Currently Martyn Jacques, Adrian Stout, Adrian Huge (Past member Phil Butcher)
Their surreal style has been described as dark, darkly humorous, strangely humorous, Brechtian, and gypsy cabaret. They are also notorious for singing controversial songs involving bestiality, prostitution and blasphemy.
The Tiger Lillies were originally buskers, playing songs about the criminals, pimps and whores of Soho, London, England. Over time, the band became involved in several theatrical productions around the world, including the critically acclaimed Shockheaded Peter. Known for their intense, outlandish, and dark performances, they have garnered both controversy and critical acclaim.
Also "The Tiger Lillies", "The Tigerlilies" and "The Tigerlillies" may refer to Indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio that formed in 1989.
Bio:
Cincinnati's power pop stalwarts the Tigerlillies formed in 1989 and set out to fuse glam rock, roots rock, and post-punk into an aesthetic they called "More Pop than Jesus." Led by vocalist/guitarist Pat Hennessy, the band also included former members of the Chrome Cranks, the Candy Snatchers, and G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies before settling on the lineup of Hennessy, guitarist/vocalist William Weber, bassist Brian Driscoll, and drummer/vocalist Steve Hennessy.
Discography:
Deep (1992)
Space Age Love Songs (1997)
Ceci N'est Ces Pop (2003)
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Darling
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where my darling and I lived.
If someone fancied darling,
Then I would hurt to him give.
And when he'd had his pleasure,
I'd climb back in the sheets,
And laugh, and take the piss,
Even if he'd been quite sweet.
Her money she'd give out.
Occasionally a slap or punch
I would have to mete out.
If she ever argued,
Or she started to doubt,
Then darling, darling, darling,
Darling, darling - I'd clout.
Well, the moon shined on that little place,
Where my darling and I lived.
The Tiger Lillies’ “Darling” is a haunting and sorrowful song that depicts the cruel, abusive relationship between a pimp and his prostitute, who is referred to as his “darling.” The lyrics reveal the dark and twisted nature of their relationship, where the pimp is possessive, jealous, and violent towards his prostitute. The opening verse sets the scene of a small, desolate place where the couple lives, and where the moon provides a chilling atmosphere. The prostitute, who is forced to give her body to whoever wants her, is treated as a mere object by her pimp, who is consumed with jealousy and a desire to control her.
The line “If someone fancied darling, then I would hurt to him give” reveals the power dynamic that exists between the two characters, where the pimp is the one in charge and dictates what the prostitute must do. The lyrics go on to describe the brutality of the pimp’s actions towards his prostitute, with him administering slaps or punches if she ever questioned him or tried to resist. Despite the violent nature of their relationship, the prostitute takes pleasure in ridiculing and mocking her clients, as a form of defense mechanism against the abuse she endures. Overall, the song paints a bleak picture of a relationship that is doomed from the start, with both characters trapped in a cycle of abuse and domination that seems impossible to break.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the moon shined on that little place,
The setting was a small place and the moonlight illuminated it.
Where my darling and I lived.
The writer's lover lived there with him.
If someone fancied darling,
If anyone showed interest in the writer's lover,
Then I would hurt to him give.
The writer would offer physical assaults to that person.
And when he'd had his pleasure,
After the person enjoyed the time with the writer's lover,
I'd climb back in the sheets,
The writer would resume being intimate with his lover.
And laugh, and take the piss,
The writer would make fun of the person who had been with his lover.
Even if he'd been quite sweet.
Regardless of whether he had been kind or not.
Sometimes she'd had twenty a day,
The writer's lover would have up to 20 clients in a day.
Her money she'd give out.
The writer's lover would give away the money earned from prostitution.
Occasionally a slap or punch
The writer would resort to physical abuse on his lover.
I would have to mete out.
He would have to administer punishment.
If she ever argued,
If the writer's lover ever fought back or questioned him,
Or she started to doubt,
Or if she had doubts about her current lifestyle,
Then darling, darling, darling,
The writer would address his lover.
Darling, darling - I'd clout.
The writer would physically hurt his lover.
Well, the moon shined on that little place,
The setting was a small place and the moonlight illuminated it.
Where my darling and I lived.
The writer's lover lived there with him.
Contributed by Liliana D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.