, "If they want him, oh, they're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me"
But if I wake up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green
A candle at my chest and a head on his knee
I'll roll over and hold him tightly
And scream, "If you want him, you're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me. Oh, fight me"
Marcello Lima
Minha adolescência... Ah, Laura... Muito bom te redescobrir!
Stanky Cranky
I've been listening to this song for years and it still tears me up inside
Atakan Özel
Still
Missy Flutter
Obvs ☝🏼
MeadowlakeSt
Still
murchieman91
She is one of the best singer/songwriters I have ever heard. Lyrically amazing
Andmoreagain
One of those songs that stay with you to haunt you, to make you reveal your true self to yourself, to cry your soul and eyes out to. I can't even define what I feel while listening to it. It's like the hardest burden and the feeling of complete freedom and relief simultaneously. It just transcends space and time.
EllE EME
I feel the same way listening to it.
ScarletDusk99
I truly love this understated, haunting song. Normally, I hate music videos, but this one perfectly captures what a bad dreams feels like, from its unfocused cinematography, ambient darkness, unclear yet uncomfortably close "monsters" represented by individuals in ominous and plain yet distinct masks, and the ever-present inability to run or even walk quickly (a staple of nightmares).
Whether it's Halloween or any given day or night, this video is a spooky and atmospheric treat, with a lighthearted and calming ending.
John Bainbridge
Damn... I stumbled on this song randomly, and I couldn't be happier that I did.
This is amazing.