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/
Under an Old Umbrella
Marissa Nadler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or to the lonely water
Say hello to the sea
Under the skies of azure
And I met him yesterday
Under my old umbrella
And I met him yesterday
And turquoise was the color of his eyes
And bitter were the color of mine
He was tall, grey
Slowly held my empty fingers
He was tall, gracefully
He filled my cold hot body
And I met him yesterday
Under the skies of azure
And I met him yesterday
Under my old umbrella
And turquoise was the color of his eyes
And bitter were the color of mine
In Marissa Nadler's song "Under an Old Umbrella," the singer reflects on a chance encounter with a mysterious man who fills her with both awe and bitterness. The song begins with the directive to "say hello to the sea," a symbol of the vast and unknown, or perhaps of the ever-changing nature of our emotions. The singer then reflects on the man she met "yesterday," who she encountered "under my old umbrella" and "under the skies of azure," emphasizing the feeling of shelter or protection that their meeting provided.
The man is described in almost mythical terms - "tall, grey," and "graceful," with piercing, turquoise eyes. The singer seems both drawn to and repelled by him, with her own eyes described as "bitter" in comparison. Ultimately, the song seems to deal with the universal themes of attraction and discontentment, and the singer's own emotional struggle to reconcile these feelings. The lyrics are cryptic and dreamy, and the melody is haunting and ethereal, adding to the overall sense of otherworldliness and melancholy.
Overall, "Under an Old Umbrella" is a beautiful meditation on the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which we seek and find meaning in the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Say hello to the sea
Greeting the vastness of the ocean
Or to the lonely water
Acknowledging the loneliness surrounded by the vast ocean
Say hello to the sea
Repeating the greeting to emphasize the ocean's presence
Under the skies of azure
With clear blue skies overhead
And I met him yesterday
The artist encountered someone recently
Under my old umbrella
The meeting took place sheltered from the rain
And I met him yesterday
Repeating the significant meeting
Under the skies of azure
With clear blue skies overhead
And turquoise was the color of his eyes
Describing the shade of blue in the person's eyes
And bitter were the color of mine
The artist's eyes portrayed bitterness, sadness or disappointment
He was tall, grey
The individual was tall and had grey hair or clothes
Slowly held my empty fingers
The person gently touched or held the artist's empty hand
He was tall, gracefully
Reiterating the person's tall stature and graceful demeanor
He filled my cold hot body
The encounter filled the singer's body with a mix of emotions
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MARISSA NADLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Argi Skelton
Say hello to the sea
Or to the lonely water
Say hello to the sea
Under the skies of azure
And I met him yesterday
Under my old umbrella
And I met him yesterday
Under the skies of azure
And turquoise was the color of his eyes
And bitter were the color of mine
He was tall, grey
Slowly held my empty fingers
He was tall, gracefully
He filled my cold hot body
And I met him yesterday
Under the skies of azure
And I met him yesterday
Under my old umbrella
And turquoise was the color of his eyes
And bitter were the color of mine
Argi Skelton
Say hello to the sea
Or to the lonely water
Say hello to the sea
Under the skies of azure
And I met him yesterday
Under my old umbrella
And I met him yesterday
Under the skies of azure
And turquoise was the color of his eyes
And bitter were the color of mine
He was tall, grey
Slowly held my empty fingers
He was tall, gracefully
He filled my cold hot body
And I met him yesterday
Under the skies of azure
And I met him yesterday
Under my old umbrella
And turquoise was the color of his eyes
And bitter were the color of mine
Kata Kaluga
It’s gracefully not grey slowly 🙈 grace(…)fully
Nimbereth
This music never gets old =)
Brenda Franco Kutcher
Pure voice
the Animist films
some of the most majestic folk I have heard in a while
liliv96
Once you listen to this, you cant stop!
Ser’ A
Nice to listen to this unknown masterpiece.
Music lover
Album in my collection, thanks for vid.
cherryartmanu
LINDA
Emin Taş
Sen altın ya da güneş ışığı bir bıçakla kalbimi oyuyorsun.