I wrote this song in 1993 when I was in the band 'Absolutely Sweet Marie' (named after the Bob Dylan song). You might realise that I was very keen on Prefab Sprout as this recording has overtones of their style I feel.
It was written about our singer at the time who was much younger than the rest of the band but she was very ambitious. Also quite precocious and pushy. All good qualities I guess if you want to get somewhere in music. However, 'Sweet Marie' and us didn't make it to the promised land.
Despite flirtations with some notable music biz movers, we parted with her and never really recovered. Maybe it was all make believe? Anyway, I got a song out of it and enjoyed bringing it back to life in 2024. Thanks to Philippa for your backing vocals.
Dedicated to Ben for the good times and the baseline.
SWEET MARIE
Oh sweet Marie
Well it was make believe
But we all enjoyed the joke
You told me why
But now there's no way back
All our bridges up in smoke
Oh sweet Marie
Has this all gone too far
We can't take back what was said
And all the hats
That we both chose back then
Are sitting pretty on your head
CHORUS
Oh sweet Marie
Oh sweet Marie
Oh sweet Marie, absolutely
Define your soul
Defend the way you are
And don't go down without a fight
Your appetite
For breaking all the rules
Really leaves me out of sight
Your eyes are warm
But now they're coldly fixed
Upon the pieces of the pie
And you're still young
And time is on your side
You've got a lot of fish to fry
CHORUS
I know that you’d sell your soul to get anywhere
The driver who's in the back seat, paying the fare
Knows that you're not sweet, you're not sweet
You're not sweet, you're not sweet Marie
CHORUS
© ANDY BARKER 1993
