Marian (song)

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First And Last And Always - Album Cover (Front)


Marian was released in 1985 on The Sisters of Mercy's first album First And Last And Always (album).

What is most remarkable about this song is that one verse of the lyrics in the second half of the track

are in German language. And, of course, the 12-string-guitar sound written by Wayne Hussey giving

the song it's haunting atmospere.

Although this song is titled Marian (Version) on the album cover, no further official version does really exist.

There are some demo versions, though, see Marian.

Some of the lyrics appeared for the first time in a track called Red Skies Disappear, which also premiered

the music of First And Last And Always but never got officially released.

To our knowledge, Marian was first performed live at the York Racecourse Festival on September 22nd, 1984

and also featured in The Sisters of Mercy's performance at the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test.

The song has been part of The Sisters' live performances ever since.


The Sisters of Mercy performing Marian live
@York Racecourse Festival on 22 September 1984
The Sisters of Mercy performing Marian live
at the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test on 2 April 1985
The Sisters of Mercy performing Marian live at the Royal Albert Hall on 18 June 1985 - the final gig of that line-up
The Sisters of Mercy - Marian (album version)


Marian (Version)

In a sea of faces, in a sea of doubt
In this cruel place your voice above the Maelstrom
In the wake of this ship of fools I'm falling further down
If you can see me, Marian, reach out and take me home.....

CHORUS
I hear you calling Marian
Across the water, across the wave
I hear you calling Marian
Can you hear me calling you to
Save me, save me, save me from the
Grave...
Marian

Marian, there's a weight above me
And the pressure is all too strong
To breathe deep
Breathe long and hard
To take the water down and go to sleep
To sink still further
Beneath the fatal wave
Marian I think I'm drowning
This sea is killing me

CHORUS Transcription
Was ich kann und was ich könnte What I can and what I could do
Weiss ich gar nicht mehr I just don't know anymore
Gib mir wieder etwas Schönes Give me something beautiful again
Zieh mich aus dem Meer Drag me from the sea
Ich höre dich rufen, Marian I hear you calling, Marian
Kannst du mich schreien hören? Can you hear me screaming?
Ich bin hier allein I am here alone
Ich höre dich rufen, Marian I hear you calling, Marian
Ohne deine Hilfe verliere ich mich in diesem Ort      Without your help I am lost in this place


CHORUS
(repeat Marian 'til end)



Music: Wayne Hussey / Lyrics: Andrew Eldritch
Lyrics and music are property and copyright of their respective rights holders and provided only for study purposes.

Various further performances over the years

Our utmost thanks go to all the original uploaders of the videos used in this page. Check their channels on YouTube and you might find many more treasures.

The Sisters of Mercy - Marian
Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany, May 6th, 1991
The Sisters of Mercy - Marian
Black Canvas, Leeds, UK, April 2003 (still video)
The Sisters of Mercy - Marian
TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, September 20th, 2019

Analysis

Some discussions and analysis of this song can be found under Marian in The Heartland Forums' Lyrics Section.