Mary Magdalene

"**Mary Magdalene**" (stylised as "**mary magdalene**") is a song performed by FKA twigs. It serves as the seventh track from twigs' sophomore album, MAGDALENE.

## Background

FKA twigs' most explicit exploration of the Mary Magdalene story in the Bible, which also gives the whole album *MAGDALENE* its name. Mary Magdalene was a close follower who traveled with Jesus and was present. Due to a misreading by Pope Gregory I in 581, for a long time Mary Magdalene was confused with a “sinful woman” in Luke 7:36. Though this misreading was addressed by Pope Paul VI in 1969, the view of Mary as a prostitute persists in pop culture. Twigs plays with all of these different views of Magdalene, and the notion of intimacy.

twigs' has said about the song:

> "Let’s just imagine for one second: Say Jesus and Mary Magdalene are really close, they’re together all the time. She’s his right-hand woman, she’s his confidante, she’s healing people with him and a mystic in her own right. So, at that point, any man and woman that are spending that much time together, they’re likely to be what? Lovers. Okay, cool. So, if Mary had Jesus' children, that basically debunks the whole of history. Now, I’m not saying that happened. What I’m saying is that the idea of people thinking that might happen is potentially really dangerous. It’s easier to call her a whore, because as soon as you call a woman a whore, it devalues her. I see her as Jesus Christ’s equal. She’s a male projection and, I think, the beginning of the patriarchy taking control of the narrative of women. Any woman that’s done anything can be subject to that; I’ve been subject to that. It felt like an apt time to be talking about it."
>
>

## Live Performances

FKA twigs - Mary Magdalene (Later... With Jools Holland)
## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

A woman's work

A woman's prerogative

A woman's time to embrace

She must put herself first

A woman's touch

A sacred geometry

I know where you start, where you end

How to please, how to curse

[Pre-Chorus]

Yes, I heard you needed me (Breathe on me)

Yes, I'm here to open you (You're so close)

Yes, I know that your heart is blue (Your blood runs deep)

(So cold, so cold)

[Chorus]

I'm fever for the fire

True as Mary Magdalene

Creature of desire

Come just a little bit closer to me

Step just a little bit closer to me

I can lift you higher

I do it like Mary Magdalene

I'm what you desire

Come just a little bit closer till we collide

[Verse 2]

A woman's hands

So dark and provocative

A nurturing breath that could stroke you

Divine confidence

A woman's war

Unoccupied history

True nature won't search to destroy

If it doesn't make sense

[Pre-Chorus]

Yes, I heard you needed me (Breathe on me)

Yes, I'm here to open you (You're so close)

Yes, I know that your heart is blue (Your blood runs deep)

(So cold, so cold)

[Chorus]

I'm fever for the fire

True as Mary Magdalene

Creature of desire

Come just a little bit closer to me

Step just a little bit closer to me

I can lift you higher

I do it like Mary Magdalene

I'm what you desire

Come just a little bit closer till we collide

[Post-Chorus]

Oh, you didn't hear me now

Oh, you didn't hear me when I told you

Oh, you didn't hear me now

[Chorus]

Mary Magdalene

Creature of desire

Come just a little bit

Just a little bit

Mary Magdalene

Creature of desire

Come just a little bit closer till we collide

[Post-Chorus]

Oh, you didn't hear me now

Oh, you didn't hear me when I told you

Oh, you didn't hear me now

## Trivia

* This is the longest track on "MAGDALENE", being 5:21, meanwhile, "cellophane" is the shortest track, being 3:24
* This is arguably the 1 out of 2 only punk/rock song in "MAGDALENE".
* This may or may not be the lead track for "MAGDALENE".