Marissa Nadler is an American dream folk musician and singer-songwriter. Sh… Read Full Bio ↴Marissa Nadler is an American dream folk musician and singer-songwriter. She plays six string guitar, 12 string guitar, piano, ukelele, banjo, and voice.
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/

lilly henry & the willow trees
Marissa Nadler Lyrics

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Lily was a maiden in the castle sea
They found her in the forest
Where the wild willows be
Lily was a maiden in the castle sea
They found her in the forest
Where the wild willows be

Singing, Don't bring me more

(Grass?) is ruining us all
Singing, Don't bring me more
Forever sees you in the snow

Henry first saw Lilianne
(Gold of?) coloured hair
(A-sting?) by the river
With the willows in her hair
Lily on the tune
And knew a shanty from the sea
He seized her by her little waist
Against the willow tree

Singing fairly, Oh well
Where you gone, no one can tell
Singing fairly, Oh well
Where you gone, no one can tell

Oh, you are worth a million silver pennies
Henry said to Lilianne

Oh, you are worth a million silver pennies
Henry said to Lilianne

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Marissa Nadler's song "Lily Henry & The Willow Trees" tell a story of a maiden named Lily who was found in the forest amongst the wild willow trees. The song then introduces a man named Henry who sees Lily by the river with willows in her hair and is immediately captivated by her beauty. He seizes her by her waist against the willow tree and tells her she is worth a million silver pennies. Throughout the song, Lily sings lines such as "Don't bring me more, (grass?) is ruining us all" and "Forever sees you in the snow," which may suggest a deeper meaning to the story.

The lyrics seem to have an underlying theme of longing and tragedy. Lily is described as being found in the forest, which may suggest that she was lost or abandoned. Her lines about grass ruining everything and forever seeing someone in the snow could hint at a past traumatic event or potentially even mental illness. Additionally, Henry's immediate admiration for Lily and his comment about her worth in silver pennies could be seen as objectifying and possessive. Overall, the lyrics create a haunting and melancholic atmosphere that leaves much to interpretation.

Line by Line Meaning

Lily was a maiden in the castle sea
Lily was a young woman living in the kingdom by the sea

They found her in the forest
She was discovered in the woods

Where the wild willows be
The place where the trees with drooping branches grow

Singing, Don't bring me more
She sang that they shouldn't bring her more

(Grass?) is ruining us all
The artist believes that something is detrimental to everyone, possibly grass

Forever sees you in the snow
The singer believes that someone will be remembered forever, even in the snow

Henry first saw Lilianne
A man named Henry saw the woman named Lilianne

(Gold of?) coloured hair
Lilianne had hair that was possibly golden in color

(A-sting?) by the river
She may have been stung by something while by the river

With the willows in her hair
She had the willow branches in her hair

Lily on the tune
Lilianne had an appealing voice for songs