Stretched on Your Grave

[LadyStardust]

There's this gorgeous song I heard recently by Dead Can Dance called Stretched on Your Grave. I realise it's a cover (never heard the original Sinead O'Connor version, though). Here's also hoping this hasn't been covered in a previous thread. I did a search and nothing came up, but you never know. Anyway, here it is:

I am stretched on your grave
And will lie there forever
With your hands held in mine
I'd be sure we'd not sever
My apple tree my brightness
'Tis time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am stained by the weather

When my family thinks
That I'm safe in my bed
From night until morning
I am stretched at your head
Calling out to the air
With tears both hot and wild
Oh I grieve for the girl
That I loved as a child

The priests and the friars
Behold me in dread
Because I still love you
My love and you're dead
I would still be your shelter
From rain and from storm
And with you in your cold grave
I cannot sleep warm


I received the song from a friend of mine via e-mail. I'd never heard of the band before. Are they very popular?

[delicti]

Absolutely! "Stretched on Your Grave" is actually a traditional Celtic folk piece that they did live for the "Towards the Within" CD. If you like the neofolk stylings of songs like that and "American Dreaming," you'll probably like Brendan's solo CD, "Eye of the Hunter."

Dead Can Dance are a brilliant, brilliant band. They even broke into the indie charts here in the states for a bit with "The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove." Sadly, ever since music has been divided into "rock," "rap," and "punk," we see more subcultural neophyte types more interested in stuff that sounds like that, and not something as far out there like World Music.

I would recommend "Into The Labyrinth" as a good starter album. From there, I'd also recommend "Within the Realm of a Dying Sun," as it's my personal favorite, and one of their best. If you want a more raw sound, pick up their self-titled album, which is more post-punky; if you want something more exotic, go with Spiritchaser, which even has Native American and Tribal elements.

Hope that helps!

[Apathy's_Child]

Dead Can Dance are awesome. I have two albums, but am looking to pick up more.