Like St. Valentine
by HIM

Album: Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this love song vocalist Ville Valo continuously refers to St. Valentine, after whom Valentine's Day is named. There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it harkens bark to the third century Roman Empire and specifically the rule of Emperor Claudius II (268-270 AD) who decided to abolish the institution of marriage, as he felt husbands did not make good soldiers. He attempted to enforce the new law with the utmost rigor, however in Rome Bishop Valentine considered such a policy against the spirit of God and of human nature. The bishop's "crime" was discovered and on February 14, 269 AD Saint Valentine was arrested, imprisoned, and brutally clubbed to death. Gradually, February 14th became the date for lovers to exchange hand-written messages of affection, and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.
    The Duke of Orleans sent the first valentine card to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

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

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.