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/
Nothing in My Heart
Marissa Nadler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't bare to see you go -
I know things aren't the best for us
And they're starting to show
Take a plate and I promise to put honey in your jar,
Maybe it's the weather,
But I got nothing in my heart
Maybe it's the weather,
Guarding to the car today,
But didn't go outside
Maybe that you far gone tried
Take a plate and I promise to put honey in your jar,
Maybe it's the weather,
But I got nothing in my heart
Maybe it's the weather,
But I got nothing in my heart
Take a plate and I promise to put honey in your jar,
Maybe it's the weather,
But I got nothing in my heart
Maybe it's the weather,
But I got nothing in my heart
The lyrics to Marissa Nadler's song Nothing in My Heart explore the complexities of a fading relationship that is failing to survive in spite of the best efforts of the partners involved. The melancholic tone of the song speaks to a range of emotions that the singer is grappling with, including vulnerability, ambiguity, frustration, and sadness. The repeated phrase “Maybe it’s the weather, but I got nothing in my heart” expresses the void that the singer is feeling as a result of the relationship's decay, a feeling that is compounded by the harshness of the world outside.
The opening lines "Oh, we're building a love song, I can't bare to see you go" establishes the singer's desire to hold onto the relationship despite its imminent end. The phrase "I can't bare to see you go" shows that the love that was once strong is fading and the singer doesn't want to accept this fact. The repeated phrase "Take a plate and I promise to put honey in your jar" speaks of a desire to offer a sweetening gesture, as though the singer is trying to find a way to make things right. However, the suffocating reality of the relationship's demise is evident in the repetition of the line "Maybe it’s the weather, but I got nothing in my heart". The song leaves the listener to ponder the extent to which the external environment is playing a role in the relationship's decline and how much of it is rooted in the internal factors within the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, we're building a lovesong,
We are in the process of creating a song about love
I can't bare to see you go -
It pains me to think about you leaving
I know things aren't the best for us
I understand that the situation between us is not ideal
And they're starting to show
The problems between us are becoming apparent
Take a plate and I promise to put honey in your jar,
I will give you something sweet, a gesture of affection
Maybe it's the weather,
Perhaps the conditions around us are affecting my mood
But I got nothing in my heart
But I am feeling empty inside
Guarding to the car today,
I thought about leaving for the day
But didn't go outside
But I decided to stay indoors
Maybe that you far gone tried
Perhaps the distance between us is too great and we have tried to overcome it
Take a plate and I promise to put honey in your jar,
I still want to show you love despite my feelings
Maybe it's the weather,
Perhaps the elements are making me feel this way
But I got nothing in my heart
But still, I feel empty and unfulfilled emotionally
Maybe it's the weather,
Perhaps the climate is affecting us both
But I got nothing in my heart
But I still cannot shake this feeling of emptiness
Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.