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).
Strange Girl
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And throw them all away
No one left to listen to
Much left less to say
Working hard and getting on
Still not getting paid
Stay low, keep brave
Who refused to hold your hand
Kept falling for narcissists
Insist you call them man
You woke late for a job you hate
Which never fit the plan
Stay low, keep brave
I love you my strange girl
My lonely girl, my angry girl
My brave
I love you my strange girl
My lonely girl, my angry girl
My brave
Build yourself a garden
And have something to attend
Cut off all relations
'Cause you could not stand your friends
Announce yourself a socialist
To have something to defend
Oh, young girl, please
Don't bullshit to me
I love you my strange girl
My lonely girl, my angry girl
My brave
I love you my strange girl
My lonely girl, my angry girl
My brave
Changed how you feel
It's good to break the seal
I blew us both away
It's changing all the time
And it starts to blur the line
It's supposed to keep you safe
And you roll
Like a tidal wave
And you roll
Like a tidal wave
I love you my strange girl
My lonely girl, my angry girl
My brave
I love you my strange girl
My lonely girl, my angry girl
My brave
The song "Strange Girl" by Laura Marling tells the story of a woman who is struggling to find her place in life. The singer is told to throw away all her records and to stay low and keep brave. She wakes up in a country where she feels lonely and isolated, and she has fallen for narcissists who do not treat her well. She has a job that she hates and did not fit her plan. Instead of giving up, she decides to build herself a garden and cut off all relations because she could not stand her friends. She also announces herself a socialist to have something to defend.
The chorus of the song repeats, "I love you my strange girl, my lonely girl, my angry girl, my brave". This could be interpreted as someone saying those words to the singer, reminding her that she is not alone and that she is brave for facing her struggles.
In the latter part of the song, the singer is told to change how she feels and that it is good to break the seal. The singer "rolls like a tidal wave," which could represent her discovering her true self and embracing it.
Overall, "Strange Girl" is a message of hope and resilience for those who may be struggling to find their place in the world. It encourages people to build a life that makes them happy, even if it means cutting off toxic people and announcing different beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Get all your records out
Remove any attachment to the past that holds you back
And throw them all away
Completely let go and move on
No one left to listen to
Feeling unheard and isolated
Much left less to say
The struggle with expressing oneself
Working hard and getting on
Trying to succeed and make a living
Still not getting paid
Struggling financially despite hard work
Stay low, keep brave
Remain humble but persevere through difficulties
Woke up in a country
Feeling lost in one's surroundings
Who refused to hold your hand
Feeling unsupported by one's community
Kept falling for narcissists
Repeating patterns of toxic relationships
Insist you call them man
Ignoring red flags and making excuses for those who mistreat you
You woke late for a job you hate
Dreading and feeling stuck in a job that drains you
Which never fit the plan
Not fulfilling one's desired path in life
Build yourself a garden
Create your own safe space and happiness
And have something to attend
Invest in yourself and care for your own needs
Cut off all relations
Disconnect from unhealthy friendships
'Cause you could not stand your friends
Feeling suffocated and misunderstood in social circles
Announce yourself a socialist
Finding a belief system to stand for
To have something to defend
Standing up for one's values and ideals
Oh, young girl, please
Challenging someone's inauthenticity
Don't bullshit to me
Being truthful and honest in one's actions and words
Changed how you feel
The power of personal growth and transformation
It's good to break the seal
Breaking free from old limitations is liberating
I blew us both away
The impact of personal growth on oneself and others
It's changing all the time
Life's constant evolution
And it starts to blur the line
The journey towards self-discovery blurs the lines of what we know
It's supposed to keep you safe
Personal growth leads to safety and security within oneself
And you roll like a tidal wave
The feeling of being overwhelmed by emotions
I love you my strange girl
An expression of unconditional love and acceptance
My lonely girl, my angry girl
Acknowledging someone's complex emotional experiences
My brave
Praising someone for their courage and resilience
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Laura Marling
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
so
This gives me late 90s-early 2000s vibes. Like something straight out of Gilmore Girls.
It's quite magical.
Melissa
I heard this on the radio the other night and was so glad they were playing Laura Marling!
I was in the car with my twin brother and it was night time and we were being so silly singing it. A fantastic road trip song!!
mohamed hassan
This song spread good vibes around the room ❤️🔥
Lemur Squash
I only just heard her first time the other day and I love her music! This is my favorite song off of the new album. Some artists can make you feel a sense of strength and put a smile on your face! I'm lucky I've found another artist to do that.
Sophie
the lyrics are seriously relatable
Joan Mader
"Keep Brave" i say to my 'motherless' granddaughter....the lyrics & song's sentiments are visceral to my heart. Brava!
Philippe From Normandy
Gorgeous! And clearly with an intimate Lou Reed 70´s feeling. Love it!
Romy Igoe
A top track from one of the year's top albums.
Ascetic
That was great. Instrumentation (particularly at the beginning) reminds me of "Ramble On" (Led Zeppelin)
Mo Penman
Its SO Ramble On! 🏴