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/
River Of Dirt
Marissa Nadler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were my plan
I told you that you were
My sun and my sand
But right away
Get a circus job
And I'd fly away
El Camino, take me home
El Camino, take me home
You are a jester
And I am an elf
And I'm sad to the books
That are stocked upon my shelf
Take me back to the river of dirt
Take me back to the river of dirt
Built of the veins
And the flesh, and the bones
We are all so
Painfully alone
Burning by rivers
Of dirt and fire
We return to the ground
When we retire
Back to the river of dirt and fire
Summer is coming
I can't believe it's true
Where all you were issued
Are turning into you
Take me back to the place
Of golden slumbers
Where I was happy
And you were my middle name
Take me back to the river of dirt
Take me back to the river of dirt
And I grew up
In the houses made of lead
The walls were white, the stairs were sharp
The scent of summer lead
Take me back to the river of dirt
Take me back to the river of dirt
The lyrics of "River of Dirt" seem to tell the story of two lovers who are now going their separate ways. The singer reminisces about the good times they had with their lover, calling them their "sun and sand," but also acknowledges the underlying tension in their relationship. The singer talks about their lover being a jester while they themselves are an elf, suggesting a power imbalance in the relationship. The metaphor of the river of dirt seems to represent the struggles and challenges of life, with the singer wishing to return to a happier, more carefree time.
When the singer asks for the El Camino to take them home, it could be interpreted as a call to return to a simpler and happier time. The mention of the circus job could represent the lover's desire to escape their current situation and start anew. The chorus repeats the line "take me back to the river of dirt," emphasizing the singer's longing for a place that is familiar and comforting, even if it is not perfect.
The reference to "golden slumbers" in the final verse could be a nod to the Beatles song of the same name, which itself was inspired by a poem by Thomas Dekker. The reference to "houses made of lead" could be a metaphor for feeling trapped or weighed down by one's past or circumstances.
Overall, "River of Dirt" is a poignant and introspective song about the complexities of relationships and the desire for a simpler, happier time.
Line by Line Meaning
I was your lover
I was in a romantic relationship with you
You were my plan
You were my intended future or goal in life
I told you that you were
I expressed to you that you held a certain role or importance in my life
My sun and my sand
You were like the warmth and comfort of the sun and the stability and foundation of sand in my life
But right away
Almost immediately
Get a circus job
Find work in the entertainment industry
And I'd fly away
I would leave or abandon the relationship
And become a bird of song
I would pursue my passion for singing or music
El Camino, take me home
Addressing the El Camino car as a way to travel back to a familiar or comfortable place
You are a jester
You are a clown or fool, not to be taken seriously
And I am an elf
I am a mythical creature associated with imagination and whimsy
And I'm sad to the books
I feel sadness towards the books that I own
That are stocked upon my shelf
That sit on the shelf in my home
Take me back to the river of dirt
Return me to a place of humble beginnings, groundedness, and simplicity
Built of the veins
Made up of the life force that runs through our bodies
And the flesh, and the bones
And the physical components that make up our bodies
We are all so
All of us are
Painfully alone
Feeling an intense sense of isolation and disconnection
Burning by rivers
Experiencing intense emotion
Of dirt and fire
Representing the raw, earthy, and passionate aspects of life
We return to the ground
We eventually die and are buried in the earth
When we retire
When we reach the end of our lives
Summer is coming
The season of summer is approaching
I can't believe it's true
Expressing disbelief or surprise
Where all you were issued
Describing the environment or circumstances you were born into
Are turning into you
Are becoming a part of who you are
Take me back to the place
Desiring to return to a specific place or time
Of golden slumbers
A metaphorical place of peaceful rest and contentment
Where I was happy
A time in my life when I experienced joy
And you were my middle name
You were an integral part of my identity
And I grew up
Referring to my childhood or formative years
In the houses made of lead
Describing the physical environment of where I grew up
The walls were white, the stairs were sharp
Describing specific aspects of the physical space
The scent of summer lead
Recalling a specific sensory experience
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MARISSA NADLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lucy Langlas
I think this song and video are so amazing...
Max Morlock
Amazing video