Marianne Faithfull takes inspiration from her first single on the new posthumous song, “Burning Moonlight,” which will appear on an upcoming EP of the same name, out June 6.
The title track is a moving acoustic ballad inspired by the opening line of “As Tears Go By,” Faithfull’s debut single, which was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Drawing on that song’s opening image (“It is the evening of the day”), Faithfull hits upon a sense of awe and resilience as she sings, “Burning moonlight to survive/Walking in fire is my life.”
Burning Moonlight, the EP, was originally set to be announced in February as a 2025 Record Store Day release, but it was postponed following Faithfull’s death in January at the age of 78. The project found Faithfull looking back at her first two releases, her self-titled pop album and her folkier offering, Come My Way, both released on April 15, 1965.
“Burning Moonlight” and “Love Is” are tied to Marianne Faithfull, with Faithfull co-writing the latter song with her grandson, Oscar Dunbar. The other two tracks, linked to Come My Way, are “Three Kinsmen Bold,” a traditional song Faithfull learned from her father, and a new interpretation of “She Moved Thru’ the Fair,” another traditional Faithfull performed throughout her life and first recorded in 1966.
After completing the project, Faithfull said, “It’s a good time to look back. It helps me to remember all the things I’ve done. I can’t say I’m a particularly nostalgic person, but I am enjoying this period of reflection.”
Burning Moonlight was produced by Head alongside Dunbar, Rob Ellis, and Andrew Batt. Australian artist David Frazer created the cover art.
“I’m so happy we found a time when Marianne felt able to write and sing again,” Head said in a statement. “When she asked me to produce these songs, we were all aware that her health had made things difficult but, in true Marianne fashion, she persevered, and I think we were able to go in a new direction again — something she always tried to push herself to do throughout her long career.”
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