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Information About

Death And The Maiden Verlaines Song




  Cover VerlainesD&tMjpg
  Writer Graeme Downes
  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 ''. Former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus also recorded a version for the Flying Nun tribute album Under The Influence - 21 Years Of Flying Nun Records in 2002. Boston band Prickly covered the song on their 1997 LP ''Velleity.''


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 , which shows a woman embracing a dead man.


IN THE MEDIA

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