Laura Marling (born 1st February 1990) is a folk singer/songwriter/guitaris… Read Full Bio ↴Laura Marling (born 1st February 1990) is a folk singer/songwriter/guitarist from Eversley, United Kingdom.

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).

Shine
Laura Marling Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have traveled past your window many times
I find your face too hard to define
I can touch you, hollow thing, you plague my mind
I can never go outside
I will never go back to being blind

I have wondered what you're doing
Everyday since last I asked

Are your cheeks hollow?
I don't like your eyes dark

I need shine, I need shine, I need shine
Step away from my light, I need shine

I am honest, no, not a shouter
I am reformed, reborn, and forgiven
And you've been busy but you've missed me
And I've plagued your mind
You will never go outside
You will never go back to being blind

I need shine, I need shine, I need shine
Step away from my light, I need shine

I need shine, I need shine, I need shine
Step away from my light, I need shine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Laura Marling's song Shine delve into the concept of illumination, both literal and metaphorical. The singer talks about traveling past someone's window many times, finding their face too hard to define. The person seems to haunt the singer's mind and they cannot go outside, indicating a sense of confinement or captivity. However, the singer expresses a desire for shine, a glimmer of light or hope that will dispel the darkness surrounding them. They ask the person to step away from their light, indicating that the person might be blocking their path to enlightenment or self-discovery.

The second stanza sees the singer wondering what the person is doing and expressing displeasure at their hollow cheeks and dark eyes. The person seems to be a negative influence on the singer's life and is associated with darkness and emptiness. The singer then declares their own honesty and claims to be reformed, reborn, and forgiven, contrasting with the negative attributes of the person they are addressing. The final stanza sees the singer claiming to have plagued the person's mind and forecasting that they will never go outside or go back to being blind. The repeated refrain of "I need shine" indicates that the singer is on a quest for enlightenment or a way out of their current predicament.

Overall, Shine can be interpreted as a song about a struggle between darkness and light, confinement and freedom, and negative influences and positive ones. The singer seems to be searching for a way out of their confinement and towards a brighter future, but is hindered by the person they address in the song. However, the singer's determination to find shine suggests that they will ultimately prevail.

Line by Line Meaning

I have traveled past your window many times
I have journeyed by your window across time and again

I find your face too hard to define
Your appearance is a puzzling task for me

I can touch you, hollow thing, you plague my mind
Although you're lifeless, you affect my thoughts

I can never go outside
I cannot step out of my comfort zone

I will never go back to being blind
I won't revert to ignorance and naivety

I have wondered what you're doing
I have been curious about your actions

Everyday since last I asked
Everyday since the last time I enquired

Are your cheeks hollow?
Do you have sunken cheeks?

I don't like your eyes dark
I am not fond of your dark eyes

I need shine, I need shine, I need shine
I require light, I require radiance, I require gleam

Step away from my light, I need shine
Get away from my light, I require to shine