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.
Hello Stranger
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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Hello stranger
Who is that person in the mirror, it's not me
Whatever happened to the one that I used to be?
Is she just another fading memory?
Hello stranger
Hello stranger
Hello stranger
Every night you're always in my bed
Every day you stay inside my head
Oh, how I wish that I was there instead
Of some sad stranger
Some sad stranger
Hello stranger
The song Hello Stranger by Marianne Faithfull is a powerful introspective piece that speaks to the inherent discomfort that people feel as they change and grow over time. The first two lines of the song set the tone with the singer questioning the person they see in the mirror. They observe that the person staring back at them isn't who they used to be and wonder where that person went.
As the song continues, the singer acknowledges that the person they used to be is becoming more of a memory, fading away as they change and grow. The refrain of the song, "Hello Stranger," serves as a reminder of how much they've altered, both physically and emotionally.
The chorus of the song emphasizes how the singer is constantly grappling with their changing identity. They're consumed by thoughts of their past selves, and they long to return to a time when everything felt stable and familiar. In essence, the song is a poignant exploration of the human experience - a reminder that we're all constantly evolving, and that change can be both exhilarating and uncomfortable.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello stranger
Greeting to the unfamiliar version of myself
Hello stranger
Encounter with the unknown person inside me
Who is that person in the mirror, it's not me
Questioning the identity of the reflection that looks different than before
Whatever happened to the one that I used to be?
Pondering the disappearance of the former self
Is she just another fading memory?
Wondering if the past self is vanishing from memory
Every night you're always in my bed
Struggling to forget memories and thoughts before bedtime
Every day you stay inside my head
Continued preoccupation with the past self throughout the day
Oh, how I wish that I was there instead
Expressing a desire to return to the past self
Of some sad stranger
Regretting the unfamiliarity of the current self
Some sad stranger
Acknowledging the sadness and disconnect with their current self
Hello stranger
Repeating the greeting as a reminder of the internal conflict
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOC POMUS, MAC REBENNACK, MALCOLM J. REBENNACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind