"Queen of Peace" is the fourth track and third single from Florence and the Machine’s third studio album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.
Background[]
Speaking about its creation to Jo Wiley (BBC), Florence says:
”This song was written with Markus Dravs, at a time when he was getting me to write triumphant songs about overcoming things but I still wasn’t in the best place. We reached a different kind of triumph through struggle, rather than pretending everything was fine.”
It seemingly details the suffering of a mighty king and queen who have lost their son in battle, even though they still won; it is a bitter-sweet victory. Florence compares her suffering in her relationship to the royal defeat told on the song.
Florence Welch wrote a poem to follow the music video.
Lyrics[]
Oh, the king
Gone mad within his suffering
Called out for relief
Someone cure him of his grief
His only son
Cut down, but the battle won
Oh, what is it worth?
When all that's left is hurt
Like the stars chase the sun
Over the glowing hill, I will conquer
Blood is running deep
Some things never sleep
Suddenly I'm overcome
Dissolving like the setting sun
Like a boat into oblivion
'Cause you're driving me away
Now you have me on the run
The damage is already done
Come on, is this what you want?
'Cause you're driving me away
Oh, the queen of peace
Always does her best to please
Is it any use?
Somebody's gotta lose
Like a long stream
I'll bear all this echoing
Oh, what is it worth?
All that's left is hurt
Like the stars chase the sun
Over the glowing hill, I will conquer
Blood is running deep
Some things never sleep
Suddenly I'm overcome
Dissolving like the setting sun
Like a boat into oblivion
'Cause you're driving me away
Now you have me on the run
The damage is already done
Come on, is this what you want?
'Cause you're driving me away
And my love is no good
Against the fortress that it made of you
Blood is running deep
Sorrow that you keep
Overcome
Setting sun
Oblivion
'Cause you're driving me away
Suddenly I'm overcome
Dissolving like the setting sun
Like a boat into oblivion
'Cause you're driving me away
Now you have me on the run
The damage is already done
Come on, is this what you want?
'Cause you're driving me away
Music video[]
A 10-minute double-feature music video for "Queen of Peace" and "Long & Lost", another track from How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, was directed by Vincent Haycock and premiered on July 27, 2015.[1] Shot on the Scottish island of Easdale,[1] the short film is a part of a larger series of music videos centered on Welch and the storyline it creates known as The Odyssey.[2]
Commercial performance[]
"Queen of Peace" debuted at number 178 on the UK Singles Chart, peaking three weeks later at number 133, the band's first single to miss the top 100 since "Lover to Lover" in 2012.
Credits and personnel[]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Recording[]
- Engineered at The Pool and Urchin Studios (London)
- Strings, brass and flute recorded at Angel Recording Studios and The Pool (London)
- Mixed at Toast Studios (London)
- Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)
Personnel[]
Florence and the Machine
- Florence Welch – vocals, backing vocals
- Mark Saunders – bass
- Rob Ackroyd – electric guitar
- Rusty Bradshaw – piano
Additional personnel
- Markus Dravs – production
- Robin Baynton – engineering, strings recording, brass recording, flute recording
- Jonathan Sagis – engineering assistance
- Iain Berryman – engineering assistance
- Dan Cox – additional engineering
- Matt Ingram – drums, percussion
- Leo Abrahams – electric guitar
- Rusty Bradshaw – piano
- James Hallawell – Hammond organ
- Benson – additional keys, programming, flute arrangements, brass arrangements, string arrangements
- Janelle Martin – backing vocals
- Nim Miller – backing vocals
- Baby N'Sola – backing vocals
- Sally Herbert – flute arrangements, brass arrangements, string arrangements, orchestration, conducting
- Daniel Newell – piccolo trumpet, flugel, trumpet
- Nigel Black – French horn
- Pip Eastop – French horn
- Sam Jacobs – French horn
- Elise Campbell – French horn
- Andy Wood – trombone, Euphonium
- John Barclay – trumpet
- Philip Cobb – trumpet
- Andy Crowley – trumpet
- Tom Rees-Roberts – trumpet
- Ed Tarrant – Euphonium
- Richard Edwards – tenor trombone
- Oren Marshall – tuba
- Everton Nelson – violin
- Gillon Cameron – violin
- Rick Koster – violin
- Oli Langford – violin
- Bruce White – viola
- Nick Barr – viola
- Ian Burdge – cello
- Eliza Marshall – flute, alto flute
- Mat Bartram – strings recording, brass recording, flute recording
- Ronan Phelan – strings recording assistance, brass recording assistance, flute recording assistance
- Craig Silvey – mixing
- Eduardo de la Paz – mixing assistance
- Ted Jensen – mastering
Refrences[]
[]
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Photoshoot • Producers | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful |
| Tracklist | Ship to Wreck • What Kind of Man • How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful • Queen of Peace • Various Storms & Saints • Delilah • Long & Lost • Caught • Third Eye • St. Jude • Mother |
| Deluxe | Hiding • Make Up Your Mind • Which Witch (Demo) • Third Eye (Demo) • How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (Demo) |
| Bonus Tracks | Pure Feeling • Conductor • As Far As I Could Get |
| Unreleased | Tantalus |
| Other Eras | |
| Lungs • Ceremonials • How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful • High As Hope • Dance Fever | |