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).
Undine
Laura Marling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where Undine last was seen
I was told that if you saw her
It should make you more naive
Made my steps towards the shore
She sang her love at me
Oh Undine so sweet and pure
Make me more naive
Oh Undine, knowing I'd love this lovely scene (?)
There were ropes around my wrist
And the tide pulled at her hair
Pulling her away from me
And me away from there
Yes the water tried to take her
Tried to make poor Undine hide
But she fought herself against it
Love in her had not yet died
Oh Undine, sing your love to me
Oh Undine, fight your way, fight your way
You live for the sea
Undine, you live for the sea
You cannot, you cannot
What's going on in there?
What's going on in there?
Let me in
It's cold there in December
So I took my coat and left
Left Undine by the embers
That's all our fire had left
Left Undine by the shore
Where she sang her love at me
Oh Undine so sweet and pure
Knowing I'd love this lovely scene (?)
You live for the sea
Undine, you live for the sea
You cannot, you cannot
What's going on in there?
What's going on in there?
Let me in
You live for the sea
Undine, you live for the sea
You cannot, you cannot
You cannot love me
The lyrics of Laura Marling's song Undine sound like a mix of a fairytale and a love story that takes place by the water. Undine refers to a water spirit in European folklore, and the song seems to be about a man who is looking for Undine by the water's edge. He has been told that if he sees her, it will make him more naive. When he finds her, she sings her love to him, but their time together is cut short when ropes are tied around his wrists, and the tide pulls her away from him. He watches as they are separated, but she fights against the water's pull and refuses to hide. The chorus repeats, with the man asking Undine to sing her love to him and to fight her way back to him.
The second verse finds the man by himself, with only memories of Undine by the fire. Undine's attachment to the sea is once again emphasized, and she tells him that she cannot love him. The song ends with the repeated plea to let him in, as if he is unable to fully connect with Undine and her world. The lyrics are poetic and somewhat enigmatic, but the underlying themes of love, loss, and fighting against the forces that try to tear people apart are clear.
Line by Line Meaning
Made my steps towards the water
I walked towards the water
Where Undine last was seen
Where the mythical water spirit was last seen
I was told that if you saw her
I heard that if you see her
It should make you more naive
It should make you more innocent
Made my steps towards the shore
I walked towards the land
She sang her love at me
She expressed her love to me through song
Oh Undine so sweet and pure
Oh Undine, so kind and innocent
Make me more naive
Make me more innocent
Oh Undine, sing your love to me
Oh Undine, express your love to me through song
Oh Undine, knowing I'd love this lovely scene (?)
Oh Undine, knowing I would enjoy this beautiful setting
There were ropes around my wrist
My wrists were bound with ropes
And the tide pulled at her hair
The water's current pulled her hair
Pulling her away from me
Taking her away from me
And me away from there
And taking me away from that place
Yes the water tried to take her
The water attempted to take her
Tried to make poor Undine hide
Tried to make Undine disappear
But she fought herself against it
But she resisted
Love in her had not yet died
Her love had not yet died
Oh Undine, fight your way, fight your way
Oh Undine, fight against the current
You live for the sea
You belong to the sea
Undine, you live for the sea
Undine, you belong to the sea
You cannot, you cannot
You cannot change
What's going on in there?
What is happening?
Let me in
Let me be a part of it
It's cold there in December
It's cold there during December
So I took my coat and left
So I grabbed my coat and departed
Left Undine by the embers
I left Undine by the fireplace
That's all our fire had left
That's all the warmth we had left
Left Undine by the shore
I left Undine by the coast
Knowing I'd love this lovely scene (?)
Knowing I would enjoy this beautiful setting
You cannot love me
You cannot love me
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind