Violent Femmes - Country Death Song (Live 2017) reaction commentary

Today I listen to American folk punk band, Violent Femmes perform Country Death Song live in KEXP's gathering space. Recorded August 2, 2017.


Chapters
0:00 - Intro
0:22 - Country Death Song
5:39 - My thoughts
9:22 - Who are Violent Femmes?


Links
Original Music Video: https://youtu.be/aACATdZKHxc?si=Ef0xVCGt8NmYdT0A

Folk Music playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB2gzIfBhnW1m5crtJ1li-IbZ7IVXnBA

Acoustic playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB2gzIfBhnXSnID26DLsDb5VVUQzPHlr

Live Music playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB2gzIfBhnWaWliI-qJN8tTdAUPFOJdI

Alternative Rock playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB2gzIfBhnWSEyUxhzwHDr2ZiEHNOvqs


Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band consists of founding members Gordon Gano (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Ritchie (bass, backing vocals), joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza (joined 2004), and drummer John Sparrow (joined 2005). Former members of the band include drummers Victor DeLorenzo (1980–1993, 2002–2013), Guy Hoffman (1993–2002), and Brian Viglione (2013–2016). Violent Femmes are considered to be an integral part of the then-underground folk punk and alternative rock scenes of the 1980s, and remain influential or inspirational to the subsequent movements, particularly on folk rock, indie rock, grunge, pop punk, emo, and the late 1980s and 1990s alternative rock scene.

Hallowed Ground is their second studio album, released on May 14, 1984. Robert Palmer described the album as having "a subterranean mother lode of apocalyptic religion, murder, and madness that has lurked just under the surface of hillbilly music and blues since the 19th century".

Country Death Song is the opening track, written by Gordon Gano.
written by Gano during his high school classes, was inspired by the tradition of folk songs about "terrible, horrific stories". Gordon Gano felt it wasn't as controversial as many made it out, as it was just an old-style murder ballad. "It never occurred to me that 'Country Death Song' was risky," he told Mojo magazine. "It's like a traditional ballad, a form that goes back hundreds of years."

Gordon Gano – vocals, acoustic guitar
Brian Ritchie – acoustic bass
Victor DeLorenzo – tranceaphone, acoustic and electric drum kits

Tony Trischka – banjo


Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I had me a wife, I had me some daughters
I tried so hard, I never knew still waters
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think

[Verse 2]
I'm a-thinkin' and thinkin', 'til there's nothin' I ain't thunk
Breathing in the stink 'til finally I stunk
It was at that time, I swear I lost my mind
I started making plans to kill my own kind
I started making plans to kill my own kind

[Verse 3]
"Come, little daughter," I said to the youngest one
"Put your coat on, we'll have some fun
We'll go out to mountains, the one to explore"
Her face, it lit up, I was standing by the door
Her face, it lit up, I was standing by the door

[Verse 4]
"Come, little daughter, I will carry the lanterns
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caverns
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caves
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves"

[Verse 5]
I led her to a hole, a deep, black well
I said, "Make a wish, make sure and not tell
And close your eyes, dear, and count to seven
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven"

[Verse 6]
I gave her a push, I gave her a shove
I pushed with all my might, I pushed with all my love
I threw my child into a bottomless pit
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit

[Verse 7]
Gather 'round, boys, to this tale that I tell
You wanna know how to take a short trip to Hell?
It's guaranteed to get your own place in Hell
Just take your lovely daughter and push her in the well
Take your lovely daughter and throw her in the well

[Verse 8]
Don't speak to me of lovers with a broken heart
You wanna know what will really tear you apart?
I'm going out to the barn with a never stopping pain
I'm going out to the barn to hang myself in shame