Marian: a Girl's name. Also
Marianne,
Marina and
Marion.
Meanings are given as:
Marina - sea
Marion,
Marian - form of
Mary
Mary - star of the sea
Marian (version).
The Sisters of Mercy, Track 5 on
First and last an Always,
1985. Music by
Wayne Hussey, words by
Andrew Eldritch.
I don't know why the title is annotated as (version) as it is to my knowledge, the only version of this song that has ever surfaced.
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
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
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
verse in German, translated here.
Was ich kann und was ich konnte
What I can do and what I could do
Weiss ich gar nicht mehr
I just don't know anymore
Gib mir wieder etwas schones Give me something beautiful again
Zieh mich aus dem meer Drag me from the sea
Ich hore dich rufen Marian I hear you calling Marian
Kannst du mich schreien horen Can you hear me calling?
Ich bin hier allien I am here alone
Ich hore dich rufen Marian I hear you calling Marian
Ohne diene hilfe verliere ich mich in diessem ort Without your help I am lost in this place
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
Marian
Marian
Marian
If I absolutely had to pick a favorite track off First and Last and Always, this might just be it. The contrast between the fast drums and guitars and the slow singing gives the track it's tension. Though it is very a subtle melody in the voice and bass, it is incredibly, irresistably melodic, like the slow shifting of waves. The word Marian is drawn out into a whole slowly descending riff: Maria-ia-ia-an. This is atmospheric goth music.