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.
Crazy Love
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blazing contempt for human life and lies
Murder as art and what he knows he knows
From life and fear in other people's eyes
Crazy love is all around me
Love is crazy love is kind
But I know somehow you'll find me
She walks the boulevard without a care
Knowing too much but having come so far
Pretending life is just a game you play for nothing
Loving no one and no where
Crazy love is all around me
Love goes crazy given time
But I know somehow you'll find me
Love is crazy love is blind
She looks as if expecting a surprise
Maybe an encounter that will change her life
Not knowing hot from cold or good for bad
If life is just a joke or if it makes her sad
Crazy love is all around me
Love is crazy love is kind
But I know somehow you'll find me
Love is crazy love is blind
Crazy love is all around me
Love goes crazy given time
But I know somehow you'll find me
Love is crazy love is blind
The opening lines of Marianne Faithfull’s song Crazy Love describe a despicable character who is hated by all and does not spare anyone his contempt. He is indifferent to human life and has an unnerving ability to read fear in other people’s eyes. He sees murder as an art and revels in his knowledge of it. Despite his malevolence, he too is a victim of love. Crazy love is omnipresent, perhaps even possessing him. Love is crazy, and love is blind. Faithfull then switches the narrative to a woman who walks the boulevard seemingly unfettered, but she knows too much, having come a long way. However, her life is a façade; she plays the game of life without loving anyone, and with no specific destination in mind.
Faithfull is most likely commenting on the human condition, and how love and life are but elements of a larger paradox that they cannot escape. The people she describes are like us in that they find themselves surrounded by crazy love, whether they want it or not. The notion of love being blind is significant because it shows how love can shield us from the truth and help us deceive ourselves, causing us to make terrible mistakes. The imagery of walking the boulevard hints at the dangers of making your way in life without anyone to help or care for you. It is a bleak reality that Marianne Faithfull eloquently highlights in this song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hated by all and everywhere he goes
He is despised and detested by everyone he encounters, no matter where he may go.
Blazing contempt for human life and lies
He has a vehement disdain for the value of humanity and the truth.
Murder as art and what he knows he knows
He considers murder as form of art and is certain of what he knows and believes.
From life and fear in other people's eyes
The reason for his beliefs could be due to the way he perceives life and the fear he has witnessed in the eyes of others.
She walks the boulevard without a care
She wanders through the streets without a worry or a concern.
Knowing too much but having come so far
She has learned much, but she has also traveled a great distance on her journey.
Pretending life is just a game you play for nothing
She is pretending that life holds no real value and is all just a meaningless game.
Loving no one and no where
She is not capable of or interested in loving anyone or any place.
She looks as if expecting a surprise
She gives the impression of anticipating something unexpected.
Maybe an encounter that will change her life
Perhaps she is hoping to come across an experience that will alter the course of her existence.
Not knowing hot from cold or good for bad
She is uncertain about distinguishing between opposing states such as hot and cold, or identifying what is good versus bad.
If life is just a joke or if it makes her sad
She wonders if life is truly meaningless and just a joke or if it does indeed bring her pain.
Crazy love is all around me
She is surrounded by a love that is crazy and out of control.
Love is crazy love is kind
Love, though unpredictable, can also be gentle and good-natured.
But I know somehow you'll find me
She is confident that no matter what happens, this love will find her.
Love goes crazy given time
Over time, love can become irrational and unreasonable.
Love is crazy love is blind
Love can lead us astray and blind us from reason and logic.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Van Morrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Marianne Faithfull - Crazy Love Lyrics
Hated by all and everywhere he goes
Blazing contempt for human life and lies
Murder as art and what he knows he knows
From life and fear in other people's eyes
Crazy love is all around me
Love is crazy love is kind
But I know somehow you'll find me
Love is crazy love is blind
She walks the boulevard without a care
Knowing too much but having come so far
Pretending life is just a game you play for nothing
Loving no one and no where
Crazy love is all around me
Love goes crazy given time
But I know somehow you'll find me
Love is crazy love is blind
She looks as if expecting a surprise
Maybe an encounter that will change her life
Not knowing hot from cold or good for bad
If life is just a joke or if it makes her sad
Crazy love is all around me
Love is crazy love is kind
But I know somehow you'll find me
Love is crazy love is blind
Crazy love is all around me
Love goes crazy given time
But I know somehow you'll find me
Love is crazy love is blind
Didadou
Détesté par tous et partout où il va
Un mépris brûlant pour la vie humaine et les mensonges
Le meurtre comme un art et ce qu'il sait, il le sait.
De la vie et de la peur dans le regard des autres
L'amour fou est tout autour de moi
L'amour est fou l'amour est gentil
Mais je sais que d'une manière ou d'une autre tu me trouveras
L'amour est fou l'amour est aveugle
Elle marche sur le boulevard sans se soucier de rien
Elle en sait trop, mais elle est allée si loin
Prétendant que la vie n'est qu'un jeu auquel on joue pour rien
N'aimant personne et nulle part
L'amour fou est tout autour de moi
L'amour devient fou avec le temps
Mais je sais que tu me trouveras d'une manière ou d'une autre
L'amour est fou, l'amour est aveugle
Elle a l'air de s'attendre à une surprise
Peut-être une rencontre qui va changer sa vie
Ne sachant pas ce qui est chaud ou froid ou bon ou mauvais
Si la vie est juste une blague ou si elle la rend triste
L'amour fou est tout autour de moi
L'amour est fou l'amour est gentil
Mais je sais que d'une manière ou d'une autre tu me trouveras
L'amour est fou, l'amour est aveugle
L'amour fou est tout autour de moi
L'amour devient fou avec le temps
Mais je sais que d'une manière ou d'une autre tu me trouveras
L'amour est fou l'amour est aveugle
Tam Smith
haunting, sad, mesmerizing, dark and beautiful......Her voice is like a warm silk pillow to immerse yourself in
LacrimaeMaris
Haunting indeed... "If life is just a joke or if it makes her sad" This song is so true that it hurts. Beautiful.
DirkjeA
Beautiful voice for a beautiful song. Moves deep into my soul...
Clive Litten
I love this song, something really sad but poignant, it seems to bring out the sadness in life that the singer has experienced, and I know that Marianne has experienced sadness and perhaps regret.
Dimitris Koromilas
this album is full of love & pain. I love it
Morrigan Ravenchild
That life experienced voice is something else and with this song = perfection. Always been a fan since the sixties she never disappoints in her recordings.
Wayne Shum
I start listening to her sweet angelic voice As tears go by ,this little bird in 1967
to broken English and till today !,a real musician Marriane !
Francisco Heitor
Maravilhosa cantora fantástica....
M.E. Nyman
She sings it with such experience in her that she is almost like my mother or aunt... and it's easily wonderful
Rui M.
A música é a minha companhia! Toda a música tem a sua Alma , a sua criação, como todos os seres do Universo!"Fabuloso ".