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.
When I Find My Life
Marianne Faithfull Lyrics
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London bridge is falling down.
Strange a woman tries to save
What a man will try to drown.
And he's the rain that they predicted,
It's the forecast every time.
The rose has died because you picked it
An' I believe that brandy's mine.
And all over the world
Strangers
Talk only about the weather.
All over the world
It's the same
It's the same
It's the same.
The word is getting flatter,
The sky is falling all around.
And nothing is the matter
For I never cry in town.
And a love like ours, my dear,
Is best measured when it's down.
And I never buy umbrellas,
For there's always one around.
And all over the world
Strangers
Talk only about the weather.
All over the world
It's the same
It's the same
It's the same.
And you know that it's beginning,
And you know that it's the end
When once again we are strangers
And the fog comes rolling in.
And all over the world
Strangers
Talk only about the weather.
All over the world
It's the same
It's the same
It's the same.
Dr. john:
You ready ? 2, 3, 4, 1.
The lyrics of Marianne Faithfull's "Strange Weather" reflect a sense of resigned acceptance towards the changes and uncertainties of life, particularly with regard to relationships. The opening lines of the song, "Will you take me across the Channel / London Bridge is falling down" suggest a sense of desperation, the desire to flee and escape from an uncertain future. This is followed by the lines, "Strange a woman tries to save / What a man will try to drown," which highlight the differences between men and women in their approaches to dealing with difficult situations.
Faithfull goes on to describe "the rain that they predicted," suggesting a sense of inevitability and fate. She sings about "the rose has died because you picked it," which implies that something beautiful was destroyed because of someone's actions. The line "And all over the world / Strangers / Talk only about the weather" is repeated several times, echoing the idea that the weather is a common topic of conversation because it is a universal theme that everyone can relate to.
The song concludes with the lines "And you know that it's beginning / And you know that it's the end / When once again we are strangers / And the fog comes rolling in." The sense of finality and loss is palpable, suggesting that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, relationships can still fail and turn to strangers.
Line by Line Meaning
Will you take me across the Channel,
Would you accompany me on a journey to a foreign land?
London Bridge is falling down.
The once glorious symbol of London is in a state of disrepair and decline.
Strange a woman tries to save
It is unusual for a woman to attempt to rescue something that a man has attempted to destroy.
What a man will try to drown.
Men commonly attempt to suppress, destroy, or ignore things they find inconvenient or troubling.
And he's the rain that they predicted,
The gloomy individual in question is the metaphorical 'rain' that is often anticipated and feared.
It's the forecast every time.
His presence is predictable and often unwelcome.
The rose has died because you picked it
You caused the downfall of something that was once beautiful and thriving.
An' I believe that brandy's mine.
I am convinced that I am entitled to this indulgence.
And all over the world
Regardless of location or culture,
Strangers
People who are unfamiliar with one another,
Talk only about the weather.
Often converse on a mundane and uncontroversial topic such as the weather.
It's the same
This phenomenon is consistent and unchanging wherever you go.
The word is getting flatter,
The world is becoming more predictable and mundane, losing its mystery and intrigue.
The sky is falling all around.
Things are going awry, and chaos is erupting all over.
And nothing is the matter
There is no real problem or controversy, just a sense of malaise and boredom.
For I never cry in town.
I never allow myself to be vulnerable or show weakness in public.
And a love like ours, my dear,
Our relationship is unique and incomparable,
Is best measured when it's down.
Its true worth is only evident when facing adversity or difficulty.
And I never buy umbrellas,
I never prepare for the inevitable or the unexpected.
For there's always one around.
I rely on others to provide for me or help me through difficult situations.
And you know that it's beginning,
You sense that something new and transformative is underway,
And you know that it's the end
And simultaneously, a conclusion or termination is also in sight.
When once again we are strangers
We have drifted apart and become unfamiliar to one another once more.
And the fog comes rolling in.
A literal or figurative haze is descending, making it difficult to see or navigate.
Dr. John:
An introduction signaling a new segment or collaborator.
You ready ? 2, 3, 4, 1.
A countdown to start a musical performance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATHLEEN BRENNAN, THOMAS ALAN WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind