Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (29 December 1946 – 30 January 2025) was … Read Full Bio ↴Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (29 December 1946 – 30 January 2025) was an English singer and actress. She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single "As Tears Go By" and became one of the lead female artists during the British Invasion in the United States.

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.

Coquillages
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics

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Des coquillages
De longs voyages
Rapportés par mon bien-aimé
Rapportés par mon bien-aimé
Rapportés par mon bien-aimé

Par mon bien-aimé
Par mon bien-aimé

Par mon bien
Par mon bien
Par mon bien-aimé

Je me promènerai
Le long de vallées
Aux côtés de mon bien-aimé
Aux côtés de mon bien-aimé
Aux côtés de mon bien-aimé

De mon bien-aimé
De mon bien-aimé
De mon bien
De mon bien
De mon bien-aimé

Puis quand je reviendrai
Je vous dirai
Celui qui va me marier
Celui qui va me marier
Celui qui va me marier

Va me marier
Va me marier
Marier
Marier

Va me marier

Quand le temps passe
L'amour vous lasse
Je n'aurai plus de bien-aimé
Je n'aurai plus de bien-aimé
Je n'aurai plus de bien-aimé

Plus de bien-aimé
Plus de bien-aimé
Plus de bien
Bien-aimé
Plus de bien-aimé

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Marianne Faithfull's "Coquillages" describe a woman's love and devotion to her partner, who has brought back seashells from his long voyages. The repeated words "rapportés par mon bien-aimé" (brought back by my beloved) emphasize the significance of these simple objects and the importance of the relationship between the two lovers. As the woman walks along valleys with her beloved, she imagines a future where she will marry him and happily share her life with him. However, as time passes, the woman's love eventually fades, and she realizes that she will no longer have a beloved partner to hold close.

The use of the term "coquillages" (seashells) is symbolic of the fragility of love, as they are delicate and easily broken. The constant repetition of "mon bien-aimé" (my beloved) further emphasizes the longing and affection that the woman has for her partner. The song portrays the woman's journey through life, from the excitement and hope for a future filled with love, to the eventual acceptance of the reality that love can also end in heartbreak and loss.

CoquillagesMarianne Faithfull Lyrics

Coquillages
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics