Poor Song

Album: Fever To Tell (2003)
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Songfacts®:

  • "Poor Song" is a companion of sorts to "Maps," which finds lead singer Karen O sifting through the ashes of her breakup with Angus Andrew. The pair were a New York City indie rock power couple - he fronts a band called Liars - but it didn't work out. She told Mojo she wrote the song "to help myself out, deciding to choose love over fear of love."

    "It's just a personal self-help message from us to anyone who wants it," she added. "Did I mention it's from the bottom of my heart?"
  • This is a hidden track on the Fever To Tell CD, coming in about a minute after the last listed song, "Modern Romance," ends. These little Easter eggs would provide a nice little surprise to listeners who played the CD and left it on - suddenly more music would come on. In the age of streaming these went away, so you'll see the song listed as part of the album in any digital form.
  • Both "Poor Song" and "Maps" are languid ballads that stand out on Yeah Yeah Yeahs' debut album Fever To Tell, which is packed with song that are much faster and more energetic. "Maps" ended up being the big hit from the album, securing the band a substantial fanbase outside of New York City.

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