Written on the Forehead

Album: Let England Shake (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This haunting symbolic ballad, which evokes the chaos of conquest, draws on images from the biblical Book of Revelations.
  • The songs Harvey wrote for Let England Shake were motivated by the ongoing conflicts in the world and the singer told NME this tune, "is very much about modern-day Iraq."
  • The electronic track samples Niney the Observer's reggae classic "Blood & Fire." Harvey told NME: "Something about the feel of what he was saying felt akin to what I was trying to reach for. So when I came to actually making the music, it was natural to me to see in some way if that would fit with it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.