Suffer the Children (song)
Encyclopedia
"Suffer the Children" is a song by the British
band Tears for Fears
. Written and sung by Roland Orzabal
, it was the band's first release, recorded in Bath, England shortly after the 1981 breakup of Orzabal and Curt Smith's
previous band Graduate
. The song would eventually be re-recorded for inclusion on Tears for Fears' debut LP The Hurting
(1983).
book of Matthew
(19:14), in which Jesus Christ teaches on the innocence of children. According to Orzabal:
and an instrumental version of the song.
The song was remixed into the La Roux
mixtape Sidetracked
in July 2010. Frontwoman Elly Jackson
has cited the band as an influence in numerous interviews.
to this day.
, Mercury Records
reissued the single complete with a new picture sleeve. It barely missed the UK Top 50
after failing to chart altogether the first time around. This release featured the same formats and track listings as the original.
)
12": Mercury / IDEA12 (United Kingdom)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
. Written and sung by Roland Orzabal
Roland Orzabal
Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He is known mainly as a co-founding member of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint vocalist, but he has also achieved success as a producer of other artists.- Early career :Orzabal...
, it was the band's first release, recorded in Bath, England shortly after the 1981 breakup of Orzabal and Curt Smith's
Curt Smith
Curt Smith is an English musician. He is best known for forming the band Tears for Fears, along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Also a solo artist, he released his third album Halfway, Pleased in May 2008....
previous band Graduate
Graduate (band)
Graduate was formed in 1979, in Bath, England. Baker and Orzabal were at school together and performed as the "Baker Brothers" in local pubs and clubs from 1977 aged 16. The name Graduate came from the fact that they used to open shows with a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", which...
. The song would eventually be re-recorded for inclusion on Tears for Fears' debut LP The Hurting
The Hurting
The Hurting is the debut album by the British pop band Tears for Fears. It was released on 7 March 1983, and peaked at no. 1 on the UK Album Chart...
(1983).
Background
The song's title bears resemblance to a passage in the BiblicalBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
book of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
(19:14), in which Jesus Christ teaches on the innocence of children. According to Orzabal:
Song versions
The original 7" version of "Suffer The Children" is distinct from the version found on The Hurting by the inclusion of an extra Curt Smith-sung lyric at the beginning of the song. The 12" single features both a remixRemix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
and an instrumental version of the song.
The song was remixed into the La Roux
La Roux
La Roux are an English electropop duo made up of singer, keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Eleanor Kate Jackson, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid. Jackson describes their relationship as "very much a half and half sharing situation... not like a singer producer outfit", but also...
mixtape Sidetracked
Sidetracked (La Roux album)
In July 2010, La Roux curated and mixed the latest volume of Sidetracked, a compilation series from Renaissance that allows artists from the electronic field a free rein to showcase their musical interests...
in July 2010. Frontwoman Elly Jackson
Elly Jackson
Eleanor Kate "Elly" Jackson is an English singer-songwriter and the lead singer of the electropop duo La Roux. She is well known for her red hair and androgynous style.-Biography:...
has cited the band as an influence in numerous interviews.
B-side
"Wino" is a short, acoustic song that served as the b-side to "Suffer The Children". The style of the song, minus synthesizers or production of any sort, is uncharacteristic of the band's overall body of work. It remains unreleased on CDCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
to this day.
Reissue
In 1985, following up on the massive success of the band's second LP Songs from the Big ChairSongs from the Big Chair
Songs from the Big Chair is the second album by the British rock band Tears for Fears. It was released in 1985 on Phonogram Records, and remains their highest selling album to date. The album peaked at no.2 in the UK and reached no.1 in the US...
, Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
reissued the single complete with a new picture sleeve. It barely missed the UK Top 50
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
after failing to chart altogether the first time around. This release featured the same formats and track listings as the original.
Track listings
7": Mercury / IDEA1 (United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
)
- "Suffer the Children" (3:36)
- "Wino" (2:17)
12": Mercury / IDEA12 (United Kingdom)
- "Suffer the Children [Remix]" (4:15)
- "Suffer the Children [Instrumental]" (4:26)
- "Wino" (2:17)
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
#52 |