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Death And The Maiden (verlaines Song)




  Released June , 1983
  Format Vinyl Record (45rpm)
  Recorded 1982
  Genre Rock
  Length 4 min 27 s
  Label Flying Nun
  Artist The Verlaines


"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 .


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 1800's. After going into a drunken rage, he shot his lover - fellow poet Arthur Rimbaud .

Paul Verlaine was also the band's namesake.

''Shall we have our photo taken?''
''We'll look like Death and the Maiden''

This is a reference to a , which shows a woman embracing a dead man.


IN THE MEDIA

  • Featured in New Zealand movie Scarfies and on it's soundtrack release.