5 Things to Know About Marianne Faithfull's Broken English

It was her comeback album after a 12-year hiatus. The 1979 release was her first major album since 1967’s Love in a Mist, following a period of drug abuse, homelessness, and anorexia.

The album marked a dramatic shift in her musical style. Faithfull abandoned her earlier folk-pop sound for a raw, punk-influenced rock style that matched her weathered voice.

Its lyrics reflected her personal struggles and political anger. Songs like “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” and “Why D’Ya Do It?” dealt with disillusionment, betrayal, and rage.

The title track addressed the political violence of the era. “Broken English” referenced terrorism and the breakdown of communication, inspired by the Baader-Meinhof group.

Critics initially dismissed it, but it later became a landmark album. Though controversial at release, Broken English is now considered one of the most influential albums of the post-punk era.