Drummer Victor DeLorenzo said that he would be open to recording new material with the Violent Femmes, but on July 15, 2013, it was announced that Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione would be replacing DeLorenzo as the band's drummer. In a statement, DeLorenzo said "It's always hard to write a eulogy for a lost loved one. In this case, I sadly lament the loss of a dream and an ideal that was once Violent Femmes." Viglione is credited as the drummer on the 2016 release We Can Do Anything but would later be replaced by John Sparrow, who had played in the Violent Femmes backing band previously.
Their music is an innovative combination of American folk music and punk rock. The lyrics mix common adolescent themes like yearning for love, sex and affection with explorations of sin, death, and the hope of salvation. Their songs often express both a lyrical and musical sense of humor. Critics often attribute the Violent Femmes as laying the groundwork of dynamicism for the 90s grunge movement.
In its early days, the band frequently played coffee houses and street corners. They were discovered by James Honeyman-Scott (of The Pretenders) on August 23, 1981, when the band was busking on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre, the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. The band signed to Slash Records and recorded their eponymous debut in July 1982.
The group quickly gained a small cult following after the release of their self-titled album that never burgeoned into widespread popularity, although a few songs from this album did get some recognition ("Add It Up", "Blister in the Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone"). The debut album Violent Femmes went platinum ten years after its release, and "Blister in the Sun" has become an alternative rock radio staple.
Country Death Song
Violent Femmes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tried so hard, I never knew still waters.
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Well, I'm a thinkin' and thinkin', till there's nothin' I ain't thunk.
Breathing in the stink, till finally I stunk.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
Come little daughter," I said to the youngest one,
Put your coat on, we'll have some fun.
We'll go out to mountains, the one to explore.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Come little daughter, I will carry the lanterns.
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caverns.
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caves.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
A led her to a hole, a deep black well.
I said "make a wish, make sure and not tell and
Close you're eyes dear, and count to seven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
I gave her a push, I gave her a shove.
I pushed with all my might, I pushed with all my love.
I through my child into a bottomless pit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
Gather round boys to this tale that I tell.
You want to know how to take a short trip to hell?
It's guaranteed to get your own place in hell.
Just take your lovely daughter and push her in the well.
Take your lovely daughter and throw her in the well.
Don't speak to me of lovers, with a broken heart.
You want to know what can really tear you apart?
I'm going out to the barn, will I never stop in pain?
I'm going out to the barn, to hang myself in shame.
The Violent Femmes' "Country Death Song" is a haunting and disturbing song that delves into the depths of a father's twisted mind. The singer of the song is a man who is trapped in poverty, with nothing to eat or drink, and nothing to do but think. He becomes overwhelmed by despair, and his thoughts turn dark. He starts to have delusions about killing his own family to escape his misery.
The lyrics describe his plan to take his youngest daughter out for a walk, lured by the promise of adventure to the mountains. He takes her to a hole, telling her to make a wish, and then pushes her in, listening to her screams as she falls to her death. He then muses to the listener, inviting them to join him on this path to hell by killing their daughters in the same way, with the disturbing message that "good children go to heaven."
Line by Line Meaning
I had me a wife, I had me some daughters.
I used to have a happy family with a wife and some daughters.
I tried so hard, I never knew still waters.
I worked hard to make our lives better but could never find peace.
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink.
We were so poor we couldn't afford food and water.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
I had no work to do, but to sit and think about our miseries.
Well, I'm a thinkin' and thinkin', till there's nothin' I ain't thunk.
I thought so much that I thought about crazy things.
Breathing in the stink, till finally I stunk.
I was so helpless that I could only breathe in the stink of my own misery and smelt bad.
It was at that time, I swear I lost my mind.
I lost my sanity at that point and became crazy.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
I started thinking about killing my own family.
Come little daughter," I said to the youngest one,
I called my youngest daughter to me.
Put your coat on, we'll have some fun.
I asked her to put on her coat as we were going out for some fun.
We'll go out to mountains, the one to explore.
I told her that we will go to the mountains to explore.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Her face was filled with joy as we were leaving for the mountains.
Come little daughter, I will carry the lanterns.
I told her I would carry the lanterns.
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caverns.
I said that we will also go to the caverns tonight.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
I asked her to kiss my wife good night and remember God always saves.
A led her to a hole, a deep black well.
I took her to a deep black well.
I said "make a wish, make sure and not tell and
I told her to make a wish but not tell anyone.
Close you're eyes dear, and count to seven.
I asked her to close her eyes and count to seven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
I told her that I love her, and she is going to heaven as she is a good child.
I gave her a push, I gave her a shove.
I gave her a push and a shove.
I pushed with all my might, I pushed with all my love.
I pushed with all my strength and love.
I through my child into a bottomless pit.
I threw my child into the deep well.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
I could hear her scream while she fell, but I never heard her hit the ground.
Gather round boys to this tale that I tell.
I am telling you all this story.
You want to know how to take a short trip to hell?
Do you want to know how to get to hell faster?
It's guaranteed to get your own place in hell.
This act will surely get you a place in hell.
Just take your lovely daughter and push her in the well.
To get to hell faster, you only need to push your innocent and lovely daughter in the well.
Don't speak to me of lovers, with a broken heart.
Please do not talk to me about lovers, as I have a broken heart.
You want to know what can really tear you apart?
Do you want to know what can really devastate you?
I'm going out to the barn, will I never stop in pain?
I am going to the barn, and I will never be out of this pain.
I'm going out to the barn, to hang myself in shame.
I am going to the barn to hang myself in shame.
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GORDON JAMES GANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Lusk
I had me a wife, I had me some daughters
I tried so hard; I never knew still waters
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink...
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think
Well, I'm a-thinkin' and thinkin', 'til there's nothin' I ain't thunk
Breathing in the stink 'til finally I stunk
It was at that time, I swear I lost my mind
I started making plans to kill my own kind
I started making plans to kill my own kind
"Come, little daughter, " I said to the youngest one
"Put your coat on, we'll have some fun
We'll go out to mountains, the one to explore."
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door
"Come, little daughter, I will carry the lanterns
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caverns
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caves."
"Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves."
"Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves."
A led her to a hole, a deep black well
I said "Make a wish, make sure and not tell,
And close your eyes, dear, and count to seven..."
"You know your papa loves you; good children go to heaven."
"You know your papa loves you; good children go to heaven."
I gave her a push, I gave her a shove
I pushed with all my might, I pushed with all my love
I threw my child into a bottomless pit
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit
Gather round, boys, to this tale that I tell
You wanna know how to take a short trip to Hell?
It's guarenteed to get your own place in Hell
Just take your lovely daughter and push her in the well.
Take your lovely daughter and throw her in the well
Don't speak to me of lovers with a broken heart
You wanna know what will really tear you apart?
I'm going out to the barn; will I never stop in pain?
I'm going out to the barn to hang myself in shame
Sam Airth
I always knew this song was dark but 30 years later and having my own daughter OMG!! Gives me chills.
xEDGELORD75x
Listening to this always gives me goosebumps, Gordon can get really creepy when he wants to...
Lightbox
One of the greatest American songs ever written.
Giga Brother
Truly.
Invisible Kid
Absolutely!! Iβm a thrash metal fan as well, but these lyrics are darker than any thrash lyrics!! I love the femmes!!
Yugitaco
I do love american music
theLegend218
Yeah it is ππ
GMoney4980
A.....MEN!!!!
ThisIsntOmni
my memories of my dad playing this around 6am when I was a kid in the car while going to a skiing mountain, I remember how I refuse to go to sleep every time because i thought it was not tuff.
BJ Elliott
Still the most requested song on my busking set list.