Forgive me Dear,
I cannot stay.
He cut out my tongue,
There is nothing to say.

Love me? oh no, he threw me away,
He laughed at my sins, in his arms I must
Stay.

He wrote, I'm broke.
Please send for me.
I'm broken too,
And spoken for.
Do not, tempt me.

Her skin is fun, and I'm light as the
Sun,
So holy light shines, on the things, you have done.

So I asked him,
How he became this man?
How that he learned,
To hold fruit in his hands?

And where is the lamb, that gave you your
Name?
He had to leave, though I begged HIM to
Stay.

Left you alone, when you needed the
Light.
Fell to your knees, and you wept for your
Life!

If he had of stayed, you might
Understand.
If he had of stayed, you never would've
Taken my hand.

He wrote,
I'm alone.
Please send for me.
But I'm broken too,
And spoken for.
Do not, tempt me.

And where is the lamb, that gave you your
Name?
He had to flee, though I begged him to
Stay.

Begged him to stay, in my cold wooden
Grip.
Begged him to stay, by the light of my
Ship.

Me fighting him,
Fighting light,
Fighting dawn.
The waves came,
And stole him,
And took him toward.

He wrote,
I'm broke.
Please send for me.
But I'm broken too,
And spoken for.
Do not, tempt me.

Forgive me, dear, I cannot stay.
He cut out my tongue, there is nothing to
Say
Love me or not, he threw me away.
He laughed at my sins, in his arms I must
Stay.

We write.
That's alright.
I miss his smell.

And we speak,
When spoken to.
That suits us well.

We write.
And that's alright.
But I miss his smell.

And I speak, when spoken to,
'cause that suits me well.
That suits me well.



Lyrics submitted by seaports, edited by MCalladine, aprillouise, mrswinnie

Track duration: 04:07

"What He Wrote" as written by Laura Beatrice Marling

Lyrics © CHRYSALIS MUSIC GROUP

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


What He Wrote song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +2
    Lyric Correction:Forgive me Hera,
    I cannot stay.
    He cut out my tongue,
    There is nothing to save.

    Love me, oh Lord. He threw me away,
    He laughed at my sins, in his arms I must stay.

    He wrote, I'm broke.
    Please send for me.
    But I am broken too,
    And spoken for.
    Do not, tempt me.

    Her skin is white
    And I'm light as the Sun,
    So holy light shines, on the things, you have done.

    So I asked him,
    How he became this man?
    How did he learn,
    To hold fruit in his hands?

    And where is the lamb that gave you your name?
    He had to leave though I begged him to stay.

    Left me alone, when I needed the light.
    Fell to my knees and I wept for my life.

    If he had of stayed, you might understand.
    If he had of stayed, you never would've taken my hand.

    He wrote,
    I am low.
    Please send for me.
    But I am broken too,
    And spoken for.
    Do not tempt me.

    And where is the lamb, that gave you your name?
    He had to leave, though I begged him to stay.

    Begged him to stay, in my cold wooden grip.
    Begged him to stay, by the light of this ship.

    Me fighting him,
    Fighting light,
    Fighting dawn.
    And the waves came,
    And stole him,
    And took him to war.

    He wrote,
    I'm broke.
    Please send for me.
    But I am broken too,
    And spoken for.
    Do not tempt me.

    Forgive me, Hera, I cannot stay.
    He cut out my tongue, there is nothing to save.
    Love me, oh Lord. He threw me away.
    He laughed at my sins, in his arms I must stay.

    We write.
    That's all right.
    I miss his smell.

    We speak,
    When spoken to.
    That suits us well.
    That suits us well

    That suits me well.

    ~Lyrics copied from the "I Speak Because I Can" Album Lyrics pamphlet that came with the CD
    Flag Jarpadon September 25, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:When referring to "Hera", she is begging the Greek goddess of marriage and women for forgiveness due to the fact she can no longer stay with her husband who is at war as the song represents a wife writing a letter to a husband during World War II.
    Flag Jarpadon September 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"And where is the lamb, that gave you your
    Name?" could she be alluding to Abraham?
    Flag Issraron June 14, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I still don't understand the "If he had of stayed" part... why that "of"?
    Flag Ckaylahon April 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Two things: In the lyrics on the sleeve note it is 'Hera' not 'Dear', and the waves took him 'to war' not 'toward' (which should have something following it, of course, and doesn't).
    Flag SaintPhilon September 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Probably my favourite song on the album. So, so, so beautiful.

    "He wrote, I'm low, please send for me,
    But I'm broken too, and spoken for, do not tempt me."
    Flag Ladyblue82on June 20, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I love how her songs can have multiple meanings.

    "but I'm broken too"
    Can be "I'm broken too", "I'm broke in two" or "I'm broke into" depending on the verse.
    Flag Tatterdemalion44on April 09, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I'm pretty sure it's "Forgive me Hera" not "here"

    "Inspired by wartime love letters that Laura read in a newspaper, ‘What He Wrote’ seems to detail the forbidden love of writing to a man other than your husband – she appeals to the Greek goddess Hera, goddess of women and marriage, for forgiveness for speaking to this man when she’s “spoken for.” The whole song, just vocals and guitar, trembles in its waltz rhythm, but the most effecting line has to be the unqualified frankness of, “I miss his smell.”
    -NME

    This song is beautiful <3
    Flag Jezabelleon March 26, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:So haunting, so beautiful.

    How is someone so young writing these songs!?! She is incredibly talented!
    Flag Mwasa254on March 25, 2010   Link

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