UNDINE

Laura Marling

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Marling first performed this song in Atlanta. She told Alyssa Pereira of spin.com: "The other day I was looking through some old sketchbooks of mine and I found something about the myth of Undine. She was a water goddess or water nymph and she was supposed to make people feel like there was no danger in the world and lull them into a sense of security. And she causes people to walk into the water. I've been thinking about that a lot over the last couple months...I do like stories from ancient times and the beginning of literature — the way they use personification. A character was not only a being but representative of a passion."

Dave Bloom, writing for Pop Matters, said: "Depending on the version of the story, the mortal Undine is stripped of her rebellious nature and becomes a devoted wife, or is cheated on by her husband and curses him to eternal wakefulness, or is forsaken by her husband, embraces him until he dies, and forever encircles him as a magical spring. The turning point on Laura Marling’s fourth album comes with a plea for Undine to “make me more naïve”. With the song “Undine”, she signals a lyrical and musical shift that helps make Once I Was an Eagle the English songwriter’s most ambitious and impressive release."

LYRICS

Made my steps towards the water
Where Undine last was seen
I was told that if you saw her
She would make you more naive
Made my steps towards the shore
She sang her love at me
Oh Undine, sing your love to me
Oh Undine, know not love as love as seen

There were ropes around my wrist
The tide pulled at her hair
Pulling her away from me
And me away from there
Yes the water tried to take her
Tried to make poor Undine hide
But she fought herself against it
Love in her had not yet died
Oh Undine, sing your love to me
Oh Undine, fight your way, fight your way

You live for the sea
Undine, you live for the sea
You can not you can not
What's going on in there?
Let me in

You live for the sea
Undine, you live for the sea
You cannot, you cannot

What's going on in there?
What's going on in there?
Let me in

It was cold there in December
So I took my coat and left
Left Undine by the embers
That's all our fire had left
Left Undine by the shore
When she sings her love at me
Oh Undine so sweet and pure
I know not love as love as seen

You live for the sea
Undine, you live for the sea
You cannot, you cannot

What's going on in there?
What's going on in there?
Let me in

You live for the sea
Undine, you live for the sea
You cannot, you cannot
You cannot love me