Album: The Physical World (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Where have all the virgins gone?" Death From Above 1979 ask in this track from their second album, The Physical World. In a Songfacts interview, their drummer/vocalist Sebastien Grainger said: "Lyrically, it's about innocence, and it's about that moment before a person is corrupted by sex, in a way. I'm not speaking in a moralistic way."
  • Sebastien Grainger and his bandmate Jesse F. Keeler claim that they both had little interest in girls until they got to be about 18, an experience that influenced this song. "I was more into nerding out in the music room than trying to get a date," said Grainger.
  • Grainger elaborated on the song's lyric, telling Songfacts: "The concept started because I was at the park with my wife, and we were walking our dog. We were sitting on his grassy embankment, and there were some kids playing above us – two girls, probably 10 or 11 years old. And they were just tumbling down the hill with such abandon. I thought, You know, next summer they're not going to be tumbling down the hill. They're probably doing to be doing something else. Like, that kind of androgynous state before you're worried about boys and girls. It was an exploration in that feeling. The feeling of innocence."
  • The band wrote this with their producer, Dave Sardy, known for his work with Slayer, Jet, and Wolfmother.
  • The video, directed by Eva Michon, portrays a young Amish couple whose passion has been awakened. They go on what appears to be a rumspringa, where they discover rock music and possibly lose their virginity.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?