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.
The Ballad Of The Soldier's Wife
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the ancient city of prague ?
From prague came a pair of high heeled shoes,
With a kiss or two came the high heeled shoes
From the ancient city of prague.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From oslo over the sound ?
How it pleases her, the little collar of fur
From oslo over the sound.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From the wealth of amsterdam ?
From amsterdam he got her a hat,
She looked sweet in that,
In her little dutch hat
From the wealth of amsterdam.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From brussels in belgian land ?
From brussels he sent her those laces so rare
To have and to wear,
Allamp; those laces so rare
From brussels in belgian land.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From paris, city of light ?
In paris he got her a silken gown,
'twas ended in town that silken gown
From paris city of light.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From the south from bucharest ?
From bucharest he sent her a shirt
Embroidered and pert, that rumanian shirt
From the south from bucharest.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From the far-off russian land ?
From russia there came just a widow's veil
For her dead to bewail in her widow's veil
From the far-off russian land,
From the far-off russian land.
The lyrics to Marianne Faithfull's The Ballad Of The Soldier's Wife tells the story of different gifts sent to a soldier's wife from various places around the world. Each gift is a symbol of the love and devotion the soldier has for his wife during times of war. The gifts also represent the anticipation and hope that the soldier has for a reunion with his loved one. The high heeled shoes from Prague, the collar of fur from Oslo, the hat from Amsterdam, the rare laces from Brussels, the silken gown from Paris, and the embroidered shirt from Bucharest are all reminders of the soldier's desire to see his wife again. These gifts bring joy and comfort to the soldier's wife and keep her hope alive while she waits for her husband's return. The widow's veil from Russia is a poignant reminder of the reality of war and the sacrifice that soldiers and their families make.
The song's lyrics are not only a love story, but they also provide a glimpse into the impact that war has on families left behind. It captures the longing, fear, and sacrifice that those who have loved ones in active service experience. The song also highlights the beauty of various cultures, and the universal language of love that transcends borders.
Line by Line Meaning
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From the ancient city of prague ?
The soldier's wife received a pair of high heeled shoes and a kiss or two from Prague.
From prague came a pair of high heeled shoes,
With a kiss or two came the high heeled shoes
From the ancient city of prague.
The soldier's wife received a meaningful gift of high heeled shoes and a kiss from Prague.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From oslo over the sound ?
The soldier's wife received a pleasing collar of fur from Oslo over the sound.
From oslo there came a collar of fur,
How it pleases her, the little collar of fur
From oslo over the sound.
The soldier's wife received a gift of fur collar from Oslo, and she is pleased with it.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From the wealth of amsterdam ?
The soldier's wife received a Dutch hat from Amsterdam.
From amsterdam he got her a hat,
She looked sweet in that,
In her little dutch hat
From the wealth of amsterdam.
The soldier's wife received a Dutch hat from Amsterdam, and she looked sweet in it.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From brussels in belgian land ?
The soldier's wife received rare laces from Brussels.
From brussels he sent her those laces so rare
To have and to wear,
Allamp; those laces so rare
From brussels in belgian land.
The soldier's wife received rare and beautiful Belgian laces from Brussels.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From paris, city of light ?
The soldier's wife received a silken gown from Paris.
In paris he got her a silken gown,
'twas ended in town that silken gown
From paris city of light.
The soldier's wife received a silk dress as a gift from Paris, which was ended in town.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From the south from bucharest ?
The soldier's wife received a Rumanian shirt embroidered and pert from Bucharest.
From bucharest he sent her a shirt
Embroidered and pert, that rumanian shirt
From the south from bucharest.
The soldier's wife received an embroidered, pert Romanian shirt from Bucharest.
What was sent to the soldier's wife
From the far-off russian land ?
The soldier's wife received a widow's veil from the far-off Russian land.
From russia there came just a widow's veil
For her dead to bewail in her widow's veil
From the far-off russian land,
From the far-off russian land.
The soldier's wife received a widow's veil from Russia, for her to bewail for her departed loved one.
Lyrics © EUROPEAN AMERICAN MUSIC DISTRIBUTORS COMPANY
Written by: BERTOLD BRECHT, KURT WEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
X X
i love this album but it would be magnificent for it to be recorded again with her recording every song - her voice adds such an exciting element to every note of this brilliant music
Douglas Patrick
The great Hal Willner produced this brilliant album and many more. Thanks for all the great records Hal, and rest easy.
bluejelly555
My favorite album! I love Kurt Weill
Parvel Shunk
This is great! How had I never heard this before? Thanks for sharing.
Texas Red
Came out in the late 80s when Nick Cave was having a strong influence on what came to be called alternative music. There were a few compilation albums like this--check out the one where similar artists cover Disney songs. I remember David Johansen covering Castle In Spain and Syd Straw doing Blue Shadows--that should take you there
X X
i love this album but it would be magnificent for it to be recorded again with her recording every song - her voice adds such an exciting element to every note of this brilliant music !
Peter Baum
She released an album called 20th Century Blues in 1997 that is mostly Weill songs.
Victor1930
Wonderful ironic stuff! Thanks for posting so I can share with friends. I love this compilation of Kurt Weill tunes, but really, who's ever heard of it?
Crimson Wolf
It actually sold pretty damn good... in the "alternative music" circles.
emma duncan
It's in my parents house. one mother of a record!