Green

Album: Throwing Muses (1986)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Teenagers Kristin Hersh and her stepsister Tanya Donelly formed Throwing Muses in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island. After garnering a #1 college radio hit, "Sinkhole," they signed with the UK label 4AD. Hersh wrote most of their material, but Donnelly regularly contributed one or two songs to each album. This is Donelly's sole contribution to their debut record.
  • "Green" is a surreal, ethereal love song. Donnelly told Uncut in a 2020 interview: "To this day it is an emotional one for many layered reasons; the most stark being that it was about my first love who died when we were quite young and because it was my first raw, real expression in song it's still a hard one for me to play."
  • The song title refers to Tanya Donelly's late, lamented boyfriend's green eyes.
  • Even at this early point in her career, this song was indicative that Donelly would be a sweeter, more pop-smart songwriter than her stepsister. She would continue her straightforward style with two other bands: The Breeders and Belly.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.