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.
Loneliest Person
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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You'll never be as lonely as me
You might be the loneliest person in the world
You'll never be as lonely as me
All the sky it seems dark
As I'm walking through the park
But your face is too bright to see
On an orange kind of sky
But the day seems too dark for me
You might be the loneliest person in the world
You'll never be as lonely as me
You might be the loneliest person in the world
You'll never be as lonely as me
All the sky it seems dark
As I'm running through the park
But your face is too bright to see
Or the sun might rise high
On an orange kind of sky
But the day it seems too dark for me
You might be the loneliest person in the world
You'll never be as lonely as me
You might be the loneliest person in the world
But you'll never be as lonely as me
The lyrics to Marianne Faithfull's song "Loneliest Person" reflect a sense of deep loneliness and isolation. The repetition of the line "You might be the loneliest person in the world, but you'll never be as lonely as me" emphasizes the singer's belief that her own loneliness surpasses that of anyone else.
The first verse introduces the contrast between the darkness of the sky and the brightness of someone's face. Despite the potential beauty around her, the singer is unable to fully appreciate it due to her overwhelming loneliness. The mention of walking through the park and the sun rising on an orange sky suggests that life continues to move forward, but the singer's internal darkness overrides any external positivity.
The second verse echoes the sentiments of the first, with the singer now running through the park. Again, her loneliness feels all-consuming, preventing her from fully experiencing the brightness in the world. The repetition of the phrase "But the day seems too dark for me" underscores the singer's ongoing struggle to find solace or connection.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of self-awareness and resignation. The singer acknowledges that others may also feel lonely, but she firmly believes that her own loneliness is unmatched. It speaks to the depth of her emotional pain and the feeling of being completely detached from others. These lyrics offer a poignant exploration of the profound experience of loneliness and the inherent subjectivity of one's own suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
You might be the loneliest person in the world
While you may feel incredibly lonely, there is a possibility that there are others who are even more lonely than you.
You'll never be as lonely as me
However, no matter how lonely you think you are, you can never truly understand or experience the depth of loneliness that I feel.
All the sky it seems dark
The sky appears gloomy and devoid of light, reflecting the somberness of the surroundings.
As I'm walking through the park
While I stroll through the park, the darkness of my inner emotions clouds my perception, making it challenging to find solace and connection with my surroundings.
But your face is too bright to see
Though there may be individuals around with radiant appearances, their brightness does not penetrate through my loneliness, rendering them unseen and distant.
Or the sun might rise high
Even if the sun ascends to its zenith, illuminating the world with its vibrant glow,
On an orange kind of sky
painting the sky with hues of orange and warmth,
But the day seems too dark for me
the day itself remains overshadowed by the burden of my loneliness, casting a shadow over any semblance of light or hope.
You might be the loneliest person in the world
Once again, I acknowledge that you may believe yourself to be the epitome of loneliness.
You'll never be as lonely as me
Yet, I want to emphasize that no matter how isolated you feel, you can never comprehend the profound depths of despair and solitude that consume my existence.
You might be the loneliest person in the world
Reiterating the possibility that you experience an immense sense of loneliness.
But you'll never be as lonely as me
Regardless, I firmly believe that no matter how isolated you feel, you will never truly fathom the unbearable loneliness that engulfs every fiber of my being.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alan Edward Waller, John Charles Alder, Philip Arthur Dennis May, Richard Clifford Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind