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.
Morning Come
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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I wait in darkness so long.
Will the sun ever rise again?
Hours flowing over me
I wait in vain for some change.
Will light ever pierce this pain?
Riding on a humming bird's wing,
Caravans fleeing from the East.
May the pilgrim join in the feast.
How will the morning be?
I watched the dawn in my dreams
And imagined the day for years.
Shall I feel warmth again
And feel it true when they say
That the day never ends in tears?
[Chorus]
Tell me please,
How will it come
This release,
A crack in the door.
Shall I feel warm again
And feel it true when they say
That the day never ends in tears?
Beyond and back of the wind
Little birds fly into the sea
Morning light shine on me
Oh, tell me please, how will she come
Surrounding me, the opening door?
[Chorus]
Beyond and back of the wind
Little birds fly into the sea
Morning light shine on me.
Riding on a humming bird's wing,
Caravans fleeing from the East
"Mornin Come" is a song by Marianne Faithfull that reflects on the idea of hope in the midst of darkness and despair. From the very first lines, the singer invites the listener to join her in her desperate longing for light to come after an extended period of darkness. Her melancholic voice accompanied by the piano builds a somber atmosphere of waiting, where every hour seems to be an eternity.
The verses follow Faithfull's reflection on the nature of time, questioning whether this waiting will ever end or whether any change will come at all. The chorus brings a sense of hope as images of freedom and warmth are depicted through mentions of hummingbird wings, caravans, and a feast that awaits. The singer desperately hopes that she will one day find release from her pain, as she muses on when and how it will come. The song ends with a gentle plea for morning light to shine on her and the hope that the day will bring some good.
Overall, "Mornin Come" is a song that deals with the complexities of the human experience. It speaks to the emotional journey through difficult times and how hope can be a powerful force that sustains, even in the midst of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
When will the morning come?
The singer wonders when their suffering will end.
I wait in darkness so long.
The singer has been enduring a long period of pain and sadness.
Will the sun ever rise again?
The singer is doubting whether things will ever get better.
Hours flowing over me
The artist feels like time is passing slowly and painfully.
I wait in vain for some change.
The artist has been waiting for a long time for something to happen that will make their situation better, but nothing has changed.
Will light ever pierce this pain?
The singer is hoping that something will happen to make their pain go away.
[Chorus]
The singer repeats the song's central idea: that they are waiting for relief from their suffering.
How will the morning be?
The artist is curious about what the future holds.
I watched the dawn in my dreams
The artist has been hoping for a better tomorrow for a long time.
And imagined the day for years.
The artist has been imagining what their life would be like without pain for a long time.
Shall I feel warmth again
The singer is hoping to feel happiness again.
And feel it true when they say
The artist is hoping that the promise of a better tomorrow will be fulfilled.
That the day never ends in tears?
The singer is hoping that the future will be bright and filled with joy.
[Chorus]
The singer repeats the song's central idea: that they are waiting for relief from their suffering.
Tell me please,
The singer is asking for information.
How will it come
The artist is asking for information about how their suffering will end.
This release,
The artist is hoping for relief from their pain.
A crack in the door.
The singer is hoping for a sign that things are getting better.
Shall I feel warm again
The singer is hoping to feel happiness again.
And feel it true when they say
The artist is hoping that the promise of a better tomorrow will be fulfilled.
That the day never ends in tears?
The artist is hoping that the future will be bright and filled with joy.
Beyond and back of the wind
The artist is thinking about going beyond their current situation.
Little birds fly into the sea
The singer is observing nature.
Morning light shine on me
The artist is hoping that something good will happen to them soon.
Oh, tell me please, how will she come
The singer is asking for information about how their relief will come.
Surrounding me, the opening door?
The singer is hoping for a sign that relief is on the way.
[Chorus]
The singer repeats the song's central idea: that they are waiting for relief from their suffering.
Beyond and back of the wind
The artist is thinking about going beyond their current situation.
Little birds fly into the sea
The artist is observing nature.
Morning light shine on me.
The singer is hoping that something good will happen to them soon.
Riding on a humming bird's wing,
The singer is imagining a magical escape from their pain.
Caravans fleeing from the East
The artist is imagining a journey to a new, better place.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARIANNE FAITHFULL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind