Nadler studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she began her performing career after writing songs for many years.
The foundation of her sound is her haunting mezzo-soprano, and a delicate 6-string acoustic guitar, often accompanied by a variety of instruments, including electric guitar, theremin, and piano. Nadler writes strange, yet classic, melancholy songs. Her voice is often bathed in a wash of reverb and space echo and creates a ghostly, atmospheric feeling to the music.
She has American Gothic leanings; her songs often take place in an imagined, idealistic time with a cast of characters of her own creation.
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marissa-Nadler/300932499775
Bandcamp: http://marissanadler.bandcamp.com/
Drive
Marissa Nadler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
17 people in the dark tonight
You see some familiar faces behind the cellular lights
Child town in the winter
?
Used to drink more than your man could
Waiting for the light
Waiting for the light
Nothing like the way it feels
Nothing like the way it feels
To drive
Still remember all the words
To every song you ever heard
Drive
All the things I steel in the car
Let it freeze, let them crack
You slept through the day and the night and the day
You're never coming back
You're never coming back
You're never coming back
Nothing like the way it feels
Nothing like the way it feels
To drive
Still remember all the words
To every song you ever heard
Drive
Nothing like the way it feels
Nothing like the way it feels
To drive
Still remember all the words
To every song you ever heard
Drive
Nothing like the way it feels
Nothing like the way it feels
To drive
Still remember all the words
To every song you ever heard
Drive
Marissa Nadler’s song “Drive” is a melancholic take on the passing of youth and the complicated feelings that arise when we look back on our early memories. The first verse paints a bleak picture of the present, as the singer opines that “if you ain't made it now you'll never gonna make it.” It seems that the people the singer is surrounded by are struggling and that they may never achieve the dreams they once had. The second line “17 people in the dark tonight” implies a gathering, but one that is not particularly joyous. The line “You see some familiar faces behind the cellular lights” suggests that the people the singer is interacting with are more interested in their phones than in being present in the moment.
The second verse opens with the line “child town in the winter” which conjures up a sense of isolation and coldness. The following line “used to drink more than your man could” suggests that the singer is remembering a specific person who was once wild and carefree, but who has since changed. The repetition of “waiting for the light” at the end of the verse serves to emphasize the stagnation and lack of progress that the singer is describing.
The chorus is the most upbeat part of the song and serves as a reminder of the one thing that can still bring the singer joy: driving. The line “still remember all the words to every song you ever heard” suggests that the singer is finding solace in the familiarity of the past, in the memories of simpler times when they were young and free.
In summary, “Drive” is a wistful and contemplative song about nostalgia from the perspective of someone who is facing the realities of adulthood. It's a reminder that while we may still be haunted by the past, we can also find comfort in the familiar and in the memories of a simpler life.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ain't made it now you'll never gonna make it
If you haven't achieved your dreams yet, you might never accomplish them.
17 people in the dark tonight
There are a few people in the dark, probably traveling, or doing something with low lights.
You see some familiar faces behind the cellular lights
The faces you see in the dark, you recognize them because of their phone lights.
Child town in the winter
They are driving through a small town or city, maybe even the one they grew up in. It's cold out because it's wintertime.
?
There is no clear meaning to this line.
Used to drink more than your man could
The singer is comparing their drinking habits to their partner's, indicating that they used to drink more than them.
Waiting for the light
They are waiting for the traffic lights to turn green or perhaps reflecting on waiting for a sign to do something important in their life.
Nothing like the way it feels
Driving gives a sensation that can't be matched by anything else.
To drive
Still remember all the words
To every song you ever heard
Drive
The feeling of driving is so powerful that it makes the artist remember the lyrics to every song they've ever heard while on the road.
All the things I steel in the car
There are some objects in the car that the artist may have taken without permission.
Let it freeze, let them crack
The singer is okay with these objects freezing and cracking in the cold because they don't care that much about them.
You slept through the day and the night and the day
The artist believes that the person they're talking to has wasted their time and missed out on things by sleeping excessively.
You're never coming back
The singermay be talking to someone who has passed away or who has left their life for good.
Nothing like the way it feels
The sensation of driving is unique and can't be replicated.
To drive
Still remember all the words
To every song you ever heard
Drive
The powerful feeling of driving makes the singer recall the lyrics to all the songs they've ever heard while driving.
Contributed by Colin L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@slavestudios47
i cannot remember for the life of me how i bumped into the July album.. i ended up with it on my laptop & didn't bother with it for a few months.. then i put it on one day with absolutely no idea of what i was about to listen to..
i sat there from the first note to last.. stunned.
that was two years ago and it still floors me. Dead City Emily is possibly one of the most moving pieces of music i've ever heard.
but i never looked for more. i wanted that album to jus be this beautiful singularity.. in case the other music was somehow lesser..
and jus today i learned of Droneflower via the G'n'R cover.. and that opened the gates to a phenomenal catalogue. i couldn't not look for more.. and i found there was so much. i am so glad i listened to more, because it's all glorious.
there isn't a sentence or emoji or any real way to convey the joy this artist has given me. a cold, mechanical heart has been truly melted.
thank you so very much for sharing,
Pete
@slavestudios47
i cannot remember for the life of me how i bumped into the July album.. i ended up with it on my laptop & didn't bother with it for a few months.. then i put it on one day with absolutely no idea of what i was about to listen to..
i sat there from the first note to last.. stunned.
that was two years ago and it still floors me. Dead City Emily is possibly one of the most moving pieces of music i've ever heard.
but i never looked for more. i wanted that album to jus be this beautiful singularity.. in case the other music was somehow lesser..
and jus today i learned of Droneflower via the G'n'R cover.. and that opened the gates to a phenomenal catalogue. i couldn't not look for more.. and i found there was so much. i am so glad i listened to more, because it's all glorious.
there isn't a sentence or emoji or any real way to convey the joy this artist has given me. a cold, mechanical heart has been truly melted.
thank you so very much for sharing,
Pete
@santalisaq
Love her music... her voice is incredible... the melodies... listen to her every evening while i paint.. her voice inspires me. keep it up.
@iamsam9417
you'll love Ora cogan then too i suppose, ;)
@rjnolesRU
Most beauitful song I've discovered this year. The steel guitar in the last third is sooooo sweet. Marissa, this is a masterpiece.
@rickerson81
Your music is my medicine. Thank you for that gift.
@ellamierrose1812
A beautiful voice and simple melody together with powerful lyrics makes the most hauntingly beautiful songs. Captures the raw spirit and our Joy's and our sadness. God, I love her music so much and so happy I discovered her!! 💜🌷
@Steerpikey
This song meanders around just two chords, F#m and D, in a very very inventive way - it's romantic meditative minimalism
@Chrisc9467
What a song! Marissa sang it so beautifully. I love this Lady.
@2455Phoenix
Ladies and gentleman, it seems that we have found gold!
@sjal92
Her music has the power of giving me inner peace. Love Marissa. :)