Marian was born into a family of musicians and artists, and she was raised on a steady diet of Bach, Beethoven, and Joni Mitchell in her hometown of Gig Harbor, Washington. Over twenty years she has performed with chamber choirs, jazz combos, early music groups, rock bands, a gospel choir, and experimental music ensembles, and all of these influences (and more) meet and mingle in her own writing. She completed her bachelor’s degree in composition and vocal performance at Stanford University in 2004. After graduation, she spent two years pouring coffee, waiting tables, and listening to good music in Anchorage coffee shops, slowly learning about the craft of songwriting through osmosis and eventually through practice. She continues to write and record in Anchorage and looks forward to collaborating with friendly musicians from all backgrounds.
The Underground
Marian Call Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I know the sun's up; I can't sleep I can't think I can't fight
Wake me up or let me sleep
But don't wait on the dreams I don't keep
I'm different from you -- it's hard but it's true
So love, let me be the me that you knew
Morning is coming one bird at a time
But the walls are a trap kit, the furniture moans at the joints
Be my rock or be my sand
But don't hold out for news of my plans
I'm different from you -- it's hard but it's true
So love let me be, I'll walk us both through
Morning is coming one bird at a time
Wake me with voices of pardon and voices of peace
Walk with me over the threshold and shoulder your grief
Let's be the traffic lights, let's be the train
Let's be the mittens left out in the rain
Let's be each other and let's be together again
This house has no windows; you'd think it would keep out the light
Though a new day don't mean much to someone who has to be right
Work my nerves or work your wiles
But don't bank on a change in my style
I'm different from you -- it's hard but it's true
Still I'd rather be sadder and wiser with you
Morning is coming one bird at a time
Marian Call's song "The Underground" explores the idea of feeling trapped, both internally and externally. The opening line, "This house has no windows; you'd think it would keep out the light," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is trapped in a house that should be dark, but they can feel the sun's presence regardless. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for mental confinement; even when there is no visible external source of light, the darkness can't engulf the mind completely, and thoughts can still creep in.
The chorus, "Wake me up or let me sleep / But don't wait on the dreams I don't keep," expresses a desire to be freed from their own mind, but also an acknowledgment that they can't escape entirely. The lines "Be my rock or be my sand / But don't hold out for news of my plans" show a desire for companionship and support, but also a fear of being judged for their actions. The singer is different from others, and while they yearn for connection, they fear being misunderstood.
The final lines of the song, "Still I'd rather be sadder and wiser with you / Morning is coming one bird at a time," show a willingness to accept sadness and hardship if it means being able to share an authentic connection with someone else. The singer may be trapped in their own mind and home, but the idea of companionship offers solace and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
This house has no windows; you'd think it would keep out the light
Despite the lack of windows, the light still seeps in and disrupts my peace
But I know the sun's up; I can't sleep I can't think I can't fight
The sunrise is a reminder of my inability to sleep or focus on anything, much less fight
Wake me up or let me sleep
I'm torn between wanting to wake up and face reality or sleep and avoid it altogether
But don't wait on the dreams I don't keep
Don't hold your breath for me to achieve or fulfill any dreams, as I'm not capable of it
I'm different from you -- it's hard but it's true
I acknowledge that I'm not like most people, and it's difficult for me to fit in or feel understood
So love, let me be the me that you knew
Despite my differences, I hope that you can love and accept me for who I am
Morning is coming one bird at a time
The morning is slowly approaching, but it's happening gradually, much like a bird singing one note at a time
This house has no windows you'd think it would keep out the noise
Despite the lack of windows, the noise still permeates the walls and objects in the house
But the walls are a trap kit, the furniture moans at the joints
The walls and furniture seem to contain and amplify the noise, making it even more oppressive
Be my rock or be my sand
Either be a stable and supportive force in my life or let me drift away like sand
But don't hold out for news of my plans
Don't expect me to have any concrete plans or ideas for the future
So love let me be, I'll walk us both through
I hope that you can love and accept me enough to let me take the lead sometimes, even if it's difficult
Wake me with voices of pardon and voices of peace
If you need to wake me up, please do so with kind and forgiving words, rather than harsh ones
Walk with me over the threshold and shoulder your grief
Come with me into the future and don't let your past hardships hold us back
Let's be the traffic lights, let's be the train
Let's work together and be a guiding force for each other's lives
Let's be the mittens left out in the rain
Let's weather the storms of life together, even if we get a little worn out like wet mittens
Let's be each other and let's be together again
Let's be each other's support system and stay together through thick and thin
Though a new day don't mean much to someone who has to be right
The start of a new day isn't significant to me if I'm too focused on being right all the time
Work my nerves or work your wiles
You can either annoy me or charm me, but I'm still me either way
But don't bank on a change in my style
Don't expect me to change my behavior or personality anytime soon
Still I'd rather be sadder and wiser with you
Even if life is difficult sometimes, I'd still rather go through it with you and gain wisdom along the way
Morning is coming one bird at a time
Once again, the morning is slowly approaching, one bird song at a time
Contributed by Hailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.