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PJ Harvey — The Wind
Album: Brokedown Palace
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 432









Released: 1999
Length: 3:52
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Catherine liked high places
High up, high up on the hills
A place for making noises
Like whales
Noises like the whales

Here she built a chapel
With her image
Her image on the wall
A place where she could rest and rest
And a place where she could wash
And listen to the wind blowing

And listen to the wind blow
And listen to the wind
And listen to the wind blow

She dreamt of children's voices
And torture on the wheel
Patron Saint of nothing
A woman of the hills
She once was a lady
Of pleasure and high born
A lady of the city
But now she sits and moans

And listens to the wind blow
Listen to the wind blow

I see her in a chapel
High up on the hill
She must be so lonely
Oh Mother can't we give
A husband to our catherine
A handsom one, a deal
A rich one for the lady
Someone to listen with

And listen to the wind blow
And listen to the wind blow
And listen to the wind blow
And listen to the wind blow
Comments (108)add comment
Let's be clear - this is from her original album "Is This Desire?" which has a few great tunes, although this album overall is not her best work.
Posted 5 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Love to hear!
Posted 9 years ago by LindaSimmers    [ Reply ]
Gets a bit boring. 
Posted 11 years ago by larsalex    [ Reply ]
Amazing Tune. Amazing Artist. 
Posted 11 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 drcrnp wrote:
If you have to whisper, you shouldn't be recording.  Pass the Zofran.
Pure drek. 

 
Ha!  PJ does everything from whisper to scream, and in my opinion, she sounds great doing it...
Posted 11 years ago by alanthecowboy    [ Reply ]
 cayenne wrote:
Girls would turn the color of an avocado...
 
Hey, that's from a different tune - one that we're unlikely to hear here, unfortunately.
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Last night the wind was whisperin'...I was tryin' to make out what it was...
I always believe that somethin's comin'...but it never does...
Evoking the Wind is always a good idea — so raw, so powerful, so far beyond our ken...
I have at times been annoyed by the perhaps too up-front amped whisper here, but somehow tonight I had my speakers and sound set up so I really got into this this time!
Posted 13 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
If you have to whisper, you shouldn't be recording.  Pass the Zofran.
Pure drek. 
Posted 13 years ago by drcrnp    [ Reply ]
Creative, unusual, quirky... awesome!
Posted 13 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
PJ Harvey is one smokin hot sexy woman I tell ya. I can do without her music though.{#Sleep}
Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Girls would turn the color of an avocado...
Posted 13 years ago by cayenne    [ Reply ]
{#Shhh}{#Bananajam}{#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 14 years ago by BigIslandBlues    [ Reply ]
Soundtrack for a movie set in Marseilles, starring Leo di Caprio.

Posted 14 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 JustJeff wrote:
Listening to this with ear phones on is a little strange, yet intimate....
 
Agreed.
Posted 14 years ago by nerakdon    [ Reply ]
The singing...and song are wonderful. The whispering just sucks.

Posted 14 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
Could be my favorite PJ song!
Posted 14 years ago by dboseman    [ Reply ]
 wrangler wrote:
seriously?  this is godawful.  signing off for the day......  {#Cowboy}
 
yep, me too. whispering drives me nuts.

Posted 14 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
This belongs to "Is This Desire?" !!!
Posted 14 years ago by Fables85    [ Reply ]
Understated brilliance
Posted 14 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
I REALLY like this song alot.
Posted 14 years ago by nohaybanda    [ Reply ]


Posted 14 years ago by ctusar    [ Reply ]

Sad movie, but I like this song a lot.


Posted 15 years ago by Austin2Florida    [ Reply ]
My cup 'o tea... just the sort of thing the X would put on at 3 AM when I'd be laying in bed all psychedelized with the headphones on.

(That's WABX, friends.... during the prior millenium, it was a forerunner to today's Radio Paradise.)
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
seriously?  this is godawful.  signing off for the day......  {#Cowboy}
Posted 15 years ago by wrangler    [ Reply ]
Listening to this with ear phones on is a little strange, yet intimate....
Posted 15 years ago by JustJeff    [ Reply ]
 shawshank wrote:
What is that whispering sound? Is that in my head or in my headphones? {#Eh}
 

Yes.
Posted 15 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
Dreamy.
Posted 15 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
What is that whispering sound? Is that in my head or in my headphones? {#Eh}
Posted 15 years ago by shawshank    [ Reply ]
I was just going to say that a perfect follow-up would be Patty Larkin.  Unbelievable.  Bill's in my head.
Posted 15 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
nyc... nyc.... the dream... -   7.

