The Frames have been together since 1990 and are a survivor of Dublin's prolific early 90's rock and roll scene. They have also been essential in the development of the current crop of emerging Irish rock bands, such as Turn. The Frames have toured with various other Irish artists, including Damien Rice and Bell X1. In December 2004, Hansard appeared on stage in a collaboration with singer songwriter Paddy Casey.
The name The Frames reportedly arose from Hansard's habit, at a young age, of fixing the bicycles of many of his friends. The large number of bicycle frames lying around his house led neighbours to dub it the "house with the frames".
Their new, 6th studio album, The Cost, is available in Ireland since 22 September 2006 and worldwide since 20 February 2007.
Lead singer Hansard recently collaborated with Czech musician Markรฉta Irglovรก, which led to the solo album "The Swell Season". Glen and Markรฉta also star and perform in the John Carney movie Once (www.oncethemovie.com). The movie received several awards including the World Cinema Audience Award - Dramatic at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival as well as an Oscar for best Song for the track "Falling Slowly".
On several occasions the members of The frames appear on stage during the Swell season gigs.
www.theframes.ie
Martha
The Frames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it for the same reason you were crying yesterday?
Don't you know a bad situation when you see one?
Get out, just leave baby, go today
Well I'm just waiting for you to open me up
Just hoping you'll drink from my broken cup
I'm just a lonely boy who knows
Nothing else but you, my Martha
Hey Martha what are you saying?
You say you got to figure it all out for yourself
Well time won't wait, and you're not special
Don't you think it's time you took me down off your shelf
I won't claim to be the saviour of your soul, no
I wouldn't want that kind of thing at all
I'm just a lonely boy who knows
Nothing else but you, my Martha
Hey my my my Martha
Hey my my my Martha
Hey Martha the boat is leaving
Pretty soon they are going to be
Calling the last of us on
Please don't please don't make me leave without you
Don't make this a very sad and unhappy song
You know I tried to say well it doesn't matter
I tried to throw away everything I thought was true
I'm just a lonely boy who knows
Nothing else but you my Martha
Hey my my my Martha
Hey my my my Martha
Hey my my my Martha
The Framesโs song โMarthaโ features a man pleading with a woman named Martha to leave with him before itโs too late. He asks her why she is crying and if itโs for the same reason she was crying before. He urges her to leave their bad situation and get out today. The man continues to express his unconditional love for Martha and admits that he doesnโt know anything beyond her. In the second verse, the man asks Martha what she is saying and tells her that time is running out. He tells her that she isnโt special and that itโs time to take him off the shelf. He also admits that he is not the savior of her soul, but simply a lonely boy who knows nothing else but her. In the final verse, the man tells Martha that the boat is leaving and begs her not to make him leave without her. He tells her that heโs tried to throw away everything he thought was true and that he knows nothing else but her.
The song โMarthaโ showcases a complicated relationship between two people in a bad situation. The man is desperate for Martha to leave with him and expresses his pure love for her, while admitting that he knows nothing else but her. The song is emotional and powerful, with the repetition of โHey my my my Marthaโ bringing a sense of urgency and desperation to the plea. Overall, the song portrays a sense of heartache and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Martha why are you crying?
Asking why Martha is crying and if it's for the same reason as yesterday, implying that she's stuck in a bad situation and needs to leave.
Is it for the same reason you were crying yesterday?
Questioning if Martha is in the same upsetting situation as she was in the past.
Don't you know a bad situation when you see one?
Implying that Martha is not recognizing her own predicament and needs to remove herself from it.
Get out, just leave baby, go today
Encouraging Martha to leave her current situation as soon as possible to better herself.
Well I'm just waiting for you to open me up
Expressing that the artist wants Martha to open up to him and see that he can help her.
Just hoping you'll drink from my broken cup
Wishing that Martha will trust him even though he may have flaws or issues of his own.
I'm just a lonely boy who knows
Admitting that the singer may feel alone, but he is confident that he can help Martha with her troubles.
Nothing else but you, my Martha
Stating that the artist is fully invested in helping Martha and has no other thoughts or desires.
Hey Martha what are you saying?
Asking Martha what she means by saying that she needs to figure things out for herself.
You say you got to figure it all out for yourself
Reiterating Martha's statement that she needs to solve her own problems.
Well time won't wait, and you're not special
Implying that Martha is not exempt from the natural passage of time and she needs to act now to improve her life.
Don't you think it's time you took me down off your shelf
Suggesting that Martha should stop putting the artist aside and listen to his advice.
I won't claim to be the saviour of your soul, no
Declaring that the singer is not trying to save Martha, but merely helping her out of love and concern.
I'm just a lonely boy who knows
Reiterating that despite the singer's own issues, he is committed to helping Martha.
Nothing else but you, my Martha
Reiterating that Martha is the singer's sole focus.
Hey Martha the boat is leaving
Informing Martha that it's time to leave and time is running out.
Pretty soon they are going to be
Indicating that time is running out quickly for Martha.
Calling the last of us on
Implying that there is a deadline or time limit to make a move to leave.
Please don't please don't make me leave without you
Begging Martha to follow him to a better situation before it's too late.
Don't make this a very sad and unhappy song
Expressing that the situation can be improved and made less tragic if Martha listens and leaves with the artist.
You know I tried to say well it doesn't matter
Admitting that the artist himself has struggled to make progress, but highlighting how important it is for Martha to act now.
I tried to throw away everything I thought was true
Explaining how the artist has had to let go of his own preconceived notions or beliefs to truly help Martha.
I'm just a lonely boy who knows
Reiterating that regardless of his own challenges, the singer is confident that he can help Martha.
Nothing else but you my Martha
Concluding that Martha is the artist's priority and focus, and he is committed to helping her despite his own limitations.
Hey my my my Martha
A repeating refrain that emphasizes the importance of Martha and elevates her significance in the singer's life.
Hey my my my Martha
A repeating refrain that emphasizes the importance of Martha and elevates her significance in the singer's life.
Hey my my my Martha
A repeating refrain that emphasizes the importance of Martha and elevates her significance in the singer's life.
Contributed by Katherine L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Milos Krcmar
Love it!
Miloลก Rais
please, can you get it here again but without scratching media player error in the ending ... be well and thank you, so positive energy comin' outta song