Drawing us in with the sound of falling rain and thunder rising with textured drums, expanding into a luscious guitar soundscape, Saint Nick the Lesser opens Anne-Marie with a captivating, brooding timbre and the situational lyrics, “Ann-Marie‘s been waiting for her train, bundled on a bench, in the cold November rain…”
We are immediately enthralled by Saint Nick the Lesser‘s brand of storytelling, and the poetic prowess with which he brings to life his message. We learn from the lyrics that Ann-Marie’s story is one of quiet resilience in the face of deep suffering.
As Ann-Marie waits for her train in the cold, she is escaping and disentangling herself from a past of violence, fear, and broken promises. Her bruises speak to the cycles of harm that often entrap people in situationships that would diminish their spirit.
Within the trembling and the tears, there is her the courageous act of walking out. Lyrically, the track deals with the struggle between destiny and free will, and even though we may not ask for pain to penetrate our lives, the choice of stepping back and move forward is our own.
The repeating phase “keep moving forward” feels like a mantra, which demonstrates how healing isn’t a single act, but a progression. The train is a metaphor for moving on, and escape isn’t weakness, but the first step in a process of reclaiming your life. In the final verse, the song reminds us that, while change is often painful and scary, it is also inevitable, and that, by walking away, Ann-Marie was choosing herself.
Speaking on his artistry, Saint Nick the Lesser tells us, “Someone once described my music as worship music for secular people; went on to call it ‘hope-core’, and I’ve been running with it ever since.”
He adds, “I try my hardest to put out positive messages; especially when writing about darker subject matter, and Anne-Marie is characteristic of that. This song is about a woman leaving an abusive husband in the midst of turmoil, and ultimately about finding the courage to stay the course in spite of history. Melancholic, somber, introspective, but with a gentle bright current underneath which slowly rises in the end.”
We love the emotional quotient of what Saint Nick the Lesser is bringing to life, and the intentional depth of his artistry. Naturally, we have added Anne-Marie to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to explore the talented artist’s wider discography, including his debut single, Train Tracks, and sophomore single, Catfish Bones.