Peter Doherty singer, songwriter and guitarist for Babyshambles and formerly of The Libertines. He has also released various demos solo. His debut LP Grace/Wastelands is due out 16 March 2009.
Salome
Pete Doherty Lyrics
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The fire I light, to warm my bones
Oh love, had enough, of the dreadful cold
And from the flames, appears Salome
I stand before her amazed
As she dances and demands
The head of john the baptist on a plate
In the morning, shaken and disturbed
From under soft white fur
I see the dust in the morning bright sets the room alive
And by the telly appears Salome
I stand before her amazed
As she dances and demands
The head of Isidora Duncan on a plate
Oh, It's Salome
Oh, It's Salome
Pete Doherty's "Salome" is a haunting song that seems to be inspired by the biblical tale of the same name. The lyrics describe a cold winter night where the singer lights a fire to warm himself up. Suddenly, from the flames appears Salome, a seductive and powerful femme fatale. The singer is amazed as he watches her dance and demand the head of John the Baptist on a plate. The second verse is equally surreal, where the singer wakes up to find Salome again, now demanding the head of Isidora Duncan on a plate.
The song seems to convey several themes, including temptation, seduction, and obsession. Salome is a figure of fascination and power, and her demand for the heads of famous persons shows her desire for control and domination. The singer is simultaneously entranced and disturbed by her, unable to resist her pull. The song's imagery, including the cold night, flames, and soft white fur, adds to its dreamlike quality, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
Line by Line Meaning
In the cold, coldest of nights
During the coldest nights when the temperature gets unbearable
The fire I light, to warm my bones
To warm oneself up, I start a fire
Oh love, had enough, of the dreadful cold
I'm finally tired of the unbearable coldness that's been affecting me
And from the flames, appears Salome
From the fire, Salome seems to appear out of nowhere
I stand before her amazed
I'm standing in front of her and I can't believe what I'm seeing
As she dances and demands
As she dances to entertain me and requests
The head of john the baptist on a plate
She wants the head of John the Baptist presented on a dish
In the morning, shaken and disturbed
I wake up in the morning, feeling uneasy and disturbed by what happened the night before
From under soft white fur
I'm under a comforting white fur blanket
I see the dust in the morning bright sets the room alive
The sun shining through the dust particles in the air makes the room come alive in the morning light
And by the telly appears Salome
As I switch on the television, Salome is seen once more
As she dances and demands
As she performs another dance and requests
The head of Isidora Duncan on a plate
This time, Salome is after the head of Isidora Duncan presented on a dish
Oh, It's Salome
It's Salome whom I keep encountering every time things heat up
Oh, It's Salome
It's Salome whom I keep encountering every time things heat up
Contributed by Nora F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.