Damaris

Patrick Wolf will be releasing Damaris as his next single on December 14th.

'[...] Patrick Wolf began to research who Damaris might be, and it came about that the wooden cross told a larger tale than anyone could have imagined. It is still unsure whether Damaris was a gypsy or a heathen, but she belonged outside of the Catholic church, who in 1880, held a very strict reign over romance and passion in such a small village. Damaris was most certainly not from the Catholic church, so when she fell in love with Lewis, the son of the Parish priest, she was denied of ever being united in marriage with him.

Patrick writes the song from the perspective of Lewis after discovering that Damaris has ‘died of a broken heart’, which, in the 19th Century was a polite term for either suicide, or a romantic notion that someone can be so heartbroken that they give up on life. The song is a musical iconisation of a true life Romeo and Juliet from Sussex. Two star-crossed lovers who were destined to be together, but were denied, due to the repression and sign of the times.'



The church organ on the song, played by Patrick and the drums by Marcello Vig were both recorded in 2008 on location in St. George’s Church.



B-sides in 'Damaris' single:
Peacock Skies
Damaris (St. George’s Church Acoustic Mix)
Queen Isabella (The She-Wolf of France)