I'm a Ruin is a single by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Appearing on her third studio album, FROOT, it is the 3rd track on the album, and was released as the 3rd single.
The song was written by Marina alone and produced by David Kosten.
I'm a Ruin was represented by a cherry 
in the 'Froot of the Month' campaign, and paired alongside Solitaire on Marina's website during the era.[1]
Background[]
On January 13, 2015, a 14-second snippet of the track was released via Marina's Instagram.[2] On the 27th, the full track premiered on Huw Stephens Radio 1 show.[3][4]
Meaning[]
Marina explained the song is about dealing with guilt after hurting a lover, a topic she believes "isn't talked about often".[5]
Trivia[]
- For unknown reasons, on the vinyl, I'm a Ruin is paired with Immortal, and represented by a lemon,[6] contradicting the 'Froot of the Month' campaign.
Artwork[]
 Credits
Photographer
Charlotte Rutherford
Designer
Sam Coldy
|
Photoshoot _3-003.jpg "Charlotte Rutherford (24 Oct 2014) 3-003.jpg (1.21 MB)") Untagged _3-003-unedited.jpg "Charlotte Rutherford (24 Oct 2014) 3-003-unedited.jpg (110 KB)") Unedited _3-002.jpg "Charlotte Rutherford (24 Oct 2014) 3-002.jpg (6.47 MB)") _3-002-unedited.jpg "Charlotte Rutherford (24 Oct 2014) 3-002-unedited.jpg (113 KB)") Unedited Media  Single artwork _-_Cherries.jpg "I'm a Ruin (fanpack) - Cherries.jpg (151 KB)") Official fanpack _-_FROOT_logo.jpg "I'm a Ruin (fanpack) - FROOT logo.jpg (168 KB)"){kind=logo} _-_Lyrics.jpg "I'm a Ruin (fanpack) - Lyrics.jpg (96 KB)") _-_Cocktail.gif "I'm a Ruin (fanpack) - Cocktail.gif (456 KB)") _-_Cherries.png "I'm a Ruin (fanpack) - Cherries.png (29 KB)") _-_FROOT_logo.png "I'm a Ruin (fanpack) - FROOT logo.png (171 KB)"){kind=logo} |
Videos[]
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | I'm a Ruin | |
| Premiere | 3 Feb 2015 | |
| Length | 3:59 | |
| Location | Lanzarote island, Spain | |
| Filmed | 17 Jan 2015 | |
| Director | Markus Lundqvist | |
| Producer | Tom Birmingham | |
| Production company | Knucklehead | |
| Executive producer | Mary Calderwood | |
| Editor | Julia Knight | |
| Choreographer | Aaron Sillis | |
Additional Credits
- Grade: The Mill.
- Producer: Dan Kreeger, Dan Butler
- Colourist: Matt Osborne
Behind the Scenes
_1-001.jpg "Tumblr (13 Jan 2015) 1-001.jpg (95 KB)")
_1-001.jpg "Tumblr (17 Jan 2015) 1-001.jpg (120 KB)")
_7-001.jpg "Tumblr (26 Jan 2015) 7-001.jpg (109 KB)")
_3-001.jpg "Tumblr (09 Feb 2015) 3-001.jpg (84 KB)")
Background
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | I'm a Ruin (Acoustic) | |
| Premiere | 21 Feb 2015 | |
| Length | 4:50 | |
| Director | Paul Caslin | |
Behind the Scenes
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single (Radio edit, used in music video) | I'm a Ruin | 02 Feb 2015 | 3:59 | |
| Album [Inst.]
