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.
Down From Dover
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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The secret I have tried concealing
When he left he promised me that he'd be
Back by the time it was revealing
The sun behind a cloud just casts the
Crawling shadow o'er the fields of clover
And the time is running out for me I
Wish that he would hurry down from Dover
He's been gone so long when he left
The show was deep upon the ground
And I have seen a spring and summer pass
And now the leaves are turning brown
And any time a tiny face will
Show it'self 'cause waiting's almost over
But I won't have a name to give it
If he doesn't hurry down from Dover
My folks weren't understanding when
They found out
They sent me from the home place
My daddy if folks found out he'd be
Ashamed to ever show his face
My mamma said I was a fool and she
Did not believe it when I told her
That everything would be all
Right 'cause soon
He would be coming down from Dover
I loved him more than anything and I could
Not refuse him when he needed me
He was the only one I'd loved and I
Just can't believe that he was using me
He couldn't leave me here like this I know
It can't be so it can't be over
He wouldn't make me go through this so long
Oh he'll be coming down from Dover
My body aches the time is here it's
Lonely in this place where I'm lyin'
Out baby has been born
But something's wrong it's
Much too still I hear no cryin'
I guess in some strange way she knew she'd
Never have a father's arms to hold her
And dying was her way of telling me
He wasn't coming down from Dover
The lyrics of Marianne Faithfull's Down From Dover tell a poignant story of a young woman who discovers she is pregnant but her lover is absent. She wears a dress that doesn't hide her secret and fears the judgment of her parents and society if they find out. She is alone, caring for an old lady on a farm, waiting for her lover to return before the baby's birth. As time passes, she realizes the futility of her hope and begins to accept her fate. The baby is stillborn, and in a heartbreaking twist, the woman senses that the baby somehow knew her father would not return from Dover, where he had promised to be.
The song is a powerful depiction of the consequences of love without responsibility and the hardships that fall upon women in patriarchal societies. The lyrics are from the perspective of the woman, who is unnamed, and her emotions are raw and unfiltered. The song speaks of the tragedy of loss and the courage to face it, and the acceptance of fate when hope is extinguished. The lyrics are deeply moving and relatable, and the simplicity of the melody underlines the power of the words.
Line by Line Meaning
I know this dress I'm wearing doesn't hide the secret I've tried concealing
I am pregnant, and the dress I'm wearing cannot hide my condition anymore.
When he left he promised me he'd be back by the time it was revealing
My partner promised to come back and be with me before my pregnancy started showing.
The sun behind a cloud just casts the crawling shadow o'er the fields of clover
The weather is dreary and the fields look sad and lonely.
And time is running out for me, I wish that he would hurry down from Dover
I am running out of time and I wish my partner would come back soon.
He's been gone so long, when he left the snow was deep upon the ground
My partner has been away for a long time - since the winter when there was deep snow.
And I have seen a spring and summer pass and now the leaves are turning brown
I have been waiting for him for a long time - through two seasons - and now the leaves are changing colors.
At any time a tiny face will show itself 'cause waiting's almost over
My baby is almost due, and I will soon give birth.
But I won't have a name to give it if he doesn't hurry down from Dover, from Dover, from Dover
I may not have a name for my baby if my partner does not return soon.
My folks weren't understanding, when they found out they sent me from the home place
My parents were not supportive when they found out about my pregnancy, so they sent me away from home.
My daddy said if folks found out he'd be ashamed to ever show his face
My father was ashamed of my pregnancy and did not want anyone to find out.
My mamma said I was a fool, she did not believe it when I told her
My mother did not believe me when I told her about my pregnancy and thought I was foolish.
Momma, everything's gonna be all right 'cause soon he would be coming down from Dover
I reassured my mother that everything will be okay because my partner will be coming back soon.
I found a place to stay out on a farm takin' care of that old lady
I found a place to stay on a farm, where I take care of an elderly woman.
She never asked me nuthin' so I never talked to her about my baby
The woman I am staying with never asked me anything, so I did not tell her about my pregnancy or baby.
I sent a messgae to my mom with a name and address of Ms. ol' Grover
I sent a message to my mother with the name and address of the woman I am staying with.
And to make sure he got that information when he came down from Dover
I want my partner to have the woman's information when he returns.
I loved him more than anything and I could not refuse him when he needed me
I loved my partner deeply and could not resist when he needed me.
He was the only one I'd loved and I just can't believe that he was usin' me
My partner was the only person I loved, and I cannot believe he used me and left me alone.
He wouldn't leave me here like this, I know it can't be so, it can't be over
I cannot believe that my partner would leave me alone in this state, and I still hold onto the hope that he will return.
He wouldn't make me go through this alone, he'll be coming down from Dover
I believe that my partner will come back to support me and our baby.
My body aches the time is here it's lonely in this place where I'm lying
I am in pain and feel alone in this place where I am giving birth.
Our baby has been born, but something's wrong, it's too still, I hear no crying
My baby was born, but there are complications and it is not crying.
I guess in some strange way she knew she'd never have a father's arms to hold her
My baby may have sensed that she would never have the love and support of her father.
So dying was her way of tellin' me he wasn't coming down from Dover, from Dover, from Dover
My baby passed away because she knew that her father would not be there for us.
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