Laura Marling appeared on the Letterman Show Monday night and performed Master Hunter off of her most recent album Once I Was An Eagle. Stripped down to girl and guitar, Marling gives the venomous lyrics their proper due, practically spitting the words at times behind a seething smile.  It’s a tour de force performance of Dylan proportions, replete with jean jacket.  The song’s lyrics follow the video.  Afterwards check out her recent performance of Where Can I Go? for Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 Current.  Marling exhibits better here her formidable vocal chops, all with Joni-esque flair.  You can listen to her entire Current set and interview HERE.

Ms. Marling clearly has aspiration and supreme confidence in taking on her idols Dylan and Mitchell, and acquitting herself well in the process.

“I am a master hunter I cured my skin, now nothing gets in
Nothing not as hard as it tries

You want a woman because you want to be saved Well I’ll tell you that I got a little lot on my plate
Well if you want a woman who can call your name It ain’t me babe
No, no, no, it ain’t me babe

I don’t stare at water anymore,
Water doesn’t do what it did before,
It took me in into the edge of insane when I only meant to swim,
I nearly put a bullet in my brain when the water took me in

I am a master hunter I cured my skin, nothing gets in
Nothing not as hard as it tries

You let men into your bed
They don’t know you well
They can’t get into my head
Oh they don’t have a hope in hell

See the thing is that we’re so alone
There’s nothing we can share
You can get me on the telephone but you won’t keep me there
No, no, no, you won’t keep me there

Take me somewhere I don’t know Give me something let me go
Tell me something I can grow
Cause, I have some news

Wrestle in the rope from darkness is no fucking life that I would choose

Take me somewhere I can grow
Give me something Let me go Tell me something I don’t know
I had some news

Wrestling with the rope from darkness is no fucking life that I would choose

I am a master hunter I cured my skin, now nothing gets in
Nothing not as hard as it tries”