|
FROOT | 13 Mar 2015 | 4:32 | |
| Acoustic/Live | ||||
| Acoustic | YouTube • FROOT Acoustic EP | EP: 08 Jun 2015 | 4:45 | |
| Demos | ||||
| Home Demo | N/A - Demo | Leaked: 15 Mar 2021 | 5:29 | |
| Demo | N/A - Demo | Leaked: 15 Mar 2021 | 5:51 | |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
I know that I can't have it all
But without you, I am afraid I'll fall
I know I'm playing with your heart
And I could treat you better, but I'm not that smart
When it comes to love, you're an easy fight
A flower in a gun, a bird in flight
It isn't fair and it isn't right
To lead you on like it's all alright
[Pre-Chorus]
I played with your heart
And I could treat you better, but I'm not that smart
You still mean everything to me, to me
But I want to be free
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
[Verse 2]
It's difficult to move on when nothing was right and nothing's wrong
You still can't look me in the eye
'Cause you've been bitten once and now you're twice as shy
I've had my share of beautiful men
But I'm still young and I want to love again
It's difficult to say goodbye
And easier to live a lover's lie
[Pre-Chorus]
And I've tried to say
Babe, I'm gonna ruin you if you let me stay
You still mean everything to me, to me
But I wanna be free
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
[Middle 8]
It doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair
When I'm planning to move on and you're still standing there
Don't wanna keep a secret, but I don't know how to keep it fair, yeah
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
But I don't wanna say goodbye, goodbye
But baby, I don't wanna lie
To lie, to lie to you
I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
[Verse 1]
I know that I can't have it all
But without you, I am afraid I'll fall
I know I'm playing with your heart
And I could treat you better, but I'm not that smart
When it comes to love, you're an easy fight
A flower in a gun, a bird in flight
It isn't fair and it isn't right
To lead you on like it's all alright
[Pre-Chorus]
I played with your heart
And I could treat you better, but I'm not that smart
You still mean everything to me
But I want to be free
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
[Verse 2]
It's difficult to move on when nothing was right and nothing's wrong
You still can't look me in the eye
'Cause you've been bitten once and now you're twice as shy
[Pre-Chorus]
And I've tried to say
Babe, I'm gonna ruin you if you let me stay
You still mean everything to me, to me
But I wanna be free
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
[Middle 8]
It doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair
When I'm planning to move on and you're still standing there
Don't wanna keep a secret, but I don't know how to keep it fair, yeah
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
[Verse 1]
I know that I can't have it all
But without you, I am afraid I'll fall
I know I'm playing with your heart
And I could treat you better, but I'm not that smart
When it comes to love, you're an easy fight
A flower in a gun, a bird in flight
It isn't fair and it isn't right
To lead you on like it's all alright
[Pre-Chorus]
I played with your heart
And I could treat you better, but I'm not that smart
You still mean everything to me
But I want to be free
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
But I don't wanna say goodbye
But baby I don't wanna lie
To lie, to lie to you
I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
[Verse 2]
It's difficult to move on when nothing was right and nothing's wrong
You still can't look me in the eye
'Cause you've been bitten once and now you're twice as shy
I've had my share of beautiful men
But I'm still young and I want to love again
It's difficult to say goodbye
And easier to live a lover's lie
[Pre-Chorus]
And I've tried to say
Babe, I'm gonna ruin you if you let me stay
You still mean everything to me, to me
But I wanna be free
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
But I don't wanna say goodbye
But baby I don't wanna lie
To lie, to lie to you
I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
[Middle 8]
It doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair
When I'm planning to move on and you're still standing there
Don't wanna keep a secret, but I don't know how to keep it yeah, yeah
[Chorus]
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you
I've been doing things I shouldn't do
But I don't wanna say goodbye
But baby, I don't wanna lie
To lie, to lie to you
I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, I'm a ruin
Yeah, yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
I'll ruin, yeah I'll ruin you (I'll ruin)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)
But I don’t wanna say goodbye (Goodbye)
But baby I don’t wanna lie
To lie, to lie to you
I’m a ruin
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis — Keyboards, Lead vocal, Backing vocals
- David Kosten — Keyboards, Percussion
- Jason Cooper — Drums
- Jeremy Pritchard — Bass
- Alexander Robertshaw — Guitar
Technical[]
- Written by Marina Diamandis
- Produced by David Kosten and Marina Diamandis
- Programming by David Kosten
- Recorded at Muttley Ranch, London
- Drums recorded at Kore Studios, London and Assault's Battery Two, London
- Engineered by David Kosten
- Additional engineering by Mo Hausler
- Assistant drum recording engineers Al Lawson and Drew Smith
- Mixed down and additional programming by Wez Clarke
- Mastered by Lewis Hopkin at Star Delta Mastering
- Published by Warner / Chappell Music Publishing Ltd
References[]
- ↑
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/x0GUL-pPqE
- ↑ https://planetfroot.tumblr.com/post/109240535643
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04ybpvd
- ↑ "Track by track of Froot - Marina And The Diamonds." YouTube. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ↑ https://www.hhv.de/shop/en/item/marina-and-the-diamonds-immortal-i-m-a-ruin-403816
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDVC_pFMBMM
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Froot of the Month • Photography • Tumblr • Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | FROOT • FROOT Acoustic EP |
| Tracklist | Happy • Froot • I'm a Ruin • Blue • Forget • Gold • Can't Pin Me Down • Solitaire • Better Than That • Weeds • Savages • Immortal |
| Non-Album | |
| Outtakes | I'm Not Hungry Anymore • Saviour • When You Take Away Control |
| Misc | Disconnect • True Colours • Unknown Song (by Little Mix) |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |