Maid of Orleans

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

About Maid of Orleans

"Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)" is a song by British band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and was the third single released from their third studio album Architecture & Morality. The track has been described by OMD frontman Andy McCluskey as the group's "Mull of Kintyre". To prevent confusion with their previous single "Joan of Arc", the song was retitled "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" for its single release. Both songs are about the French heroine Joan of Arc and both reached the Top 5 of the UK Singles Chart—although this single was more successful internationally, topping the charts in several countries including Germany, where it was the biggest-selling single of 1982. It also reached number 5 in Ireland and number 7 in New Zealand. The single was the last release on the Dindisc label. "Maid of Orleans" has been recorded by various artists including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Third Bass and DJ Quicksilver. It was used during the climax and closing credits to the final episode of the second series of BBC television program Ashes to Ashes. 


Year:
1988
4:09
879 
#3

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If Joan of Arc
Had a heart
Would she give it as a gift

To such as me
Who longs to see
How an angel ought to be

Her dream's to give
Her heart away
Like an orphan on a wave

She cared so much
She offered up
Her body to the grave

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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are a British New Wave group formed in 1978, whose founding members, Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals), are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England. The band rose to fame with their fourth single "Enola Gay", which became a major hit throughout Europe in 1980, and achieved worldwide popularity the following year with their third album Architecture & Morality. Regarded as the band's seminal work, it spawned three international hit singles and propelled them to superstar status in their home country. OMD, whose music frequently eschewed traditional pop music arrangements in favour of experimentation, were retrospectively described by AllMusic's Ned Raggett as having been… more »

4 fans

Written by: Andrew McCluskey

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Background
"Maid of Orleans" is a song by the British synth-pop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).
Release Date
It was released in the United Kingdom on 15 January 1982.
Chart Success
The song reached No. 4 in the UK charts in February 1982, and was OMD’s third UK top 5 hit.
Tribute Song
The song was a tribute to Joan of Arc, a national heroine of France and a Catholic saint. This is conveyed by its alternative title, "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)".
Album Inclusion
"Maid Of Orleans" is included in the group's third studio album, "Architecture & Morality", released in 1981.
Song Theme
The song has a medieval warfare theme, with marching drum beats and lyrics delivered in a hymn-like manner.
Inspiration
The title of the song was inspired by Joan of Arc's moniker, "The Maid of Orleans". Joan led the French army to victory over the British at Orléans, a turning point in the Hundred Years' War.
Second Joan of Arc Song
It was the second single from the band to be titled after Joan of Arc, the previous one being "Joan of Arc", which reached number 5 in the UK charts in November 1981.
Sales
On its release, "Maid of Orleans" quickly became one of the band's biggest selling singles, selling over a million copies worldwide.
Music Video
The music video for the song was directed by Steve Barron, who has worked with other music icons such as Michael Jackson and The Human League.

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