Deadlier Than the Male

The Walker Brothers

About Deadlier Than the Male

"Deadlier Than the Male" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Scott Walker under the name Scott Engel with UK record producer Johnny Franz. The song was first recorded and released by Walker's pop group The Walker Brothers as their eighth single in 1966. The accompaniment was directed by Reg Guest. The song was the title track for the 1967 British action film Deadlier Than the Male which featured the character of Bulldog Drummond. The song's title is a reference to the 1911 Rudyard Kipling poem "The Female of the Species," which includes the line, "The female of the species must be deadlier than the male", and also refers to Sapper's earlier Drummond book The Female of the Species. "Deadlier Than the Male" was a minor hit spending six weeks on the UK Singles Chart and peaking at #32. The single was released concurrently that December with the EP Solo John/Solo Scott. The low sales of the single may have been hit by the label's strategy of releasing them both at once. The single is essentially a Scott Walker solo release as he sang lead vocals and wrote/co-wrote both tracks. Previously Scott had only contributed album tracks and b-sides. "Deadlier Than the Male" is also notable for having been Walker's first A-side; Walker has only written four singles (the others being "The Electrician" in 1978, "Track Three" in 1984 and "Man from Reno" in 1993). 


Year:
1966
2:32
145 
#1

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She whispers oh such pretty lies
Don't believe her
For when she looks into her eyes
Love just isn't there

Brother, beware
Take care, my brother, take care

For the female of the species is deadlier than the male

The smile that made a dream begin
Clouds your vision
It's just the shadow of a dream
That you're living in

She never cared
Beware, my brother, beware

For the female of the species is deadlier than the male

Memories of kisses on a summer's day
That's all she left you when she went away
Now, you pay!

By walking streets, you'll never know
When the night comes
Sitting at places that you go
Hoping she'll be there

Brother, beware
Take care, my brother, take care

For the female of the species is deadlier than the male

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The Walker Brothers

The Walker Brothers were an American pop group of the 1960s and 1970s, comprising Scott Engel (eventually known professionally as Scott Walker), John Walker (born John Maus, but using the name Walker since his teens), and Gary Leeds (eventually known as Gary Walker). After moving to Britain, they had a number of top ten albums and singles there in the mid 1960s, including the #1 chart hits "Make It Easy on Yourself" and "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)," both of which also made the US top twenty. more »

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Written by: JOHN FRANZ, SCOTT ENGEL

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Origin and Album
"Deadlier Than the Male" is a song by The Walker Brothers, an American pop group, and Scott Walker, its lead singer. The song was released as a promotional single and included in the soundtrack album of the 1967 British crime film "Deadlier than the Male."
Chart Performance
Interestingly, the song did not perform as well as their other hits. Despite the moderately low commercial success, it was popular enough to be included in several compilation albums, confirming it as one of the group's fan favorites.
Lineup
The Walker Brothers were made up of Scott Walker (born Noel Scott Engel), John Walker (born John Joseph Maus), and Gary Walker (born Gary Leeds). Scott Walker was the lead vocalist on "Deadlier Than The Male.”
Musical Style
The song is noted for its sweeping orchestral arrangement, typical of Scott Walker and The Walker Brothers' output during this period. It carries a melodramatic tenor that was a signature style of the band in the 1960s.
Film Association
"Deadlier Than the Male" was specifically composed for the movie of the same name. The film was a spy thriller featuring Richard Johnson as Bulldog Drummond, an early 20th-century British fictional character.
Song Subject
The song, like the film, carries a theme of dangerous femininity – referring back to the title "Deadlier Than the Male.” The lyrics, having a romantic and slightly ominous tone, reflect the intrigue of the movie's plot.
Song Writer
The song was penned by the acclaimed songwriter Reg Guest, who was known for his work with various 1960s UK pop acts. He also provided the lush orchestral arrangement for the track.
Song Length
The original version of "Deadlier Than The Male" is about 2 minutes and 30 seconds long, adhering to the traditional pop song lengths of the time.
Later Career
After parting ways with the Walker Brothers, Scott Walker embarked on a solo career that saw him delve into more experimental musical territories. However, "Deadlier Than The Male" remained a well-loved highlight of Walker Brothers' era.
Legacy
Today, "Deadlier Than The Male" holds an iconic status among fans of The Walker Brothers and vintage film soundtrack enthusiasts. Despite its lack of chart-topping success, it is representative of the profound influence that The Walker Brothers and Scott Walker had in shaping the sound of 1960s pop music.

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