Posted 16 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
PJ high on my desert island mixes! {#Music}
Posted 16 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
 trekhead wrote:
"...Noises like quails"??
   Whales


Posted 16 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
I like her a LOT, but I can see why she's not everyone's cup of tea.
Posted 16 years ago by ROSSinDETROIT    [ Reply ]
great artist-
really didn't know that there's such a huge "i detest polly so much"-club. crazy-

Posted 16 years ago by Nadine    [ Reply ]
"...Noises like quails"??
Posted 16 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
dpjag wrote:
oh, yuck
Agreed
Posted 16 years ago by throwback    [ Reply ]
...plus plus plus...
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
I paused to watch a YouTube video, and I miss a great PJ Harvey song. Figures. Thank goodness I have the CD.
Posted 16 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
annoying whispering. otherwise nice song.
Posted 16 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
oh, yuck
Posted 16 years ago by dpjag    [ Reply ]
gandracu wrote:
Oh come on! It's 2:15am and her whispering in my headphones is just eerie.
ugh, i agree. i'm a little creeped out right now.
Posted 16 years ago by K_Love    [ Reply ]
Oh come on! It's 2:15am and her whispering in my headphones is just eerie.
Posted 16 years ago by gandracu    [ Reply ]
Polly is the wind beneath my wings.
Posted 16 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
pannaramma wrote:
I like the instrumentation, but not the whispering.
Listen to the wind blow, this is the sound whales make.
Posted 16 years ago by fuh2    [ Reply ]
I like the instrumentation, but not the whispering.
Posted 17 years ago by pannaramma    [ Reply ]
We are a mere two and a half weeks away from the new Polly Jean CD and I for one cannot wait!
Posted 17 years ago by suddenchad    [ Reply ]
Great track. Polly does that tension thing SO well. Lovely loose, loping feel to it, too.
Posted 17 years ago by ncollingridge    [ Reply ]
whispering in the wind...: ...
Posted 17 years ago by Nabla    [ Reply ]
This song both blows and sucks
Posted 17 years ago by Nothing    [ Reply ]
rowdydaisy wrote:
This is just so cool. Thanks RP!
Yes!!!
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
Maybe not her best, but still. It's the Lovable Cute and Snuggly Polly. (Hugs Polly)
Posted 17 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Listen to the repetition.... repetition... repetition... The song never goes anywhere.
Posted 17 years ago by Dude    [ Reply ]
"Lemon See through in the sunlight She wore lemon..."
Posted 17 years ago by mattt    [ Reply ]
I had to turn it way up to hear anything but the whisper, but I am now really digging this song. Very cool.
Posted 17 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
This is just so cool. Thanks RP!
Posted 17 years ago by rowdydaisy    [ Reply ]
absolutely masterful--sshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Posted 17 years ago by fuh2    [ Reply ]
ITD is a great album. For some reason a lot of fans didn't like it. Maybe it was the electronic elements. She used the piano/organ more on that one too. "Catherine" should've been listed... it's my all time favorite by her. It's so dreary and haunting, and anything with an organ catches my heart. How come no songs from Dry or her earlier albums are listed? "Victory"....kicks....ass. Look out, PJ is in charge on that one. :) I'm new here,btw. I just heard about this site, while searching for comments on Tori Amos's new pile of steaming shit single "Big Wheel". Now I've stumbled on this PJ thread. :)
Posted 17 years ago by BastetBubbyHead    [ Reply ]
I sortakinda dig the instrumentation and groove, and I can appreciate the concept of whispering your lyrics as some kind of signature, but I just don't think she's very good at whispering. She doesn't have as much control as she thinks she does, or somesing. I don't know, she's not getting away with it in my book.
Posted 17 years ago by ktnsb    [ Reply ]
nuggler wrote:
Hard to comprehend how she warrants only a 6.2 average...?
Sorry, I've got to go with the majority here.
Posted 17 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
Very appropriate, the wind is blowin' a gale at this precise moment, precursor to a cyclone we're thinkin'? Love this song, very atmospheric, like the 'Wet Season' here, now Go PJ!
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
I really hope this gets better.
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Love Polly Jean!
Posted 17 years ago by miahfost    [ Reply ]
Foreboding like an approaching storm. Outstanding
Posted 17 years ago by fuh2    [ Reply ]
Sublimely beautiful. Saint Catherine - patron saint of children & carpenters, often portrayed in Renaissance paintings with Madonna & child & a broken wheel.
Posted 17 years ago by nuggler    [ Reply ]
One of the few artists I truly detest. Off with the headphones.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
Hard to comprehend how she warrants only a 6.2 average...?
Posted 18 years ago by nuggler    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by oppositelock    [ Reply ]
If you like PJ whispering in your ear, you should definitely listen to 'working for the man' .. especially with headphones!
Posted 18 years ago by themarty    [ Reply ]
