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).
Once
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a heart so dark it's near blind
When I think about the life I've left behind
I still raise no praise to the sky
With my eyes on the prize of your bed
When all that's needed saying has been said
When I think about the life that I have led
Once, once is enough to break you
Once, once is enough to make you think twice
About laying your love out on the line
With all I now know to be true
And all I've figured out about you
All the crazy things a mind can do
I lay down to the sound of the truth
Once, once is enough to break you
Once, once is enough to make you think twice
About laying your little love out on the line
Oh, I was a child once
Oh, I was happy young
When all I didn't know needed doing
Had been done
The song "Once" by Laura Marling is a reflective piece about love and the effects it can have on a person's life. The opening lines depict a situation in which the singer contemplates their life and the decisions they have made. Despite having left behind a past life, the singer does not feel the need to praise anything or anyone. The land they now live in is theirs, yet their heart is so "dark it's near blind". This melancholic feeling is one that pervades the entire song - a sense of regret that seems to hang heavily over the singer.
The song echoes with a tone of resignation, with the singer speaking of their eyes being fixed on the prize of their lover's bed, suggesting that they have sacrificed a lot for the sake of love. They have already said all that needs to be said, and there is nothing left to do but lay down to the sound of the wise. The tone sounds almost mournful as the singer reflects on their life and the intensity of love they have experienced.
The chorus of the song, which repeats twice, emphasizes the central theme of the song - once is enough to break you, once is enough to make you think twice about laying your love out on the line. The song speaks to the heartache that can come with being vulnerable in love and the complexities and inner turmoil of such feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
In the land I now know to be mine
I have finally found my true home
With a heart so dark it's near blind
I am consumed by darkness and despair
When I think about the life I've left behind
I still reflect on my past but don't miss it
I still raise no praise to the sky
I do not seek solace or belief in a higher power
With my eyes on the prize of your bed
I only desire to be with you intimately
When all that's needed saying has been said
There's nothing more to be discussed or explained
When I think about the life that I have led
I contemplate my experiences so far
I lay down to the sound of the wise
I try to seek wisdom in the peace of sleep
Once, once is enough to break you
A single event can shatter one's world
Once, once is enough to make you think twice
A single experience can lead to caution
About laying your love out on the line
Putting your emotions at risk by being vulnerable
With all I now know to be true
I have gained clarity and understanding
And all I've figured out about you
I have learned about your nature and character
All the crazy things a mind can do
The human mind is capable of unpredictable behavior
I lay down to the sound of the truth
I try to seek honesty in the quiet of rest
Oh, I was a child once
I had a youthful innocence and naivety
Oh, I was happy young
I experienced joy in my younger days
When all I didn't know needed doing
I didn't need to worry about what I didn't understand
Had been done
Everything that was necessary had been completed
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind