RAYE’s debut EP 'Welcome To The Winter' was released in 2014 and was comprised of predominantly R&B sounds. After signing with Polydor Records, RAYE had her breakthrough by featuring on the 2016 singles; "By Your Side" by Jonas Blue and "You Don't Know Me" by Jax Jones. The latter, co-written by RAYE herself, would peak at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Both songs were certified platinum or higher by the BPI, and marked a shift in RAYE’s career both commercially and sonically. After releasing the 'Second' EP in 2016, RAYE released "I, U, Us" as the lead single alongside a Charli XCX directed music video. This marked the first collaboration of several between the British songwriters. RAYE later co-wrote XCX's song "After the Afterparty" and appeared on a remix version, as well as featuring on the track "Dreamer" from her 2017 mixtape 'Number 1 Angel'. RAYE was short-listed for the BBC Music Sound of... award for 2017 and was named in third place. Later in the year, RAYE released the platinum certified hit "Decline" featuring Mr. Eazi, which would serve as the lead single from her 'Side Tape' EP which followed in May 2018. In October 2018, RAYE embarked on her own headlining tour, visiting a number of cities around the UK and Ireland.
After releasing multiple singles in 2019 and 2020, RAYE’s debut mini-album, 'Euphoric Sad Songs' was released on 20 November 2020. The project featured the top 10 hit "Secrets" with Regard as well as "Regardless" with Rudimental. In early 2021, RAYE released the single "Bed" with Joel Corry and David Guetta. The song would peak at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming RAYE’s highest charting single as a lead artist on the chart. Later in the year, RAYE took to social media to reveal that her record label, Polydor Records, has been withholding her debut album for several years. Following the statements, RAYE disclosed in July that she is now officially an independent artist.
RAYE was brought up in a musical family - her parents met at church - both of them musicians in the parish, and her musical heritage goes right back to her Grandfather, who was a songwriter and musician in his own right. Since the age of 10, she's been writing her own music, slowly developing all the time to become the artist she is today. Along the way, RAYE has become confidently adept at various different instruments including the cello, flute, and piano, alongside honing her production skills (and learning to play the guitar). Music has always been a huge part of RAYE’s life. Brought up on the classic soul/jazz maestros of the 40's and 50's like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole etc - this is where her love for songwriting and melody began. Since then her influences, have aligned with the times, citing Drake, and her all time hero Lauryn Hill as huge sources of inspiration.
mARy jAnE
RAYE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you touch my mouth
I levitate
You take these bitter thoughts in my brain
And let them fall like summer rain
Sweet Mary Jane
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, mm
Silent, marvelous codeine
How I miss your chemical hug
Since I been clean, oh, ooh
But you hold me better than any man did
And no one's done it like you since
Codeine, mmm
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Sweet, sweet Mary Jane
And codeine can kill any pain
Hmm, red wine
You always gave me the best advice
Mmm, you gave me courage
To call the man who makes me cry
And I bought three bottles
'Cause I tend to drink you dry, mmm, mm-mm-mmm
Oh, how we've danced tonight
Red, red wine
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Sweet, sweet Mary Jane, yeah
And codeine can kill any pain
Mandy, dear
Oh, when I met you, we had quite the year
You showed me love so pure, so strong
Then left me in bed, so alone
You're a stone-cold bitch in the morning
Aren't you?
Aren't you, Mandy?
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Sweet, sweet Mary Jane (sweet Mary Jane)
And codeine can kill any pain
Mm-mm-mmm
Raye's song "Mary Jane" is an ode to addiction. The title references the slang term for marijuana, and the song also mentions codeine, red wine, and a person named Mandy. The lyrics describe how these substances have affected the singer, both positively and negatively. For example, Mary Jane "takes these bitter thoughts in my brain and let them fall like summer rain," suggesting that marijuana helps her cope with her problems. Codeine is described as a comforting presence that "holds me better than any man did," while red wine gives her "courage" and helps her "dance tonight." Mandy, on the other hand, is portrayed as a fickle lover who alternates between showing "love so pure, so strong" and being a "stone-cold bitch in the morning."
Overall, the song paints a complex picture of addiction, showing how substances can provide temporary relief or pleasure while ultimately causing harm. The chorus links all of these substances together as ways to cope with pain: "Sweet, sweet Mary Jane, and codeine can kill any pain." At the same time, the lyrics suggest that the singer is aware of the dangers of addiction, as she describes herself as having been "clean" from codeine and expresses frustration with Mandy's behavior. The song's use of different substances and characters adds depth to its portrayal of addiction, suggesting that there are many ways to become trapped in destructive patterns.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary Jane, sweet, sweet Mary Jane
Marijuana, sweet, sweet Marijuana
When you touch my mouth
I levitate
When I smoke Marijuana, it makes me feel light and relaxed
You take these bitter thoughts in my brain
And let them fall like summer rain
Marijuana relieves my negative thoughts and makes me feel more positive
Codeine
Silent, marvelous codeine
How I miss your chemical hug
Since I been clean, oh, ooh
Codeine is a powerful painkiller that she used to take, and she misses the feeling of numbness it gave her since she has stopped using it
But you hold me better than any man did
And no one's done it like you since
Codeine, mmm
Codeine made her feel better than any man ever did, and nothing else has made her feel that way since
Hmm, red wine
You always gave me the best advice
Mmm, you gave me courage
To call the man who makes me cry
Red wine helped her to open up emotionally and face the difficult task of calling the person who made her upset
And I bought three bottles
'Cause I tend to drink you dry, mmm, mm-mm-mmm
Oh, how we've danced tonight
Red, red wine
She tends to drink a lot of red wine when she drinks it, and she has had a good time dancing while drinking it
Mandy, dear
Oh, when I met you, we had quite the year
You showed me love so pure, so strong
Then left me in bed, so alone
Mandy was a person who was very important to her and showed her a lot of love, but then ended up leaving her and causing her a lot of pain
You're a stone-cold bitch in the morning
Aren't you?
Aren't you, Mandy?
Morning after, Mandy is distant and cold
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Sweet, sweet Mary Jane (sweet Mary Jane)
And codeine can kill any pain
Mm-mm-mmm
Marijuana is sweet and makes her feel better, and codeine is a powerful painkiller that she misses
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Rachel Agatha Keen, Mike Sabath
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@autumnrosalie1167
Mary Jane, sweet, sweet Mary Jane
When you touch my mouth
I levitate
You take these bitter thoughts in my brain
And let them fall like summer rain
Sweet Mary Jane
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, mm
Codeine
Silent, marvelous codeine
How I miss your chemical hug
Since I been clean, oh, ooh
But you hold me better than any man did
And no one's done it like you since
Codeine, mmm
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Sweet, sweet Mary Jane
And codeine can kill any pain
Hmm, red wine
You always gave me the best advice
Mmm, you gave me courage
To call the man who makes me cry
And I bought three bottles
'Cause I tend to drink you dry, mmm, mm-mm-mmm
Oh, how we've danced tonight
Red, red wine
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Sweet, sweet Mary Jane, yeah
And codeine can kill any pain
Mandy, dear
Oh, when I met you, we had quite the year
You showed me love so pure, so strong
Then left me in bed, so alone
You're a stone-cold bitch in the morning
Aren't you?
Aren't you, Mandy?
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Sweet, sweet Mary Jane (sweet Mary Jane)
And codeine can kill any pain
Mm-mm-mmm
@joberthvillanueva2304
Gives me some Amy Winehouse vibes 😭
@Missjunebugfreak
Immediately thought of Amy with her vocal inflections
@amylock8874
This is the comment I was looking for!!
@Parisxox
Thought exactly the same!!
@annasozzani2838
Totally, it's such a beautiful song
@queenv4340
Yeessss
@mikaylarinker2872
She's literally singing to her past pain and addictions, acknowledging that for a time they seemed helpful and safe for her. RAYE THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL I CAN'T
@arabzmembers
what happened
@supremajullibeama6249
This comment I like
@peterpinsent9028
Oh be quiet you fool.