exciter76 wrote:
this is what I ever figured in my mind thinking at PJ...... ?
Now there's a unique interpretation of the English language...
Posted 18 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
this is what I ever figured in my mind thinking at PJ...... ?
Posted 18 years ago by exciter76    [ Reply ]
Listen to Gil Scot Herron whispering. "Ssssshhhh. The revolution will not be televised. It's a secret."
Posted 18 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
That whispering thing was driving me nuts, I had to take the headphones off.
Posted 18 years ago by DragonslayerJS    [ Reply ]
Polly Jean defines 'alternative'. I LOVE this woman....
Posted 18 years ago by nuggler    [ Reply ]
I can't hear you!!!! Speak up!! What did you say? Huh? What?!!
Posted 18 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
Mari wrote:
listen to pj, listen to the wind blow, listen
Listen to this song blow...
Posted 18 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
Balls like grapefruits for playing this one...
Posted 18 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
tony620d wrote:
i can't stand this woman... she is caaa-raaa-zeeeee! toys in the attic! cuckoo, cuckoo....
Yo, Tony, tuned in to "This Mess We're In" (w/ Thom Yorke)? Haven't a clue? ip so facto.
Posted 18 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
The groove also reminds me of Patty Larkin's "Anyway the Main Thing Is".
12:21 pm - Patty Larkin - Anyway The Main Thing Is 12:17 pm - PJ Harvey - The Wind Thanks for listening, Bill!
Posted 18 years ago by hcaudill    [ Reply ]
I fully intended to hate this song and instead I ended up accidentally really liking it. oops.
Posted 18 years ago by penguinja    [ Reply ]
diane wrote:
cat fight preliminaries.
I love that analogy. I'll have to remember it!
Posted 18 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
The whispering was cool....then it didn't stop. Not ok. 3
Posted 18 years ago by Zweiblumen    [ Reply ]
This is driving me NUTS. Like a rash. Or cat fight preliminaries.
Posted 18 years ago by diane    [ Reply ]
tony620d wrote:
i can't stand this woman... she is caaa-raaa-zeeeee! toys in the attic! cuckoo, cuckoo....
You really *are* completely self-unaware, aren't you?
Posted 18 years ago by dwhayslett    [ Reply ]
i can't stand this woman... she is caaa-raaa-zeeeee! toys in the attic! cuckoo, cuckoo....
Posted 18 years ago by tony620d    [ Reply ]
How about some Mark Lanegan featuring PJ Harvey? They sound great together.
Posted 18 years ago by guysmiley    [ Reply ]
Polly Jean rocks!
Posted 18 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
listen to pj, listen to the wind blow, listen
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
NiceGuy2005 wrote:
Kind of Poe-ish, as in sounds a lot like Poe.
From the Cheers episode: Coach: "That was a great poem, Frazier." Frazier: "It was Poe." Coach: "Oh, quit being so modest! It was great!" Sorry, slow work day.
Posted 18 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]
grassfolk420 wrote:
Sounds like a dance remix of a Portishead song.
Totally. The groove also reminds me of Patty Larkin's "Anyway the Main Thing Is".
Posted 18 years ago by hcaudill    [ Reply ]
pj is kind of like oysters: i love them but i can definitely understand why other people don't.
Posted 18 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite PJ songs. Only on RP
Posted 18 years ago by outerspace    [ Reply ]
My wife lives her anger vicariously through P.J. Harvey...I never suffer any blows. Sounds like a dance remix of a Portishead song.
Posted 18 years ago by grassfolk420    [ Reply ]
You're right, and she's so damn good! (OK, OK, she's had a few misses too). "bitch" in a loving, affectionate kinda way--for me anyway! Song. 8. brandog wrote:
I just love this crazy mean suicidal bitch - she's the best evil poet we've got today!
Posted 18 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
Why are we whispering?
Posted 19 years ago by Veritas    [ Reply ]
MrSpaz wrote:
As the kids say: "meh."
Ha, my thought exactly. Does that make me a "kid"?
Posted 19 years ago by KohlDaddy    [ Reply ]
As the kids say: "meh."
Posted 19 years ago by MrSpaz    [ Reply ]
Kind of Poe-ish, as in sounds a lot like Poe.
Posted 19 years ago by NiceGuy2005    [ Reply ]
What's that, PJ? Speak up, I can't hear you! I'm trying to listen to "Riders on the Storm," but for some reason you keep whispering...
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
Eeeexcellllllllent!
Posted 19 years ago by resonator    [ Reply ]
Oh yes. PJ.
Posted 19 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
"...big fish, little fish...."
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
8) :sunny.gif: :D
Posted 19 years ago by MTL_Robbie    [ Reply ]
:-& The various elements of this song sound disconnected to me. The mirroring of the vocals and the whisper feels overdone with a background that is monotonous to me. Just not my cup of tea. *shrug*
Posted 20 years ago by skeeter    [ Reply ]
:sunny.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
god bless polly jean
Posted 20 years ago by the_circe    [ Reply ]
I'm glad I could be the first to comment. What a smooth tune. Jazzy, smokey and sooo PJ sexy.
Posted 20 years ago by jdorn1    [ Reply ]
8) Also on the "Is This Desire?" album
Posted 20 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]