Meaning and Lyrics of Patterns by Laura Marling
Song Lyrics meaning of Patterns by Laura Marling
About Laura Marling
Laura Marling has been a formidable presence in the modern folk scene since she stepped into the limelight in the late 2000s. Born on February 1, 1990, in Eversley, Hampshire, England, Marling’s musical journey began early. She picked up a guitar at the tender age of three, a premonition of her future virtuosity. Her debut album, Alas, I Cannot Swim (2008), dropped when she was just 18, and it instantly marked her as a precocious talent with a mature grasp on songwriting far beyond her years.
With each successive album—I Speak Because I Can (2010), A Creature I Don’t Know (2011), Once I Was An Eagle (2013), and so forth—Marling has evolved, expertly weaving intricate acoustic arrangements with introspective, poetic lyrics. Her ability to channel emotional depth with a minimalist approach is nothing short of sublime. She’s a master of her craft, seamlessly blending folk, indie, and a hint of mystical, Laurel Canyon-era introspection.
One standout track from her illustrious discography is “Patterns”. A gem from her 2015 album Short Movie, this song exemplifies Marling’s knack for melding the personal with the universal. “Patterns” features her characteristic finger-picked guitar work, wrapped snugly around her evocative, melancholic vocals. The song is a slow burn, reflective of her journey—understated yet profoundly impactful. In “Patterns,” Marling deftly captures the human experience, reflecting the repetitive yet ever-evolving nature of life. It’s this very ability to mirror life’s complexities within simple melodies that cements Laura Marling’s place as a stalwart of contemporary folk music.
In summary, Laura Marling is not just a musician but a storyteller who continues to shape and be shaped by the intricate dance of modern folk. Her evolution as an artist is mirrored in the deeply textured soundscapes she creates, making her a perpetual tour de force in the music industry.
Meaning of Patterns by Laura Marling
Laura Marling’s song Patterns is a deeply introspective dive into themes of identity, legacy, and the cyclical nature of life. Marling, whose discography is known for its rich lyrical content and intricate acoustic arrangements, has once again crafted a piece of music that encourages profound reflection.
Verse 1 begins with an enigmatic reference to “Zena,” who is depicted as having grounded herself despite being a “ballerina.” This juxtaposition of being ethereal yet grounded serves as a metaphor for maturity and self-realization. The imagery of “squared toes” and a “friendly nose” perhaps symbolizes the idea of reconciling youthful dreams with the reality of growth. Marling’s lyricism here is both vivid and poignant, drawing us into a narrative where the passage of time is almost palpable:
*“But as the years go by and points comply with ever more relief, Then patterns in repeat can begin.”*
Here, Marling hints at the weariness but also the comfort that comes with repetitive cycles in life. The “patterns in repeat” represent the inevitable routines and experiences that shape our existence over time.
Verse 2 shifts focus to the generational aspect. The reference to children as “your flock of birds” and “your branch among the wood” invokes natural and nurturing imagery, emphasizing the organic continuity of life. There’s a striking acknowledgment of the ineffable nature of life’s goodness:
*“You’ll try to tell them, but you’re lost for words, ‘Cause it’s so absurd, how good”*
Marling deftly encapsulates the ineffability of trying to communicate the beauty and complexities of life to the next generation. The verse follows with a touching depiction of aging and the relationship between parent and child evolving into one of mutual respect and friendship:
*“And as those years go by they’ll look upon you kindly like a friend”*
The consistency of life’s patterns is presented as both comforting and relentless. Marling’s choice to describe it as a pattern that “never ends” underlines the inevitability of these cycles, a common theme in her broader work, including tracks from albums like “Once I Was an Eagle” and “Semper Femina”.
Outro brings the song to a more metaphysical plane. The imagery of being “pulled for meaning” and the birthing from “the black” suggests a journey from the void into existence, a creation of identity from abstraction:
*“Forward leaning at first, abstract, you soon contract into form”*
Marling explores the transition from potential (abstract) into reality (form), encapsulating the birth of consciousness or perhaps self-awareness. The continuation of time and the flight from present to future is beautifully articulated:
*“And now the time leaps by and starts to fly, And only then can I see, That we’re patterns in repeat, And we’ll always be”*
These lines evoke a sense of epiphany—the realization that life’s cyclical nature is eternal and immutable. The repetition of patterns signifies that despite the uniqueness of individual experiences, there’s a universal cadence to existence that binds us all.
Patterns can be seen as a testament to Laura Marling’s acute ability to weave intricate narratives that mirror the human condition. Her exploration of life’s repetitive nature through delicate acoustic instrumentation and profound lyricism positions this song as a poignant reflection on the cyclical and often paradoxical experience of living. This track, along with her broader oeuvre, underscores Marling’s place as one of the most thoughtful and poetic songwriters of her generation.
Verse 1 begins with an enigmatic reference to “Zena,” who is depicted as having grounded herself despite being a “ballerina.” This juxtaposition of being ethereal yet grounded serves as a metaphor for maturity and self-realization. The imagery of “squared toes” and a “friendly nose” perhaps symbolizes the idea of reconciling youthful dreams with the reality of growth. Marling’s lyricism here is both vivid and poignant, drawing us into a narrative where the passage of time is almost palpable:
*“But as the years go by and points comply with ever more relief, Then patterns in repeat can begin.”*
Here, Marling hints at the weariness but also the comfort that comes with repetitive cycles in life. The “patterns in repeat” represent the inevitable routines and experiences that shape our existence over time.
