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.
Ashes In My Hand
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That big over the shoulder statement
But when it came, it flowed easy as poison
Taken in extreme despair [Repeat: x3]
Remember to write often
In case you have something to tell me,
But please don't mention the unexpected guest
A long lost confidence and pride
Come ringing back, come ringing back
To have the shadow back again
And happiness that feels like pain.
Then you left us
To see if you could find it
And when you came back, it flowed easy as poison
It flowed easy as poison
Taken in extreme despair [Repeat: x3]
A long lost confidence and pride
Come ringing back, come ringing back
To have the shadow back again
And happiness that feels like pain [Repeat: x2]
Happiness that feels like pain. [Repeats]
Marianne Faithfull's "Ashes In My Hand" is a deeply melancholic song that appears to be about someone who has returned to the singer's life after a long absence. The opening verse describes the moment when this person reveals something important to the singer, something that seems to have been building up for a while. The singer notes that the statement "flowed easy as poison," suggesting that it was both difficult to hear and difficult for the person to say. The repetition of the line "taken in extreme despair" underscores the intensity of the moment.
After this revelation, the singer asks the person to keep in touch and write often. There is a sense that something has changed between them, and the singer is trying to hold onto the connection. However, there is also a hint of unease in the lyric about an "unexpected guest" that the person should not mention. This line suggests that there are secrets or unresolved issues between the singer and the returning person. The line "staring into empty eyes" further emphasizes the emotional distance between them.
The second half of the song returns to the theme of lost confidence and pride, which has been hinted at throughout the lyric. The singer seems to be saying that having the person back in their life has brought back feelings of happiness, but this happiness is bittersweet and even painful. The repeating line "happiness that feels like pain" sums up the complex emotions the singer is experiencing.
Overall, "Ashes In My Hand" is a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the complexity of human emotions and relationships. It's a somber reflection on the difficulty of reconnecting with someone after a long absence and the mixed emotions that can arise when that person returns.
Line by Line Meaning
It took a long time coming
The event referred to in this song took a long time to happen, with anticipation building up over time.
That big over the shoulder statement
The event was significant and had far-reaching consequences.
But when it came, it flowed easy as poison
When the event finally happened, it happened quickly and had a destructive effect.
Taken in extreme despair [Repeat: x3]
The artist was overwhelmed by negative emotions as a result of the event.
Remember to write often
The artist is asking someone to keep in touch with her through writing.
In case you have something to tell me,
The singer wants to be kept informed about what is happening in the other person's life.
But please don't mention the unexpected guest
The singer wants to avoid hearing about something that would upset her.
Staring into empty eyes [Repeat: x3]
The artist is feeling lost and alone.
A long lost confidence and pride
The artist has regained her self-assurance and sense of dignity.
Come ringing back, come ringing back
These emotions have returned after a long absence.
To have the shadow back again
The singer has rediscovered a dark aspect of her personality or past.
And happiness that feels like pain.
The artist is experiencing a complex emotional state that is both joyful and painful.
Then you left us
Someone close to the singer went away.
To see if you could find it
This person left in search of something they had lost.
And when you came back, it flowed easy as poison
When this person returned, their presence had a negative effect on the singer.
Taken in extreme despair [Repeat: x3]
The artist's emotional state became very negative as a result of this person's return.
Happiness that feels like pain. [Repeats]
The artist is still feeling the complex emotional state that was introduced earlier in the song.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARIANNE FAITHFULL, BARRY REYNOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind