Night Terror
marling laura Lyrics
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I roll over and shake him tightly and whisper
If they want you, oh, they're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me
I woke up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green
Oh, a candle at my chest and a hand on his knee
I got up it was dark, there's no one in the park at this hour
Oh, fight me
If I look back and he is screaming, I'd left him dreaming
The dangers fade
And I'll run back and shake him tightly and scream
If they want him, oh, they're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me
But if I wake up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green
Oh, a candle at my chest and a hand on his knee
I'll roll over and hold him tightly and scream
If you want him, oh, you're gonna have to fight me
Oh, fight me
Don't fight me
The song "Night Terror" by Laura Marling is a hauntingly beautiful yet eerie track that explores the fear and desperation one feels when they have a recurrent nightmare or a "night terror". The verses describe the singer waking up abruptly in the middle of the night to find their partner screaming due to a bad dream. The first verse tells us that the singer is willing to protect her partner from the demons that haunt him in his dream, stating that "If they want you, oh, they're gonna have to fight me / Oh, fight me".
The second verse elaborates on this fear and recurring nightmare as the singer wakes up on a bench in Shepherd's Bush Green with a candle at her chest and a hand on her partner's knee. She notices that it's dark and there's no one around and wonders how she keeps finding herself in this place. The chorus then repeats the earlier lines but this time, the singer screams instead of whispering. In the final verse, she clarifies that she is willing to fight for her partner's safety but also, she doesn't want anyone to fight her.
The haunting melody of the song adds to the eeriness, making the overall track an artistic yet haunting piece. Marling's choice of words and imagery conveys the sense of desperation someone feels when they see their loved ones going through a nightmare.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up and he was screaming, I'd left him dreaming
I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night to find my partner screaming in his sleep due to a bad dream.
I roll over and shake him tightly and whisper
I try to comfort him and calm him down by holding him and speaking in a soothing tone.
If they want you, oh, they're gonna have to fight me, oh, fight me
I assure my partner that I am willing to protect him from any harm and will not let anyone try to harm him.
I woke up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green, oh, a candle at my chest and a hand on his knee
I find myself in an unfamiliar place, sitting on a bench with a candle, while my partner's hand rests on my knee.
I got up it was dark, there's no one in the park at this hour, how do I keep finding myself here? Oh, fight me
As I stand up, I realize it's dark and there's no one around. I wonder how I keep ending up in this place and reassure myself that I will fight anyone who tries to harm my partner.
If I look back and he is screaming, I'd left him dreaming, the dangers fade
If I turn back and see my partner still screaming in his sleep, the dangers of my surroundings become less important.
And I'll run back and shake him tightly and scream, if they want him, oh, they're gonna have to fight me, oh, fight me
I hurry back to my partner and try to calm him down while reaffirming my willingness to protect him from any harm.
But if I wake up on a bench on Shepherd's Bush Green, oh, a candle at my chest and a hand on his knee, I'll roll over and hold him tightly and scream, if you want him, oh, you're gonna have to fight me, oh, fight me
If I find myself in the same situation again, I will hold my partner close and make it clear that I will not let anyone harm him.
Don't fight me
I am not looking for a fight, but I will do whatever it takes to protect the one I love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind