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/
Silvia
Marissa Nadler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met you in the belly of a whale
Silvia, Silvia, Silvia
Oh where did you fail
Time passes slowly in the daylight
But I do not want to die
I met you in the belly of a wicked rhyme
And the water is your friend
The water is your friend
And down and down and down you go
Gonna buy you a red dress,
And put feathers in your hair
And resurrect the finer things
I lost when you disappeared
Breaking on the daylight
They put flowers round your grave
And I sang a silly song for you
Hey hey hey hey hey
Silvia, Silvia
Silvia, Silvia, Silvia
I met you in the belly of a whale
Silvia, Silvia, Silvia,
Oh where did you fail
And the water is your friend
The water is your friend
And down and down and down you go
Gonna buy you a red dress
And put feathers in your hair
And resurrect the finer things
I lost when you disappeared
Breaking on the daylight
They put flowers round your grave
And I sang a silly song for you
Hey hey hey hey hey
Silvia, Silvia
In Marissa Nadler's hauntingly beautiful song "Silvia," the title character is introduced as having been met by the singer "in the belly of a whale." Silvia's story is shrouded in mystery, as the singer asks the question, "Oh where did you fail?" It is suggested that Silvia experienced a fall from grace or failure of some kind, leading her to be swallowed up by the whale. The singer feels a strong connection to Silvia, having read all her letters, and imagines resurrecting the "finer things [she] lost" when she disappeared.
The recurring line "the water is your friend" is an interesting motif, perhaps suggesting that Silvia's downfall was related to water, such as drowning or being lost at sea. The image of buying Silvia a red dress and putting feathers in her hair is a playful and romantic one, as if the singer is trying to bring life and joy back to Silvia's world even in death. The final verse features the singer at Silvia's grave, singing a "silly song" for her as she breaks on the daylight. The song captures a sense of grief and longing, with the singer deeply affected by Silvia's story and the void left by her absence.
Line by Line Meaning
Silvia, Silvia, Silvia,
The singer is repeatedly calling out to Silvia, who is the subject of this song.
I met you in the belly of a whale
Silvia was met by the singer in a situation of feeling trapped and helpless, like being inside a whale's belly.
Oh where did you fail
The singer wonders where and how Silvia failed, implying that her disappearance or death had something to do with it.
Time passes slowly in the daylight
The passing time feels slow and agonizing in the absence of Silvia, especially during the day when life is supposed to be lively.
But I do not want to die
Despite feeling lost, the singer does not want to give up on life and desperately seeks a solution to their situation.
I met you in the belly of a wicked rhyme
Silvia and the singer were in a difficult and confusing situation, described as being in the belly of a wicked rhyme.
And I read all your letters I could find
The singer tried to understand Silvia better by going through all her letters.
And the water is your friend
The singer sees the water as a symbol of cleansing, healing, and possibly the afterlife, and believes that it is Silvia's friend.
And down and down and down you go
Here, the repetition of 'down' could be a metaphor for descending into the depths of the unknown, death or sorrow.
Gonna buy you a red dress,
The singer intends to honor Silvia's memory by symbolically gifting her a red dress.
And put feathers in your hair
The singer is planning to beautify Silvia with feathers in her hair, representing freedom and lightness, to honor her.
And resurrect the finer things
By resurrecting the finer things, like beauty and joy, the singer wants to honor and remember Silvia and to lift themselves out of despair.
I lost when you disappeared
The singer feels they lost something important, possibly hope or direction, when Silvia disappeared.
Breaking on the daylight
The daylight represents the harsh reality and grief the singer is experiencing.
They put flowers round your grave
Silvia has passed away and people have placed flowers on her grave in tribute.
And I sang a silly song for you
The singer has expressed their grief and tribute to Silvia by singing a silly song, implying that it may not have been the most dignified tribute.
Hey hey hey hey hey
The repetition of 'hey' could possibly be an exclamation or a rhythmic device in the song.
Silvia, Silvia
The song ends as it started, with the singer calling out to Silvia, who continues to be the focus of their grief and tributes.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARISSA RACHAEL NADLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind