Lay Down Your Arms (The Graces song)
{{other uses|Lay Down Your Arms (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2010}}
{{Short description|1989 single by The Graces}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Lay Down Your Arms
| cover =
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = The Graces
| album = Perfect View
| B-side =
- "Out in the Fields"
- "Should I Let You In"
| released = {{Start date|1989}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Pop rock
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=14}}
| label = A&M
| writer = * Charlotte Caffey
| producer =
- Ellen Shipley
- Ralph Schuckett
| chronology = The Graces
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Perfect View
| next_year = 1989
| misc =
}}
"Lay Down Your Arms" is a rock song which Charlotte Caffey, Ralph Schuckett, and Ellen Shipley wrote and composed, and which Shipley produced, for The Graces' album Perfect View (1989). Caffey was lead vocalist, and the song was released as the band's debut single. It charted at #56 in the Billboard charts.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the graces|chart=all}} "The Graces - Artist Chart History"] Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
Music video
Features the band performing the song in a forest-like setting interspersed with closeup shots of the band members.[{{YouTube|id=rgmAgWsP600|title=Video}}]
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Peak chart positions of "Shake It Off"}} ! Chart (1989) ! Peak |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|56|artist=The Graces|rowheader=true|access-date=May 20, 2022}} |
Belinda Carlisle cover
{{Infobox song
| name = Lay Down Your Arms
| cover = Lay_down_your_arms.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Belinda Carlisle
| album = Real
| released = November 15, 1993
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| length = 4:38
| label = Virgin Records
| writer =
| producer = Ralph Schuckett
| prev_title = Big Scary Animal
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = In Too Deep
| next_year = 1996
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|rfA9015vJMQ|"Lay Down Your Arms"}}}}
}}
The song was covered by American singer-songwriter Belinda Carlisle, who, like her friend Caffey, was an alumna of The Go-Go's. It was the second song Carlisle released in November 1993 by Virgin Records from her fifth studio album, Real (1993). Carlisle's version, which Schuckett produced, was the more successful of the two versions, charting at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart. The CD single included three additional tracks: "Tell Me", "Wrap My Arms", and "Here Comes My Baby"; the last two were 8-track demos.
=Critical reception=
Upon its release as a single, Taylor Parkes of Melody Maker drew comparisons between "Lay Down Your Arms" and Carlisle's preceding single, commenting, "'Big Scary Animal' was a cracker, and this is twice as good again – stylishly dumb."{{cite magazine |last=Parkes |first=Taylor |title=Singles |date=20 November 1993 |magazine=Melody Maker |page=31}} Alan Jones from Music Week gave Carlisle's version of the song three out of five, writing, "This undistinguished single clatters along without providing any moments of great significance. A hit (all her Virgin singles are) but not one of Carlisle's biggest or best."{{cite magazine|first=Alan|last=Jones|title=Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=November 20, 1993|page=14|accessdate=February 3, 2023|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-11-20.pdf}}
=Music video=
The accompanying music video for the Carlisle cover was directed by Neil Abramson.{{YouTube|b9hvzoayHH0}}
=Track listing=
- 4 track CD single
- "Lay Down Your Arms"
- "Tell Me"
- "Wrap My Arms Around You" (8-track demo)
- "Here Comes My Baby" (8-track demo)
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!align="left"|Chart (1993) !align="left"|Peak |
| {{singlechart|UK|27|song=Lay Down Your Arms|artist=Belinda Carlisle|date=1993-12-4|artistid=4238}} |
| UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-12-11.pdf|title=The Airplay Chart|magazine=Music Week|date=1993-12-11|page=26|access-date=2024-05-02}}
|align="center"|21 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-12-11.pdf|title=European Hot 100|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=50|date=December 11, 1993|page=23|access-date=September 21, 2024}}
| style="text-align:center;"|75 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Belinda Carlisle}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lay Down Your Arms (The Graces Song)}}
Category:Belinda Carlisle songs
Category:Songs written by Charlotte Caffey
Category:Songs written by Ellen Shipley
Category:Songs written by Ralph Schuckett