Verse 2 shifts focus to the generational aspect. The reference to children as “your flock of birds” and “your branch among the wood” invokes natural and nurturing imagery, emphasizing the organic continuity of life. There’s a striking acknowledgment of the ineffable nature of life’s goodness:
*“You’ll try to tell them, but you’re lost for words, ‘Cause it’s so absurd, how good”*
Marling deftly encapsulates the ineffability of trying to communicate the beauty and complexities of life to the next generation. The verse follows with a touching depiction of aging and the relationship between parent and child evolving into one of mutual respect and friendship:
*“And as those years go by they’ll look upon you kindly like a friend”*
The consistency of life’s patterns is presented as both comforting and relentless. Marling’s choice to describe it as a pattern that “never ends” underlines the inevitability of these cycles, a common theme in her broader work, including tracks from albums like “Once I Was an Eagle” and “Semper Femina”.
Outro brings the song to a more metaphysical plane. The imagery of being “pulled for meaning” and the birthing from “the black” suggests a journey from the void into existence, a creation of identity from abstraction:
*“Forward leaning at first, abstract, you soon contract into form”*
Marling explores the transition from potential (abstract) into reality (form), encapsulating the birth of consciousness or perhaps self-awareness. The continuation of time and the flight from present to future is beautifully articulated:
*“And now the time leaps by and starts to fly, And only then can I see, That we’re patterns in repeat, And we’ll always be”*
These lines evoke a sense of epiphany—the realization that life’s cyclical nature is eternal and immutable. The repetition of patterns signifies that despite the uniqueness of individual experiences, there’s a universal cadence to existence that binds us all.
Patterns can be seen as a testament to Laura Marling’s acute ability to weave intricate narratives that mirror the human condition. Her exploration of life’s repetitive nature through delicate acoustic instrumentation and profound lyricism positions this song as a poignant reflection on the cyclical and often paradoxical experience of living. This track, along with her broader oeuvre, underscores Marling’s place as one of the most thoughtful and poetic songwriters of her generation.
Lyrics of Patterns by Laura Marling
Verse 1
Zena, you've squared your toes
But your friendly nose, hangs around
You're still a ballerina, everybody knows
But your feet are on the ground
But as the years go by and points comply
With ever more relief
Then patterns in repeat can begin
Verse 2
To have your children, your flock of birds
Your branch among the wood
You'll try to tell them, but you're lost for words
'Cause it's so absurd, how good
And as those years go by they'll look upon you
Kindly like a friend
A pattern in repeat
And never ends
Outro
Pullеd for meaning, I arched my back
And then from thе black you were born
Forward leaning at first, abstract
You soon contract into form
And now the time leaps by and starts to fly
And only then can I see
That we're patterns in repeat
And we'll always be
Zena, you've squared your toes
But your friendly nose, hangs around
You're still a ballerina, everybody knows
But your feet are on the ground
But as the years go by and points comply
With ever more relief
Then patterns in repeat can begin
Verse 2
To have your children, your flock of birds
Your branch among the wood
You'll try to tell them, but you're lost for words
'Cause it's so absurd, how good
And as those years go by they'll look upon you
Kindly like a friend
A pattern in repeat
And never ends
Outro
Pullеd for meaning, I arched my back
And then from thе black you were born
Forward leaning at first, abstract
You soon contract into form
And now the time leaps by and starts to fly
And only then can I see
That we're patterns in repeat
And we'll always be
Discography Laura Marling
Animal
Release: 2021-07-30
Label: Chrysalis Records
Popularity: 👏
1. Bloom At Night
2. Gamma Ray
3. Animal
4. Climb Every Wall
5. Red Snakes
6. Paradise
7. Hair On The Pillow
8. We Cannot Resist
9. Oberon
10. Phantom Lim
Tracklist
Collapse
2. Gamma Ray
3. Animal
4. Climb Every Wall
5. Red Snakes
6. Paradise
7. Hair On The Pillow
8. We Cannot Resist
9. Oberon
10. Phantom Lim
Song For Our Daughter
Release: 2020-04-10
Label: Chrysalis Records
Popularity: 👏👏
1. Alexandra
2. Held Down
3. Strange Girl
4. Only The Strong
5. Blow By Blow
6. Song For Our Daughter
7. Fortune
8. The End Of The Affair
9. Hope We Meet Again
10. For You
Tracklist
Collapse
2. Held Down
3. Strange Girl
4. Only The Strong
5. Blow By Blow
6. Song For Our Daughter
7. Fortune
8. The End Of The Affair
9. Hope We Meet Again
10. For You
LUMP
Release: 2018-06-01
Label: Dead Oceans
1. Late to the Flight
2. May I Be the Light
3. Rolling Thunder
4. Curse of the Contemporary
5. Hand Hold Hero
6. Shake Your Shelter
7. LUMP Is a Product (Credits)
Tracklist
Collapse
2. May I Be the Light
3. Rolling Thunder
4. Curse of the Contemporary
5. Hand Hold Hero
6. Shake Your Shelter
7. LUMP Is a Product (Credits)
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