Is This Desire?
PJ Harvey · Is This Desire? [1998]
The sunset went down and down
Coldness cooled their desire
And Dawn said, 'Let's build a fire'
The sun dressed the trees in green
And Joe said, "I fell like a king'
And Dawn's neck, and her feet were bare
Sweetness in her golden hair
Said, 'I'm not scared'
Turned to her and smiled
Secrets in his eyes
Sweetness of desire
Is this desire?
Enough enough
To lift us higher
To lift above?
Hour long, by hour, may we two stand
When we're dead, between these lands
The sun set behind his eyes
And Joe said, 'Is this desire?'
Is this desire?
Enough enough
To lift us higher
To lift above?
Is this desire
Enough enough
Enough inside
Is this desire?
Is This Desire?
PJ Harvey's 1998 debut album, Is This Desire?, opens with a haunting track that immediately establishes her signature blend of gothic rock and ethereal vocals. The recording features a sparse, atmospheric production that highlights Harvey's distinctive voice, often layered with harmonica and subtle percussion to create a sense of melancholic introspection. Released during the height of the Britpop era, the song stood apart through its darker, more textured sound, reflecting themes of emotional vulnerability and existential questioning. It serves as a pivotal moment in her discography, showcasing her ability to craft intimate, cinematic soundscapes that would define her subsequent work and influence the alternative rock landscape of the late 1990s.