Love Is Stronger Than Death

Album: Dusk (1993)
Charted: 39
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Songfacts®:

  • Matt Johnson (The The) wrote "Love Is Stronger Than Death" following the death of his younger brother, Eugene. In his depression, he found that writing this song was therapeutic for him.
  • The title is a paraphrase of a Biblical quote: "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." (Song of Solomon 8:6) >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brett - Edmonton, Canada
  • Since the song's release, it has offered great comfort to the bereaved. "I get a lot of letters about a lot of their songs, letters that move me to tears, but 'Love Is Stronger Than Death' in particular," Johnson told Mojo magazine. "It's played at a lot of funerals. As a songwriter, it's the greatest thing you can hope for – that your songs move people and give them comfort."
  • This is one of four songs Johnson has written after losing close members of his family. The others are:

    2000 "Phantom Walls"
    This song was inspired by the illness and eventual passing of Johnson's mother, Shirley. It finds him reflecting on the pain of losing a parent and the lingering feelings that accompany such a loss.

    2017 "We Can't Stop What's Coming"
    Written for his older brother Andrew, who died from brain cancer in 2016, this song marked a significant return for Johnson after a long hiatus from music.

    2024 "Where Do We Go When We Die?"
    This track is dedicated to Johnson's father, Eddie. he passed away shortly before a planned performance at the Royal Albert Hall when Eddie was going to be in the audience.
  • "Love Is Stronger Than Death" plays over the closing credits of the 1997 Gregg Araki black comedy drama movie Nowhere.

Comments: 3

  • Kami from Los Angeles, CaI've always loved this song, as I'm a huge the the fan, but after losing someone I love, listening to this song gives me some deeper comfort. I wish more people knew about it. I usually only care about the music in songs but Matt Johnson's lyrics are so insightful that I'm drawn to them and I think this is his best work ever.
  • John from Levittown, NyPhenomenal album , Dusk helped me get through my first year in the Navy relatively sane.
  • Michael from New York City, Ny"dusk" is, in my opinion, one of the greatest and most underrated albums of the last twenty years. this song, as well as "if you can't change the world (change yourself)", is the perfect marriage of musicality and poetry. love it, love it, love it. thanks for including it.
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