Song to the Siren

"Song to the Siren" was written in 1967, but Buckley was dissatisfied with early recording attempts. The song was eventually released three years later on his album Starsailor.{{cite news |title="'Song to the Siren' Tim Buckley (1967)" by Robert Webb, The Independent (London), April 13, 2007 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20070413/ai_n19019135/pg_1 |access-date=May 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022103219/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20070413/ai_n19019135/pg_1 |archive-date=October 22, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

In 1968, Buckley first performed the song solo in its original folk style as a guest on the series finale of The Monkees. This performance contrasts with the lusher, reverb-filled version later recorded for Starsailor. On The Monkees, the song was performed in the key of E major, while the album version is in B-flat major. The studio version features heavy reverb on the electric guitar and high-pitched background vocals, whereas the earlier rendition was accompanied solely by Buckley’s twelve-string acoustic guitar.

Additionally, the 1968 performance contained different lyrics. The line "I am puzzled as the oyster" in the final verse was changed to "I'm as puzzled as the newborn child" on the album. This alteration reportedly occurred after Buckley played the song for Judy Henske, wife of producer Jerry Yester, who laughed at the original line.Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley, David Browne{{cite web|title=Tim Buckley interview "The High Flyer" |url=http://home.casema.nl/jim2873/timbuckley/highflyer.html |access-date=May 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022004931/http://home.casema.nl/jim2873/timbuckley/highflyer.html |archive-date=October 22, 2008 }}

Buckley and Beckett regarded this song as their greatest collaboration. Beckett later stated, "It's a perfect match of melody and lyrics. There was some kind of uncanny connection between us."

The song's reference to the sirens luring sailors stems from Greek mythology. Its lyrical style reflects Larry Beckett's literary influences, contrasting with Buckley’s more personal songwriting approach.{{cite web|date=September 12, 2015|title=Larry Beckett Interview|url=http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Larry_Beckett_Interview.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010223430/https://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Larry_Beckett_Interview.html|archive-date=October 10, 2019|access-date=October 10, 2019|website=Album Liner Notes}}

Beckett wrote the lyrics to "Song to the Siren" as part of his ongoing collaboration and friendship with Buckley during their high school years. Beckett has also worked alongside English musician, vocalist, and songwriter Stuart Anthony in various capacities. Their collaboration began in 2014 with the Lancaster-based band The Long Lost Band when Beckett started contributing lyrics to their work.{{cite web|date=August 14, 2015|title=WALKING ON THE CLOUDS|url=http://recordcollectormag.com/articles/walking-clouds-3|access-date=November 5, 2016|website=Record Collector}} "Song to the Siren" became part of this collaboration when Beckett visited the UK for two tour dates in 2015—in Liverpool and Lancaster.

The live version of the song featured a spoken word segment by Beckett, in which he explained the origin of the lyrics, a narrative previously included in documentary footage about the author. A studio version was later recorded in 2016 to mirror the live performance, making this rendition particularly notable. Among the many cover versions of the song, this was the first time the lyricist himself appeared on the track. The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ymnKhyj8M0 Larry Beckett and The Long Lost Band] version was released online on October 21, 2016.{{cite web|last=Ainscoe|first=Mike|date=November 1, 2016|title=The Long Lost Band and Larry Beckett: Song To The Siren – Single Review|url=http://louderthanwar.com/long-lost-band-larry-beckett-song-siren-single/|access-date=November 5, 2016|website=Louder Than War}}{{cite web|date=October 28, 2016|title=Unique recording sees classic song retold for new generation|url=http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/whats-on/music/unique-recording-sees-classic-song-retold-for-new-generation-1-8206493|access-date=November 5, 2016|website=Lancaster Guardian}}

Additionally, the song was performed live by Stuart Anthony aboard the Odysseia, a replica of an ancient Greek ship, setting sail from Lefkada. This performance symbolized a spiritual "homecoming" for the song, as the surroundings are believed to represent Homer’s Ithaca.

{{Infobox song

| name = Song to the Siren

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = This Mortal Coil

| album = It'll End in Tears

| released = {{Start date|1983|09}}

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

• Dream pop{{cite web|date=November 17, 2014|title=Greatest Hits: 35 Essential 4AD Tracks|url=https://www.treblezine.com/4ad-records-best-tracks/|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=Treble}}
• synth-pop{{cite magazine|first= Mark |last= Simpson |title= 1983: The Last Great Year of Pop |magazine= Out |date= 14 February 2014|access-date= 9 March 2025|url= http://www.out.com/entertainment/music/2014/02/18/1983-last-great-year-pop-mark-simpson |quote= Other 1983 synthpop singles that got played to death either in the common room or in my bedroom included...the hair-prickling "Song to the Siren" by This Mortal Coil...}}

