Dragonhead

Album: Hunkpapa (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • While Kristin Hersh wrote most of Throwing Muses' songs, her co-frontwoman and stepsister Tanya Donelly regularly penned one or two tracks on each record. Her contributions were invariably more poppy and straightforward than Hersh's stark and candid tunes. This song, which captures the brutal-yet-innocent violence of a child's imagination and dreams, is one of two songs she wrote for Hunkpapa, their third album.
  • Though Tanya Donelly penned the song in just 20 minutes, it encouraged her as a songwriter. She told Uncut:

    "I felt like I locked into something with that song, that it was a step forward, a feeling that I was... on the right bus.

    Kristin came over to my mother's house. She had her Walkman and her headphones on and she had just heard the finished 'Dragonhead' and said, 'I just wanted to come over to say that the song is very wonderful and you should write more.' It was moving to me that her message should be: you should take up more space."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.