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.
Come And Stay With Me
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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And I'll forsake all of my life
Yes I'll be as true as true can be
If you'll come and stay with me.
Lovers of the past I'll leave behind
There'll never be another on my mind
I'll do all I can so you'll feel freeIf you come and stay with me
The promises I made most faithfully
I'll keep them still should you decide to leave
I'll try and see that you have all you need
If you'll come and stay with me
We'll live a life no one has ever known
But I know you're thinking that I'm hardly grown
I'll do all I can so you'll feel free
If you'll come and stay with me.
But oh thank God at last and finally
I could see you're gonna stay with me
The lyrics to Marianne Faithfull's "Come And Stay With Me" depict a narrator who is willing to shed her pretenses and let go of her past to fully embrace a new love. She promises to be true and faithful, leaving her old lovers behind and doing whatever it takes to make her new partner feel free and happy. Despite her fears of being judged or seen as immature, she is determined to create a life of love and joy with her beloved - a life that no one else has ever experienced before. In the end, when she realizes that her partner has decided to stay with her, she is relieved and grateful.
The song can be read as a declaration of love, a call to let go of past mistakes and regrets, and an embrace of vulnerability in the face of new possibilities. The singer's willingness to be true, faithful and selfless in her love speaks to the transformative power of love in people's lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll send away all my false pride
I will let go of my vanity and ego.
And I'll forsake all of my life
I will give up everything in my life, for you.
Yes I'll be as true as true can be
I'll always be honest and truthful even to myself.
If you'll come and stay with me.
If only you would be with me, it'll be worth it.
Lovers of the past I'll leave behind
I'm willing to let go of the past and move on with you.
There'll never be another on my mind
You will be the only one I think of.
I'll do all I can so you'll feel free
I will support you and make you feel unbound.
If you come and stay with me
If only you would stay with me.
The promises I made most faithfully
I will keep my word to you with utmost sincerity.
I'll keep them still should you decide to leave
Even if you leave, I will still keep my promises to you.
I'll try and see that you have all you need
I will make sure you have all that you require.
If you'll come and stay with me
If only you would make the choice to be with me.
We'll live a life no one has ever known
Together, we can make a life that's unique and ours alone.
But I know you're thinking that I'm hardly grown
Perhaps, you underestimate me.
I'll do all I can so you'll feel free
I will give you the space and support to be independent.
If you'll come and stay with me.
But only if you'll make that choice to be with me.
But oh thank God at last and finally
Finally, we can be together and my gratitude knows no bounds.
I could see you're gonna stay with me
I see that you've chosen to stay and it brings me joy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JACKIE DE SHANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind