Frightened Children

Album: ...As Midnight Approaches (1988)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is arguably the strongest track on the magnificent but sadly unappreciated debut album ...As Midnight Approaches.

    According to vocalist and lyricist Noel Jones in a 2009 interview with Songfacts: "'Frightened Children' is about the threat of war and the main influence on the words were the opening titles to a TV series called The World At War where grainy images of faces (some children) would melt away like a transparency slide in a fire, only to reveal another which would in turn melt away. Jeff must have used the sample of children's voices from a sound effect disc, and I seem to recognize the sample as being that used at the end of 'Phaedra' by Tangerine Dream. Again significant in this sample is what sounds like a timid voice singing 'Ring-A-Ring-A-Roses' which is a nursery rhyme that commemorates a disease... that killed many children. 'Atishoo! Atishoo! We all fall down' recalls the symptoms and the falling down is death. Another little voice in the sample asks 'Will you catch me?', which could be construed as a plea to be saved from impending death in this case."
  • The last track on the album, this runs to a shade over eight and a half minutes, and plays out with an extended solo by lead guitarist Simon Pengilly. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.