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.
She's Got A Problem
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the end will I go on minding that you've gone?
Will the night always seem so long?
Is it really darkest before dawn?
Will I see whiskey as a Mother in the end?
In the end will I smash my brains with drinking?
Till I fall down on the floor
Saying things I never meant?
Will I kiss and cry and wake to find
A sordid stranger by my bed?
Will the world shake its sensible head
And say the words that have to be said?
She's got a problem
Every problem has solution in the end
And solutions must be final
For help gets so unhelpful near the end
When I take my last ride
Down the big dipper slide
Will I care, will it matter
If the world should say?
She had a problem
She had a problem
She had a problem
In the end will it matter that you've gone?
In the end will I go on minding that you've gone?
Will the night always seem so long?
Is it really darkest before dawn?
Will I see whiskey as a Mother in the end?
The lyrics of Marianne Faithfull's "She's Got a Problem" revolve around the themes of loss, addiction, and regret. The song is written in a first-person perspective, narrated by someone who is questioning the consequences of their actions and choices. The lines "In the end will it matter that you've gone?" and "In the end will I go on minding that you've gone?" depict the fear of being alone and facing the consequences of one's choices. The lyrics show that the singer is grappling with the notion that their addiction to alcohol may leave them with nothing in the end, except for regret.
The lines "Will I see whiskey as a mother in the end?" and "Will I smash my brains with drinking? Till I fall down on the floor" reveal the singer's addiction to alcohol and its impact on their life. The lyrics suggest that the singer may resort to self-destructive behavior, drinking excessively until they pass out. The line "She's got a problem" repeats throughout the song and serves as a reminder of the singer's ongoing struggle with addiction.
Towards the end of the song, there's a glimmer of hope as the singer muses that "every problem has a solution in the end" and "solutions must be final." However, the ending of the song is bleak as the singer wonders if their life and choices will matter in the end, showing the fear of leaving behind a legacy that solely includes their addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
In the end will it matter that you've gone?
Will I still be affected by your absence in the future?
In the end will I go on minding that you've gone?
Will I continue to worry and think of you after you leave?
Will the night always seem so long?
Will every night seem longer without you here?
Is it really darkest before dawn?
Does it have to get worse before it gets better?
Will I see whiskey as a Mother in the end?
Will I turn to alcohol to ease my pain?
In the end will I smash my brains with drinking?
Will I turn to drinking so much that it becomes harmful?
Till I fall down on the floor
To the point where I pass out on the ground?
Will I hiccup and jabber
Will I slur and have trouble speaking?
Saying things I never meant?
Saying things that I do not truly feel or believe?
Will I kiss and cry and wake to find
Will I experience intense emotions and wake up next to a stranger?
A sordid stranger by my bed?
A questionable person who I do not know well?
Will the world shake its sensible head
Will the people in my life judge me for my actions?
And say the words that have to be said?
And criticize me for my choices?
Every problem has solution in the end
Eventually, every problem has a solution
And solutions must be final
Solutions must be permanent and not temporary fixes
For help gets so unhelpful near the end
As the situation deteriorates, help from others may become ineffective
When I take my last ride
When I am near the end of my life
Down the big dipper slide
Refers to a metaphorical slide towards death
Will I care, will it matter
Will I still concern myself with this issue when I am dying
If the world should say?
If other people believe that I have a problem
She had a problem
A statement indicating that Marianne Faithfull herself has a problem
She had a problem
Reiteration of the above statement
She had a problem
Reiteration of the above statement
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BEN BRIERLEY, CAROLINE BLACKWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind