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.
Falling From Grace
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Falling from grace, falling from grace.
Lord, you have a pretty face.
Take it away and pack it in a suitcase.
Then forget about falling from grace.
Don't look at me like that, I never said a word.
Don't ask me where I've been, I'll pretend I never heard.
I never said I will, I never said I won't.
[Chorus]
It's looking bad, I know, I'm an outlaw.
Don't pity me, I never felt like this before.
Please tell me you believe me, please say
I'll get along without you, anyway.
[Chorus]
Feeling hunted, I'm lying low.
Don't tell me who it is, I never said so.
Put yourself in my place, please try.
I never told the truth, I never told a lie.
[Chorus x 2]
[Repeats]
Falling from grace.
Falling from grace, falling from grace.
The lyrics to Marianne Faithfull's "Falling From Grace" convey a sense of desperation and isolation as the singer finds herself in a difficult situation. The chorus repeats the phrase "falling from grace" over and over, as if to emphasize the overwhelming sense of failure and defeat that the singer is experiencing. The line "Lord, you have a pretty face" may be interpreted as the singer mocking herself for being caught up in appearances and superficiality, as well as a nod to the societal expectation that women should be pretty and perfect. When the singer sings "take it away and pack it in a suitcase," she may be saying that she wants to rid herself of this superficial image, but feels trapped by it.
The verses tell the story of the singer's struggle to keep up appearances and maintain her composure, even as she is being judged and criticized by those around her. She implores those around her not to judge her or put her in the spotlight, as she is not ready to face the consequences of her actions. The line "please tell me you believe me" speaks to the singer's desperation for someone to understand and support her, even if she knows deep down that she has made mistakes. The final verse, where she speaks of feeling hunted and lying low, paints a picture of someone who is living in fear and constantly looking over her shoulder.
Overall, "Falling From Grace" is a haunting and emotional song that captures the complicated feelings of a person who has made mistakes and is struggling to find her way back to redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Falling from grace, falling from grace.
She's acknowledging the descent from her former position of virtue.
Lord, you have a pretty face.
Admission of loss of attraction towards worldly pleasures.
Take it away and pack it in a suitcase.
Distance is needed from whatever made her lose her righteousness.
Then forget about falling from grace.
Letting go of the past mistakes and moving on.
Don't look at me like that, I never said a word.
Denial of any wrongdoing and being falsely accused.
Don't ask me where I've been, I'll pretend I never heard.
Avoidance to answer any questions about recent activities.
Don't put it in the paper, please, don't!
Request to keep things quiet and not to let the news out.
I never said I will, I never said I won't.
Non-committal in response to being questioned.
It's looking bad, I know, I'm an outlaw.
She's aware that the situation doesn't look good and she's a persona non grata.
Don't pity me, I never felt like this before.
Rejection of any sympathy because she's experiencing something new to her.
Please tell me you believe me, please say
A plea for support from someone close to her.
I'll get along without you, anyway.
Assuring her independence and ability to manage alone.
Feeling hunted, I'm lying low.
She's feeling chased, therefore keeping a low profile.
Don't tell me who it is, I never said so.
Demanding silence in regards to any accusations.
Put yourself in my place, please try.
An attempt to make the listener understand her situation more sympathetically.
I never told the truth, I never told a lie.
Confession that she was not completely honest nor wholly deceitful.
Falling from grace, falling from grace.
Reiteration of the main point and theme of the song.
Falling from grace.
Final reminder of the downfall.
Falling from grace, falling from grace.
Last line and coda to the song.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BEN BRIERLEY, MARIANNE FAITHFULL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@saltywisdom
Falling from grace, falling from grace
Lord, you have a pretty face
Take it away and pack it in a suitcase
Then forget about falling from grace
Don't look at me like that
I never said a word
Don't ask me where I've been
I'll pretend I never heard
Don't put it in the paper - please, don't
I never said I will, I never said I won't
Falling from grace, falling from grace
Lord, you have a pretty face
Take it away and pack it in a suitcase
Then forget about falling from grace
It's looking bad I know, I'm an outlaw
Don't pity me, I never felt like this before
Please tell me you believe me, please say
I'll get along without you - anyway
Falling from grace, falling from grace
Lord, you have a pretty face
Take it away and pack it in a suitcase
Then forget about falling from grace
Feeling hunted, I'm lying low
Don't tell me who it is
I never said so
Put yourself in my place, please try
I never told the truth - I never told a lie
Falling from grace, falling from grace
Lord, you have a pretty face
Take it away and pack it in a suitcase
Then forget about falling from grace
Falling from grace, falling from grace
Lord, you have a pretty face
Take it away and pack it in a suitcase
Then forget about falling from grace
Falling from grace
Falling from grace, falling from grace...
@thomasreghi8501
Her career has had its ups and downs, like her rather bizarre history, and she always comes around, like she did with this song. A really good album, too.
@ColonPal
She's probably one of the most UNDERRATED artists in all of rock music! Her brilliance never ceases to amaze me!
@XmanSully
No she wasn't
@ColonPal
@XmanSully yes, she was. She’ll be remembered FOREVER! You’ll be forgotten the second you drop dead. Your children will forget who you were.
@villanelle8888
@@ColonPal No, they're saying she was never underrated and they're right. Explain why Marianne was "underrated".
@sotirisvramis3108
Η φωνη μιας νεραιδας .! Ασυγκριτη!!! Σε κομματι που "εγγραφεται" για παντα! Απο τα 12 μου οταν το πρωτοακουσα εως σημερα
@user-rb6hd1bd1z
μπορεις να γραψεις τους στιχους στα ελληνικα
@bittersweet6946
Amazing voice 😊
@petrospappas2748
She was the girl of the 60s, a teenage pop star hanging with the Beatles, inseparable from the Stones, high on the music and the drugs. Marianne Faithfull, now aged 70, looks back...Happy Birthday Marianne!....
@zari63
Amazing music Amazing Lady!!!!!!