A Halloween and classic goth bonus SOTD track today, but with a twist, showing how a cover version can almost become a whole new song. The Sisters of Mercy original was written by frontman Andrew Eldritch, and everything about its style encapsulates the 1980s goth rock style - darkness, deep-voiced doom, with knowing but indulgent air of mystery and despair. Eldritch wrote the lyrics about previous members of the band who went on to form The Mission, including guitarist Wayne Hussey, whom he parodies with a series of cliches. Gloriously over the top, the studio version from the 1987 album Floodland, includes a full choir, and is produced by Jim Steinman, who also rather appropriately worked on Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell albums and Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse Of The Heart.
Gimme the ring, kissed and told
Gimme something that I missed (gimme the ring)
A hand to hold, wild and what it seems (gimme the ring)
Kill the king with love is the law
And then we'll turn round (gimme the ring)
Gimme dream child
And do you hear me call? (Gimme the ring)
On the loan and on the level
Still on the floor (gimme the ring)
Sing dream child
And do you hear at all?
Hey now, hey now now, sing this corrosion to me
Hey now, hey now now, sing this corrosion to me ...
I got nothing to say I ain't said before
I bled all I can, I won't bleed no more
I don't need no one to understand
Why the blood run hold
The hired hand
On heart
Hand of God
Floodland and Driven Apart
Run cold (Hey now, hey now now)
Turn
Cold
Burn
Like a healing hand
Hey now, hey now now, sing
This corrosion to me
(Like a healing hand)
Lambchop's cover, sung by Kurt Wagner, and available on some versions of the 2002 album Is A Woman, humorously and completely changes the song with beautifully slow-paced, loungey, alt-country control.
Want to suggest songs for Song of the Day or to say anything about it? Does this song make you think of something else? Then feel free to comment below, on the contact page, or on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube. Please subscribe, follow and share.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...