Born in Hampstead, London, Faithfull began her career in 1964 after attending a Rolling Stones party, where she was discovered by Andrew Loog Oldham. Her debut album Marianne Faithfull (released simultaneously with her album Come My Way on April 15, 1965) was a commercial success followed by a number of albums on Decca Records. From 1966 to 1970, she had a highly publicised romantic relationship with Mick Jagger. Her popularity was further enhanced by her film roles, such as those in I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967), The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968), and Hamlet (1969). However, her popularity was overshadowed by personal problems in the 1970s. During that time she was anorexic, homeless and a heroin addict.
Noted for her distinctive voice, Faithfull's previously melodic and higher-registered vocals (which were prevalent throughout her career in the 1960s) were affected by severe laryngitis, coupled with persistent drug abuse during the 1970s, permanently altering her voice, leaving it raspy, cracked and lower in pitch. This new sound was praised as "whisky soaked" by some critics and seen as having helped to capture the raw emotions expressed in Faithfull's music.
After a long commercial absence, Faithfull made a comeback with the 1979 release of her critically acclaimed album Broken English. The album was a commercial success and marked a resurgence of her musical career. Broken English earned Faithfull a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and is often regarded as her "definitive recording". She followed this with a series of albums, including Dangerous Acquaintances (1981), A Child's Adventure (1983) and Strange Weather (1987). Faithfull also wrote three books about her life: Faithfull: An Autobiography (1994), Memories, Dreams & Reflections (2007) and Marianne Faithfull: A Life on Record (2014).
Faithfull is listed on VH1's "100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll" list. She received the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Women's World Awards and was made a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France.
A Perfect Stranger
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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Someone to be around,
Someone to have me hold when the deal goes down.
Didn't I say it would happen this way in the end?
Didn't I say it would happen this way in the end?
A perfect stranger is what it seems,
A perfect stranger, a crazy dream,
Find myself a perfect stranger to do for now,
Someone who isn't like you but knows why and how.
Someone to walk away,
Someone who knows the time to leave or to stay.
Isn't it sad, baby, we never have it that way?
Isn't it sad, baby, we never have it that way?
A perfect stranger is what he seems,
A perfect stranger, a crazy dream,
A crazy dream.
Find myself a perfect stranger to take me there
Someone who isn't like you but know why and where
Soemone who's not afraid
Someone who's blind to all the promises made.
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it...
In Marianne Faithfull's song A Perfect Stranger, the lyrics express a desire to find someone who is not like the previous lover, but who can fill the emotional void left by that lover's departure. The singer longs for a "perfect stranger" who can be there for her in ways that the previous lover couldn't. She recognizes that this new person may not be perfect, but that they seem perfect in the moment, like a "crazy dream". The repetition of the lyric "Isn't it sad, baby, we never have it that way?" speaks to the singer's disillusionment with love and relationships.
The chorus emphasizes the idea of finding a "perfect stranger" as a temporary solution to heartbreak, someone who is not like the previous lover and can take the singer to a different emotional place. The repetition of the phrase "How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way" at the end of the song suggests that the singer is not truly satisfied with this arrangement and wishes for a deeper connection. Despite this longing, the singer recognizes that finding a "perfect stranger" to fill this temporary void may be necessary before moving on to a new, deeper relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone who isn't like you and to waste it all.
Someone different from you, who I can spend time with without it being a waste.
Someone to be around,
Someone to spend time with.
Someone to have me hold when the deal goes down.
Someone to comfort me when things get tough.
Didn't I say it would happen this way in the end?
I predicted that things would turn out like this.
A perfect stranger is what it seems,
The ideal partner for now appears to be someone I don't know well.
A perfect stranger, a crazy dream,
It seems like a wild idea to be seeking out someone I don't know well for companionship.
Find myself a perfect stranger to do for now,
I'll seek out someone I don't know well to spend time with in the short term.
Someone who isn't like you but knows why and how.
Someone who is different from you, but has the right knowledge and skills.
Someone to walk away,
Someone who knows when it's time to leave.
Someone who knows the time to leave or to stay.
Someone who has good judgment about when it's time to move on or stay put.
Isn't it sad, baby, we never have it that way?
It's a shame we can't always find someone who is perfect for us in the moment.
Find myself a perfect stranger to take me there
I'll look for someone I don't know well to accompany me on a journey.
Someone who isn't like you but know why and where
Someone who has different qualities than you, but knows the purpose and destination of our journey.
Soemone who's not afraid
Someone who is brave and unafraid.
Someone who's blind to all the promises made.
Someone who isn't swayed by promises or expectations.
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way
How do you feel about the fact that we can't always find the ideal companion in the moment?
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
We should keep searching for the ideal companion, even if it means seeking out a perfect stranger.
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
We shouldn't give up on finding the right companion, even if we have to start with someone we don't know well.
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
We should keep seeking out the ideal companion, even if it seems like a crazy dream.
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
Leaving things as they are isn't an option; we need to keep looking for the right person.
How does it feel, baby, we shouldn't leave it this way Perfect stranger
The right companion is out there somewhere, and we need to continue seeking them out.
Contributed by Mateo N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.