She was born in Hampshire and has lived in Devon, Brighton and London. She is of Finnish descent.
Hackman went to Bedales School where she met Cara Delevingne. Together they formed a short-lived band where Hackman played drums and Delevingne played guitar and sang.
Johnny Flynn also studied at the same school and knew and appreciated Hackman's music. He was instrumental in getting her first record deal with Transgressive and produced her debut single.
In 2013 she toured Australia and Europe as an opening act for Laura Marling
Claude's Girl
Marika Hackman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's buzzing like the Devil's bow
Pulling a soft virgin string
A terrible shriek from below
A pure heart been bound by nickel
But not bent beneath the coil
If you play her right, she'll sing through the night
The flies on my walls, they're silent
But the swarm in my head is a hell
So I'll try to play you correctly
For a toll of your deep slumber bell
My fingers are wretched and calloused
Soon daybreak will creep up my stair
Now I've not got long to summon the song
Of the girl with the flaxen hair
The lyrics of Marika Hackman's song Claude's Girl seem to speak about the struggle of finding peace in one's own mind. From the opening line "Turn off my mind, I beg you," the singer expresses a desire to quiet the buzzing and chaotic thoughts that are tormenting her. She likens this feeling to the sound of "the Devil's bow, Pulling a soft virgin string," an image that suggests that her mind is being aggressively and painfully manipulated.
However, the singer also seems to suggest that music might be the key to unlocking this peaceful state of mind. She describes a "pure heart" that is "bound by nickel, but not bent beneath the coil," suggesting that there is a resilience within her that might be discovered through the right kind of music. This idea is reinforced when she says, "If you play her right, she'll sing through the night With the whispering wheat in the fields."
The lyrics also suggest a kind of desperation, as the singer seems aware that she may not have much time left to find this inner peace. She speaks of the "flies on my walls," which are silent, while the "swarm in my head is a hell," and she knows that "Soon daybreak will creep up my stair." In this context, summoning the song "Of the girl with the flaxen hair" takes on added significance, as it seems to represent a last-ditch effort to calm her mind before time runs out.
Overall, the lyrics of Claude's Girl paint a vivid picture of a person struggling with mental turmoil, and searching for a way to find inner peace through music.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn off my mind, I beg you
Asking someone to help stop their constant, overwhelming thoughts and give them solace from their agitation.
It's buzzing like the Devil's bow
The thoughts in one's mind are chaotic, abrasive, and overwhelming.
Pulling a soft virgin string
A metaphor for her mind's thoughts playing a jarring, unmelodic tune like an amateur playing a musical instrument for the first time.
A terrible shriek from below
Implies that the chaotic thoughts cause emotional and mental distress and feel painful.
A pure heart been bound by nickel
Her heart is strong and true, but it has been constrained by something hard and unyielding that won't let it fully express itself.
But not bent beneath the coil
Despite being restricted, her heart is resilient and won't be broken under the pressure it faces.
If you play her right, she'll sing through the night
If treated properly, her heart will open up and let out a beautiful, melodic sound.
With the whispering wheat in the fields
The sound her heart would make is delicate or serene, like the rustling sounds of wheat stalks on a breezy day.
The flies on my walls, they're silent
Despite their presence, they're not bothering her.
But the swarm in my head is a hell
The buzz of her thoughts is unbearable and causing her great distress.
So I'll try to play you correctly
She'll attempt to treat someone with kindness and care, in order to improve her own mental state.
For a toll of your deep slumber bell
In return for their kindness, she'll provide them with a sense of tranquility and calmness that can help them sleep.
My fingers are wretched and calloused
Her fingers are physically worn out and rough from playing an instrument, potentially representing how her mind feels from excessive thinking.
Soon daybreak will creep up my stair
She knows that the night will soon be over and she must make the most of the time she has to play music and calm her mind.
Now I've not got long to summon the song
She only has a short amount of time to create something beautiful and calming, but she will do her best with what she has.
Of the girl with the flaxen hair
Implies that the song she's playing is about someone with a delicate, soft, and peaceful nature who can help soothe her own troubled mind.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARIKA LOUISE HACKMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@curtbryan3930
Turn off my mind, I beg you
It's buzzing like the Devil's bow
Pulling a soft virgin string
A terrible shriek from below
A pure heart been bound by nickel
But not bent beneath the coil
If you play her right, she'll sing through the night
With the whispering wheat in the fields
The flies on my walls, they're silent
But the swarm in my head is a hell
So I'll try to play you correctly
For a toll of your deep slumber bell
My fingers are wretched and calloused
Soon daybreak will creep up my stair
Now I've not got long to summon the song
Of the girl with the flaxen hair
@neonentity6716
So I have epilepsy and when I was 17 struggling in high school I was put on a medication for my seizures and it made me see the world differently. I couldn't concentrate on school and had major anxiety attacks. But her songs and the album "that iron taste" I would listen to and I could find peace and I would feel safe again. Now 6 years later I still thank her for her beautiful music.
@II-qp8lg
SAME!!! I had epilepsy when i was 18, and i am 21 now and still kinda have them, and her songs were with me all the way, from 18 til now. Love her
@spooki1540
This is my absolute favorite song, it needs more recognition, its amazing.
@thomasgooden
Spook i What is it that makes it your favorito, not that I have to ask?
@xvelazquez6816
It’s ight
@curtbryan3930
Turn off my mind, I beg you
It's buzzing like the Devil's bow
Pulling a soft virgin string
A terrible shriek from below
A pure heart been bound by nickel
But not bent beneath the coil
If you play her right, she'll sing through the night
With the whispering wheat in the fields
The flies on my walls, they're silent
But the swarm in my head is a hell
So I'll try to play you correctly
For a toll of your deep slumber bell
My fingers are wretched and calloused
Soon daybreak will creep up my stair
Now I've not got long to summon the song
Of the girl with the flaxen hair
@jewelzpositano963
But what does it mean?
@Lana-vn8li
Jewelz Positano the lyrics
@ronaldraymond7037
@@jewelzpositano963 If you were in Hanna's life you would get it.
@PeterJames143
it's so beautiful