| length = 3:30

| label = 4AD

| writer =

• Larry Beckett
• Tim Buckley

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

This Mortal Coil recorded a version of "Song to the Siren," released as their debut single in September 1983. It entered the UK Independent Singles Chart at No. 31 on 24 September{{cite news |title=Indies: Top Singles Chart|editor-last=Burbeck|editor-first=Rodney|page=33|location=London|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1983/Music-Week-1983-09-24-I-IDX-45.pdf |work=Music Week |publisher=Morgan Grampian plc |date=24 September 1983}} and reached No. 3 on 5 November.{{cite news |title=Indies: Top Singles Chart|editor-last=Burbeck|editor-first=Rodney|page=35|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1983/Music-Week-1983-11-05-I-IDX-35.pdf |work=Music Week |location=London|publisher=Morgan Grampian plc |date=5 November 1983}} The song charted on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 66 on 22 October.{{cite web |title=Song to the Siren: Chart facts |website=Official Charts |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/this-mortal-coil-song-to-the-siren/|access-date=10 June 2023}} The single remained on the UK Indie Chart for 101 weeks, ranking fourth in the 1980s behind "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus (131 weeks), "Blue Monday" by New Order (186 weeks), and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division (195 weeks)."Indie Hits 1980–1989" (Cherry Red Books, 1997)

"Song to the Siren" was later included on This Mortal Coil's 1984 album It'll End in Tears. This Mortal Coil was a musical collective led by producer Ivo Watts-Russell, featuring musicians from the 4AD label. Singer Elizabeth Fraser and guitarist Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins, both signed to 4AD at the time, performed on this version. Fraser also recorded a duet with Tim Buckley’s son, Jeff Buckley.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/music/features/jeff_buckley.shtml |title=Jeff Buckley: Everybody Here Wants You |access-date=April 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030811151427/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/music/features/jeff_buckley.shtml |archive-date=August 11, 2003}}{{cite web|last=Saunders|first=Luke|date=June 30, 2021|title=Here are the 10 best covers of all time from here to eternity|url=https://happymag.tv/best-covers-of-all-time/|access-date=October 10, 2019|website=Happy Mag}}

The release of This Mortal Coil's version led to a renewed interest in Tim Buckley's work.{{cite web |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |url=http://www.timbuckley.net/articles/tim.htm |access-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226071147/http://www.timbuckley.net/articles/tim.htm |archive-date=February 26, 2008}} This revival lead to increased posthumous sales of Buckley's music, and contributed to Jeff Buckley's early success.

This Mortal Coil's version appears prominently in David Lynch's 1997 film Lost Highway. Lynch had originally intended to use the song in his 1986 film Blue Velvet, but the licensing costs were too high. As a result, he collaborated with composer Angelo Badalamenti to create "Mysteries of Love."{{cite web |last1=Garvey |first1=Meaghan |title=Blue Velvet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/angelo-badalamenti-blue-velvet-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=19 September 2023}}

The song was featured in the 2009 film The Lovely Bones to critical acclaim.{{cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Tim |title=Song to the Siren's irresistible tang |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/nov/17/song-to-the-siren-classic |website=The Guardian |date=17 November 2011 |access-date=5 May 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Farnsworth |first1=Mark |title="The Lovely Bones": flawed, but gorgeous |url=https://globalcomment.com/the-lovely-bones-flawed-but-gorgeous/ |website=Global Comment |date=22 February 2010 |access-date=5 May 2022}}

The song has been covered numerous times, including by Susheela Raman, Robert Plant, The Czars, David Gray, https://www.davidgray.com/music/ewki06l8tbz4z0pds2p169r1o3ltls John Frusciante{{cite news |last1=Cheal |first1=David |title=The Life of a Song: 'Song to the Siren' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/95cbc4d0-0008-11e6-99cb-83242733f755 |access-date=26 July 2023 |work=Financial Times |date=22 April 2016}} Sinéad O'Connor, {{cite news |last1=Aston |first1=Martin |title='Song to the Siren's Irresistible Tang' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/nov/17/song-to-the-siren-classic |access-date=26 July 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=17 November 2011}} Bryan Ferry, George Michael, Brendan Perry, Amen Dunes, Wolf Alice, Garbage and Third Eye Blind.

Numerous trance cover versions exist. "Sunrise (Here I Am)" by Ratty (2000), a version by Vengeance featuring Clare Pearce (2001), and Lost Witness' "Did I Dream (Song to the Siren)" featuring Tracey Carmen are notable examples.

The 2021 director's cut Zack Snyder's Justice League features a rendition of "Song to the Siren" by British singer-songwriter Rose Betts.{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/justice-league-snyder-cut-soundtrack-songs/ |title=Every Song in Zack Snyder's Justice League |last=Behbakht |first=Andy |date=March 18, 2021 |website=Screen Rant |access-date=April 7, 2021}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last=Aston |first=Martin |title=Facing the Other Way: The Story of 4AD |location=London |publisher=The Friday Project |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-00-748961-9}}

• [http://www.timbuckley.net Official Tim Buckley site]
• [http://www.timbuckleymusic.com/Albums/2song_to_the_siren/2song_to_the_siren-index.shtml List of Song to the Siren covers]
• {{YouTube|02LoVSXkjWk|"Song to the Siren"}}

{{Tim Buckley}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1969 songs

Category:1983 debut singles

Category:This Mortal Coil songs

Category:4AD singles

Category:Folk ballads

Category:Songs about oceans and seas

Category:Songs written by Tim Buckley

Category:Songs written by Larry Beckett

Category:Classical mythology in music

Category:1960s ballads

Category:Sirens (mythology)