"Marianne" by John Hiatt is a song about a man expressing his concerns and objections to his love interest, Marianne, marrying an insurance man. He sees Marianne's picture in the paper surrounded by wedding plans and is hoping that she hasn't given in to societal pressures. The lyrics convey the man's disbelief and disappointment as he pleads with Marianne not to marry the insurance man. He believes that Marianne is not cut out for the conventional life of being a wife and mother, as he can't imagine her packing lunches or taking care of a child. He sees Marianne as someone who always followed her instincts and therefore questions how she ended up choosing this particular man. The chorus emphasizes the man's plea, saying that love can be fickle and impulsive, but he hopes Marianne won't rush into a marriage that may not fulfill her. The song also touches on the man's own feelings towards Marianne. He acknowledges that he may not have been in love with her for his whole life, but he questions the need for maturity and growing up, implying that he still has strong feelings for her. As the song progresses, the man becomes more assertive in his objections, referring to the insurance man as a "Hoosier boy" and making sarcastic comments about his attire. He even goes as far as hinting at attending the insurance man's funeral, underlining his disapproval and perhaps suggesting that his love for Marianne is profound enough to lead him to extreme actions. Overall, "Marianne" is a passionate plea from one person to another, urging Marianne to reconsider her marriage plans with the insurance man and suggesting that their love could still have a chance.
