Taylor Swift just kicked off her Eras tour on Friday, March 17, at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Included in her 44-song setlist is the touching ballad, Marjorie , which is about her late maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay.
From The Album ‘Evermore’
The poignant song is part of the album, Evermore , which the 33-year-old pop superstar surprise-dropped in December 2020, just five months after the release of Folklore .
‘Still Visits Me Sometimes’
During Evermore ’s release, she took special note of Marjorie , saying that the person who inspired it “still visits me sometimes…if only in my dreams.”
Classically Trained Opera Singer
Her grandmother was a classically trained coloratura soprano who sang with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. She died in 2003.
A Moving Tribute To Her Grandmother
In the song, Swift honors Finlay in a moving way. It is an emotional remembrance of their relationship and the words of advice she gave her in her younger years.
Wise Words
“Never be so kind, you forget to be clever / Never be so clever, you forget to be kind,” the song begins.
As If She Was Still Alive
She remembers her grandma as if she was still alive.
“And if I didn’t know better / I’d think you were talking to me now,” she sings.
Memories And Regrets
In some lines, she recalls the sweet moments they shared together and also expresses regret that she didn’t get to know her better.
‘Should’ve Asked You Questions’
“I should’ve asked you questions / I should’ve asked you how to be / Asked you to write it down for me,” she sings.
Her Grandmother’s Voice Is Included In The Song
Towards the end, there’s a line that says, “I’d think you were singing to me now.” And in what is perhaps the most poignant part of the song, her grandmother’s operatic voice can actually be heard.
Interview With Zane Lowe
She explained how that came to be in an interview with Zane Lowe two years ago.
‘She’s Singing With Me’
“One of the things about this song that kind of still rips me apart when I listen to it is that she’s singing with me on this song,” she told him.
The Voice Is From Finlay’s Old Records
“My mom found a bunch of her old records, of her singing opera, and I sent them to Aaron [Dessner] and he added them to the song,” she continued.
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Her Career
Although Finlay was a successful opera singer, she didn’t reach the level of fame her granddaughter achieved.
Her Death
She didn’t even get to witness Swift’s rise to stardom because she died when her granddaughter was only 13, a year before she signed her first deal.
Bonded In Music
But there’s an unmistakable bond between the two women when it comes to their music careers. And Swift addresses that in the track when she sings, “All your closets of backlogged dreams / And how you left them all to me.”
Honoring Finlay In A Grand Way
By including Finlay’s voice in her song, Swift has honored her in a grand way and highlighted the bond they shared.
An Audience Of 69,000 Heard Her Grandmother Sing
When she sang Marjorie at the State Farm Stadium on the opening night of her tour, she also gave her grandmother’s voice an audience of 69,000.
Record-Breaking
Incidentally, she broke Madonna’s 36-year record of 63,000 for the most attended single female concert in US history.
Emotional Performance
In the emotional performance, Swift’s voice could be heard cracking a little as she sang about her grandma’s “backlogged dreams.” And she wiped away tears as Finlay’s voice filled the venue.
