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).
Pray for Me
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't love, I just lie
So pray, pray for me
And where you run
I run in tow
And where you're from
I long to know
How does a child know
Where mother's weakness goes
And where, and where the trouble grows
Well you will speak
And it shall be so
And what you say
Will be all I know
There was a time of weeks
I thought dogs barked at me
And I, and I had lost my mind
And the devil had put
His mark on me
And calls his branches
Shake your trees
That's not me from a-trying
That's the devil and his lying
Trying to make me lose my mind
So pray, oh pray for me
So you got my letter late
From when I permanently etched my name
Right, right into your soul
I cannot love
I want to be alone
I will not love
I want to be alone
That's not me from a-trying
That's the devil and his lying
Trying to make me when I'm trying to be good
So pray, pray for me
But where he runs
I run in tow
And where you're from
I long to know
And you will speak
And it shall be so
I cannot love
I want to be alone
Pray, pray for me
The lyrics of Laura Marling's "Pray for Me" explore the internal struggles of a person who may be battling mental illness or experiencing a crisis of faith. The opening lines suggest a sense of detachment from emotions, as the singer admits to "just lying" rather than feeling genuine love. It seems the singer is asking for prayer or guidance from a higher power, someone who can provide relief from their inner turmoil.
The middle of the song presents the idea of a close relationship that the singer wishes to understand better. They long to know where the person is from and what their weaknesses may be. There is a sense of codependency here, as the singer runs in tow with their lover and seems to rely on their words for guidance. The mention of dogs barking at the singer and the devil's mark on them suggests paranoia and a feeling of being possessed, which could be interpreted literally or metaphorically.
However, the final lines seem to contradict the earlier admission of not being able to love. The singer states that they cannot love but longs to know the origins of the person they run in tow with. Perhaps this implies that the singer wants to break out of their current state and form a meaningful connection. The repeated line "pray for me" throughout the song highlights the need for outside help or intervention.
Line by Line Meaning
Where does my lover lie
I am unsure where my love and beloved are.
I don't love, I just lie
I neither love nor speak the truth, only dishonesty and dishonestly do I portray.
So pray, pray for me
I request that you pray for me so that I can overcome my doubts and fears.
And where you run
Wherever you go,
I run in tow
I follow in your footsteps.
And where you're from
Where you originated,
I long to know
I desire to have knowledge of it.
How does a child know
A question that a child answers.
Where mother's weakness goes
Where a mother's vulnerability lies.
And where, and where the trouble grows
Also, where and how conflict begins and grows.
Well you will speak
Inevitably, you will talk,
And it shall be so
And things shall unfold as you say them.
And what you say
The words that come out of your mouth
Will be all I know
Will be the sole basis that I know about everything.
There was a time of weeks
For some weeks, at some point in the past,
I thought dogs barked at me
I believed that the dogs' barking was directed at me.
And I, and I had lost my mind
And I have gone crazy, mentally unstable.
And the devil had put
And I have been affected by the devil,
His mark on me
I display a particular or unique trait as a consequence of the devil's influence.
And calls his branches
Inviting the Devil's followers,
Shake your trees
And provoke them to torment and distress you.
That's not me from a-trying
The difficulty I am facing is not self-imposed efforts.
That's the devil and his lying
Instead, it is the outcome of the devil's mendacity.
Trying to make me lose my mind
The devil wants to take control of my thoughts and emotions and drive me insane.
So pray, oh pray for me
Therefore, I am beseeching you to pray ardently for me so that I can overcome this struggle.
So you got my letter late
So my message came to you tardily,
From when I permanently etched my name
When I engraved my name indelibly.
Right, right into your soul
Right into the core of your being.
I cannot love
I am unable to love,
I want to be alone
I wish to be isolated and unaccompanied,
I will not love
I have made up my mind, and I will not feel affection for anyone.
That's not me from a-trying
I am not striving towards that goal.
That's the devil and his lying
It's the adversary and his untruthfulness driving me towards these sentiments.
Trying to make me when I'm trying to be good
The devil is working against me, even when I am striving to be good.
Pray, pray for me
Therefore, I implore you to pray for me and help me achieve my goals.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind