Track review: A Child’s Question, August // PJ Harvey

30 years ago, PJ Harvey was publishing her second album. Today, she is back with a new single that looks at the past, to her childhood and family history.

The mood of the song is reminiscent of a lullaby of ancient times, with the repetition of lyrics such as “Love me tender / tender love”, acting as a homage to Elvis Presley. It is further inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem ‘Answer to a child’s question’. The song itself questions the universe for answers, as the artist declared on her recent appearance on BBC Radio 6.

The lyrics are mysterious; in limbo between light and dark, childhood and maturity, summer and autumn. The mention of August reminds the listener of a fading summer, of days when there is still bright light everywhere but there is also a consciousness that such light will leave soon, turning into darker autumn days.

The song comes alongside an official video created by Steve Gullick and PJ Harvey, commissioned by John Moule. The video shows pictures, drawings, notes, scratches, conveying the same aura of mystery and magic of the track.

Backing vocals by Ben Whishaw accompany the choruses, while music is performed by John Parish, who worked with PJ Harvey throughout the past 30 years. Parish plays drums, synth, piano and Rhodes, and Adam ‘Cecil’ Bartlett is on keys. 

The single anticipates new album, I Inside the Old Year Dying (out on July 7th on Partisan Records), where the theme of looking for answers will also be a central topic. 

Words by Miriam Viscusi

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