Portrait of a Dead Girl (song)

Portrait of a Dead Girl

Song
by The Last Dinner Party

Writer(s)

Abigail Morris
Georgia Davies
Emily Roberts
Aurora Nishevci
Lizzie Mayland
Rhys Downing

Producer(s)

James Ford

Length

4:57

Album

Prelude to Ecstasy

*Prelude to Ecstasy* chronology
"My Lady of Mercy"	"Portrait of a Dead Girl"	"Nothing Matters"

Audio

"Portrait of a Dead Girl" is the tenth track on The Last Dinner Party's debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy.

Background[]

The song was debuted at the bands third ever concert at Jaguar Shoes^[1] and is one of the original songs that the band has performed. The addition of "give me the strength" was added later on, and is something the band encourages the audience to sing.^[2]

When speaking about the song with Apple Music Abigail Morris explained:^[3]

“The portrait was actually a picture I found on Pinterest, as many songs start. It was an older portrait of a woman in a red dress sitting on a bed and then next to her is a massive wolf. At first, I thought that was the original painting, but then I looked at it again and the wolf has been put in. But I really loved that idea of comparing [it to] a relationship, a toxic one—feeling like you have this big wolf who’s dangerous but it’s going to protect you, and feeling safe. But you can’t be friends with a wolf. It’s going to turn around and bite you the second it gets a chance.”

―Abigail Morris for Apple Music

Composition[]

Portrait of a Dead Girl has gone through many different phases and took a long time to finish, with the ending being inspired by Florence + The Machine's 2022 song, "Dream Girl Evil". And though Bowie has a big influence on the band in general, it was really present in this song with Abigail Morris saying It feels "very ’70s and like the Ziggy Stardust album."^[3]

Lyrics[]

When you laid like a wolf
With your head in my lap
I felt like those portraits
Of women protected by a beast on a chain

They look so safe
A guard dog built just for her
If only she knew that with one wrong move
He’ll turn around and tear off her hands

I wish you had given me
The courtesy of ripping out my throat
I wish that I’d let you have
The dignity of letting me go

I break apart without your arms
The smell of soap and petrol smarts
Let me feed you to my friends
Over and over again

Let my last words be our last dance
I’d die for you no questions asked
If anyone could kill me
It probably would be you

He’s got letters on his fist
R-I-D-E and Triumph on his hips
He looks like one of those film stars
With a blow-up-doll and a BB gun

And I wish you
Had given me
The courtesy of staying one more night
And I wish that I
Had the guts,
The dignity to put up a fight

I break apart without your arms
The smell of soap and petrol smarts
Let me feed you to my friends
Over and over again

Let my last words be our last dance
I’d die for you no questions asked
If anyone could kill me
It probably would be you

Don’t have the strength to pin me down
The time i wasted in your mouth
Waves that crashed against your chest
Over and over again

I kissed your eyes
And framed your teeth
As you crawled back into the sea
Oh anyone could kill me
And I’d never ever let it be you

Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength

Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength
Give me
The strength

Credits[]

The Last Dinner Party[]

Abigail Morris - Vocals
Georgia Davies - Bass, Additional Vocals
Emily Roberts - Lead Guitar, Additional Vocals
Aurora Nishevci - Scored and Conducted, Synthesizer, Piano, Organ, Additional Vocals
Lizzie Mayland - Additional Vocals, Guitar