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.
Ne me quitte pas
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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Je ne pourrai pas, ne pars pas, j'en mourrai!
Un instant sans toi et je n'existe pas,
Mais mon amour, ne me quitte pas.
Mon amour, je t'attendrai toute ma vie,
Reste près de moi, reviens, je t'en supplie!
J'ai besoin de toi, je veux vivre pour toi,
Oh, mon amour, ne me quitte pas.
Ils se sont éloignés dans un dernier regard.
Oh, je t'aime! - ne me quitte pas.
Non, je ne pourrai jamais vivre sans toi,
Je ne pourrai pas, ne pars pas, j'en mourrai!
Un instant sans toi et je n'existe pas,
Oh, mon amour, ne me quitte pas.
Mon amour, je t'attendrai toute ma vie,
Reste près de moi, reviens, je t'en supplie!
J'ai besoin de toi, je veux vivre pour toi,
Oh, mon amour, ne me quitte pas.
Marianne Faithfull's "Ne me quitte pas" is a poignant love song that speaks to the deep emotional bond between two people who are unable to live without each other. The song opens with the singer declaring that she could never live without her lover, and that the mere thought of his departure would leave her devastated. She further laments that without him, she cannot exist. The chorus entreats her lover not to leave her, emphasizing the great depth of her love for him.
The second verse of the song tells a story of a couple separating on a train platform, with the parting glance between them filled with emotion and the declaration of love. The song reprises with the same melody and lyrics from the first verse and chorus.
Overall, the song is a raw, emotional appeal to the one you love to stay with you and never leave, a universal sentiment that has touched the hearts of countless listeners in the years since its release.
Line by Line Meaning
Non, je ne pourrai jamais vivre sans toi,
Without you, I cannot survive, it is impossible for me to live.
Je ne pourrai pas, ne pars pas, j'en mourrai!
If you leave, it will kill me, I beg you not to go.
Un instant sans toi et je n'existe pas,
I cannot exist without you, even for a moment.
Mais mon amour, ne me quitte pas.
But my love, don't leave me.
Mon amour, je t'attendrai toute ma vie,
My love, I will wait for you my entire life.
Reste près de moi, reviens, je t'en supplie!
Please stay with me, come back to me.
J'ai besoin de toi, je veux vivre pour toi,
I need you, I want to live for you.
Oh, mon amour, ne me quitte pas.
Oh, my love, don't leave me.
Ils se sont séparés sur le quai d'une gare.
They parted ways on a train station platform.
Ils se sont éloignés dans un dernier regard.
They drifted apart in one last look.
Oh, je t'aime! - ne me quitte pas.
Oh, I love you! - don't leave me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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