Death and the Maiden (Verlaines song)
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| "Death and the Maiden" | ||
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| Single by The Verlaines | ||
| Released | June 1983 | |
| Format | Vinyl record (45rpm) | |
| Recorded | 1982 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4 min 27 s | |
| Label | Flying Nun | |
| Writer(s) | Graeme Downes | |
"Death and the Maiden" is a song by New Zealand rock band The Verlaines. It was released as a single in 1983, and is arguably the most popular song in their discography. The 'B' side of the record was CD, Jimmy Jazz & Me.
Death and the Maiden later appeared on the 1987 album Juvenilia, which was a collection of The Verlaines early singles and EP's.
New Zealand rock band Elemeno P released a cover version of this song on their 2005 album Trouble In Paradise. Former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus also recorded a version for the Flying Nun tribute album Under the Influence - 21 years of Flying Nun Records (2004).
[edit] Meaning of the lyrics
You'll only end up like Rimbaud
Get shot by Verlaine, Verlaine, Verlaine, Verlaine....
The lyrics above refer to Paul Verlaine, who was a French poet in the 1800s. After going into a drunken rage, he shot his lover - fellow poet Arthur Rimbaud.
The Verlaines were named after the poet.
Shall we have our photo taken?
We'll look like Death and the Maiden
This is a reference to a 1916 painting by Egon Schiele, which shows a woman embracing a dead man.
[edit] In the media
- Featured in New Zealand movie Scarfies and on its soundtrack release.
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