An character driven story song about woman going off in search of a father who abandoned his family.
pop
songwriter
acoustic
folk
country
singersongwriter
folk rock
acoustic guitar
john prine
childrens music
kids music
pop folk
story songs
family music
buddy miller
character driven
decembrists
jackie graff
judy miller
steve graff
Story behind the song
I had an image of a remote community in 19th century America, and a young woman going into a town of strangers in search of things that she lost.
Lyrics
MARLEE By Steve Graff
Marlee you give it all away
till you're left with nothing good
Father he bent the bars and fled
All that life--he borrowed and bled.
Jesus on the wooded lake
Briefly restive then as smoke
Marlee wanted something to bring her to
Something to make her feel like she was new.
REFRAIN:
Your steady nerve given us light my dear
Your fixed on stare your auburn hair.
Swimming in..the doorway dark,
With hint of sunlight sublime and stark.
She fell like a weight into the death of town
The darkness and traders spinning round
Where someone good says "Marlee, go back home,
Where they wait for you in the window light."
SOLO
REFRAIN
But she fell and her pictures they scattered
Held her tears, they were torn and battered
Couldn't look us in the eye
"My trembling hands, my lips so dry.
Give me something for my hopeless mind
Wear me down like a spindle in a lathe.
I want you one last blessed time,
Melt my heart and my frozen faith.
I want you one last blessed time,
Melt my heart and my frozen faith."