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Death and the Maiden (The Verlaines song)

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"Death and the Maiden"
Song

"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 1916 painting by Egon Schiele, which shows a woman embracing a dead man.


In the media

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


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