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.
Blazing Away
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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A place of no commitment, a place with no involvement.
I got one eye on insanity, the other on the wheel,
One's turning, one's burning, blazing away.
One's turning, one's burning, blazing away.
Strange-looking exile with a passion for the dangerous,
An eye for the wicked, a tongue for the nasty.
One's turning, one's burning, blazing away.
One's turning, one's burning, blazing away.
What is the reason that things change?
What is the reason they can never stay the same?
What can I do, what can I do?
Feel it, release it, things change.
Feel it, release it, things change.
Feel it, release it, things change.
What is the reason that things change?
What is the reason they can never stay the same?
What can I do, what can I do?
Feel it, release it, things change.
Feel it, release it, things change.
Feel it, release it, things change.
So searching, down and out looking for a place to stay,
A place of no commitment, a place with no involvement.
I got one eye on insanity, the other on the wheel,
One's turning, one's burning, blazing away.
One's turning, one's burning, blazing away.
The lyrics in Marianne Faithfull's song "Blazing Away" speak to a sense of disconnectedness and restlessness. The singer is searching for something but doesn't quite know what it is, looking for a "place of no commitment" and "no involvement." The repeated line "what is the reason that things change?" reflects this sense of uncertainty and highlights the impermanence of life. The singer acknowledges their own emotional instability by saying they have "one eye on insanity" and "one eye on the wheel," suggesting they are both the driver and the passenger in their own life. The repeated line "feel it, release it" seems to be a call to let go of this struggle and to embrace change as a necessary part of life.
The second verse introduces a sense of danger, as the singer describes themselves as a "strange-looking exile with a passion for the dangerous," and someone with an "eye for the wicked" and a "tongue for the nasty." This hint of menace adds to the sense of disconnection and unease in the song, as the singer seems to be on the fringes of society, looking in from the outside. The repeated line "one's turning, one's burning, blazing away" reinforces the idea of impermanence, and suggests that even as the singer moves forward, parts of them are left behind, "burning" or fading away.
One interesting interpretation of the song is that it can be read as an exploration of addiction. The repeated phrase "blazing away" could be interpreted as a reference to drug use, and the sense of restless searching and inability to commit to anything could reflect the way addiction can take over a person's life. The line "one's turning, one's burning" might refer to the way addiction can consume a person, burning away their past while they continue to turn in circles, always coming back to the same place.
Line by Line Meaning
So searching down and out looking for a place to stay
I am desperately seeking a location to reside. However, it should be one where there are no obligations or responsibilities.
A place of no commitment, a place with no involvement.
The place I want for me should require me to be not liable for anything and free from any close connections.
I got one eye on insanity, the other on the wheel,
One of my senses is focused on craziness, but the other is alert about the course of my life.
One's turning, one's burning, blazing away.
While one part of me is spinning fast, the other's flames keep burning with passion.
Strange-looking exile with a passion for the dangerous,
I am someone who appears to be different and has an attachment to the forbidden or risky things.
An eye for the wicked, a tongue for the nasty.
I have a nature that can detect evil and the capacity to talk about things that are inappropriate.
What is the reason that things change?
I am wondering why things tend to transform over time.
What is the reason they can never stay the same?
I am also wondering why nothing can remain static and inert.
What can I do, what can I do?
I am not sure what I can do about this process of change.
Feel it, release it, things change.
I anticipate that if I sense and free my thoughts, then a shift in my environment can occur.
Feel it, release it, things change.
I believe that to revamp reality, I have to become aware of it and then set it free.
One's turning, one's burning, blazing away.
My emotional instability and my intense desire for freedom are still on fire.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARIANNE FAITHFULL, BARRY REYNOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind