Laura Marling

An English folk singer-songwriter whose debut Alas, I Cannot Swim (2008) ends with a hidden title track.

From Hampshire to Virgin

Laura Beatrice Marling was born on February 1, 1990 and grew up on a farm in Eversley, Hampshire, learning guitar from the age of five in a house with a recording studio. She wrote her first song, "Failure", as a child, and her debut EP London Town came out on WayOutWest. She plays guitar, bass, piano and ukulele, and was 17 when she recorded her debut album.

Alas, I Cannot Swim reached 45 in the UK and went gold. It came out as a limited songbox on February 4, 2008 and as a standard release on February 11. Later albums include I Speak Because I Can (UK 4), A Creature I Don't Know (UK 4), Once I Was an Eagle (UK 3), Short Movie (UK 7), Semper Femina (UK 5) and Song for Our Daughter (UK 6). Her official site hosts a Substack newsletter.

Albums

Alas, I Cannot Swim 2008 · Virgin
The debut, with members of what became Mumford & Sons in the band.
I Speak Because I Can 2010
A 2010 album.
A Creature I Don't Know 2011
A 2011 album.
Once I Was An Eagle 2013
A 2013 album.
Short Movie 2015
A 2015 album.
Semper Femina 2017
A 2017 album.
Song For Our Daughter 2020
A 2020 album.
Patterns In Repeat 2024
A 2024 album.

Songs

Alas, I Cannot Swim Alas, I Cannot Swim · 2008
The album's unlisted hidden title track, played after "Your Only Doll (Dora)".

Sources

Laura Marling, Wikipedia
Laura Marling discography, Wikipedia
Alas, I Cannot Swim, Wikipedia
Laura Marling, Alas, I Cannot Swim anniversary, Albumism