SALINAS

Laura Marling

Laura Marling Pages does not use cookies. -- Privacy Policy

John Hadusek interviewed Marling for Consequence and asked if the lyrics for Salinas were inspired by John Steinbeck. "I happened to pick up a book he’d written about the West Country in England," Marling replied. "It was a history of the Knights of the Round Table, and his widow, Elaine, wrote the forward of the book. It was really strange. Like hero worship. Obviously he was a phenomenal writer, but she was very talented as well. I found that really interesting."

Tony Hardy, also writing in Consequence, said: "Marling’s fascination with John Steinbeck’s third wife, Elaine, gave rise to 'Salinas'. The refrain ‘I am from Salinas, where the women go forever’ echoes the stoicism of a heroic woman watching a great man die...The raking, angular electric guitars on 'Salinas' and 'The Beast' have a kind of verve and intensity that calls to mind Fairport Convention in their trad folk rock zenith, say on the outro to 'Tam Lin' from Liege and Lief. Both songs begin with a deceptive gentleness that is soon overtaken by surprisingly strident, layered guitar-led phrases. In a sense the first song prepares you for the second and both indicate a style that Marling could go on to develop further in her music."

LYRICS

I am from Salinas
Where the women go forever
And they never ever stop to ask why
My mother was a saviour
Of six foot of bad behaviour
Long blonde curly hair down to her thigh

O my mother
O my friends
Ask the angels
Will I ever see heaven again?

Late into the evening
They would take each other screaming
Looking darkly to the back of her eyes
A careless beast was bleating
That the air behind was breathing
That they musn't ever look up to the sky

There no answers
There are found
Ask the angels
Am I heaven bound?

Mmmm put it down to me
I, who speak awkwardly
Any word if it is heard is not intended to be
Not for him, not for her
and not for them and not for me
O and that gun will turn
before the sun starts to burn
Understand?/

Mmmm when the clouds roll in
And we start paying for our sins
With a gun in my hand
And my son at my shoulder
Believe I will run
Before that boy gets older
Oh, and that gun will turn before the sun starts to burn
Understand?
Oh, and that gun will turn before the sun starts to burn
Understand?

I am from Salinas
Where the women go forever
And they never ever stop to ask why
My mother she's a saviour
Of six foot of bad behaviour
Long blonde curly hair down to her thigh

O my mother
O My friends
Ask the angels
Will I ever see heaven again?
Will I ever see heaven again?
Will I ever see heaven again?

Punish them all for they speak too much
Hate the world what it did to us
Will I ever see heaven again?
Will I ever see heaven again?