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.
Flaming September
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
September lives in flames
The sisters dancing
No happy ending to the game
Don't bother to call me
Think I'll stay here just the same
[Chorus]
What can you give me that is true?
Do you remember
Do you remember
Do you remember
All the life I gave to you?
The summer dying
September lives in flames
My youth lies bruised and broken
No happy ending to the game
Don't bother to tell me
I'll live on here just the same
[Chorus]
Flaming September
What can you show me that is true?
My heart remembers
Do you remember
Do you remember
All the life I gave
To you?
Flaming September
Flaming September
The lyrics of Marianne Faithfull's song Flaming September evoke a sense of melancholy, as the singer reflects on the passing of summer and the coming of autumn. She uses the metaphor of September living in flames to describe the intensity of this transition, and the image of the sisters' dancing suggests a bittersweet celebration of what is passing. The repeated refrain of "no happy ending to the game" reinforces the sense of loss and the inevitability of change.
The chorus of the song poses questions to September, asking what it can give or show the singer that is true, while also calling to mind memories of a past relationship. The line "all the life I gave to you" suggests that the singer has sacrificed something, perhaps even her youth, for this person or relationship in the past, and is now left wondering if it was worth it.
Overall, Flaming September captures a feeling of nostalgia and regret, but also resilience in the face of change.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer dying
The end of summer is near.
September lives in flames
The autumnal month of September is filled with heat and intensity.
The sisters dancing
Women are enjoying life and having fun.
No happy ending to the game
Life is unpredictable and can end abruptly without a happy outcome.
Don't bother to call me
I am content with being alone.
Think I'll stay here just the same
I prefer to stay where I am than to change anything.
Flaming September
The intense and fiery month of September.
What can you give me that is true?
Asking what is genuine about this intense period of life.
Do you remember
Asking the subject if they recall the past.
All the life I gave to you?
Reflecting on the time and effort spent on the subject themselves.
My youth lies bruised and broken
The singer feels battered and scarred from their life experiences.
Don't bother to tell me
The artist does not want to hear anyone's opinion or advice.
I'll live on here just the same
They will continue living as they are.
Flaming September
The intense and passionate month of September.
What can you show me that is true?
Asking what can be revealed during this intense time that will be genuine and honest.
My heart remembers
Despite everything, the artist's heart still holds onto memories.
Do you remember
Asking if the subject has the same memories.
All the life I gave to you?
Reflecting on the time and energy that was devoted to the subject.
Flaming September
The powerful and heated month of September.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANGELO BADALAMENTI, MARIANNE FAITHFULL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Argi Skelton
The summer dying
September lives in flames
The sisters dancing
No happy ending to the game
Don't bother to call me
Think I'll stay here just the same
Flaming September
What can you give me that is true?
Do you remember
Do you remember
Do you remember
All the life I gave to you?
The summer dying
September lives in flames
My youth lies bruised and broken
No happy ending to the game
Don't bother to tell me
I'll live on here just the same
Flaming September
What can you show me that is true?
My heart remembers
Do you remember
Do you remember
All the life I gave
To you?
Flaming September
Flaming September
palatinesouth
THANKS FOR THIS GEM!!! Gotta get the whole CD back in my life!
PGA PGA
this is really her best work here with Badalamento. Unique voice and sounds. Thanks!
Greg Dexter
That gives this song a whole new meaning. One of my favourites of her songs.
Stefan Djordjevic
She wrote this song about death of her lover Howard Tose. Amazing song
Kim Eden
This was a great album.
luisa osorio
Adoro a letra..
Bruno Prestat
Yes it's true, even in the beginning in 1965, the voice seems floating in the air upside the mélody, in my room.
marszradeckiego
amazing song. amazing person.
Argi Skelton
The summer dying
September lives in flames
The sisters dancing
No happy ending to the game
Don't bother to call me
Think I'll stay here just the same
Flaming September
What can you give me that is true?
Do you remember
Do you remember
Do you remember
All the life I gave to you?
The summer dying
September lives in flames
My youth lies bruised and broken
No happy ending to the game
Don't bother to tell me
I'll live on here just the same
Flaming September
What can you show me that is true?
My heart remembers
Do you remember
Do you remember
All the life I gave
To you?
Flaming September
Flaming September
Ελένη Μπέη
Thank you.