And if Venice Is Sinking
Encyclopedia
"And if Venice Is Sinking" is a song written by John Mann
and Geoffrey Kelly
for the Canadian folk-rock band Spirit of the West
. Spirit of the West recorded the song on their studio album Faithlift
. It also appeared on their greatest hits album Hit Parade
, both in the original studio single and as a live recording with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
.
The song is about Mann's honeymoon in Venice
with his wife, Jill Daum. Infatuated with the city, Mann expresses his desire never to leave by alluding to the sinking of the city and asserting that he'll go down with it: "And if Venice is sinking/Then I'm going under". The song also references Marino Marini
's sculpture "Angelo della Città":
Several of the band's friends and family members, as well as producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda
, also appear on the track as backing vocalists on the song's final chorus, and are credited in the album's liner notes as "Venetian Choir". Daum herself can be heard laughing in the background after the word "erection".
It proved to be Spirit of the West's most successful single on the Canadian pop charts, reaching #30 on the RPM
Top 100 singles chart the week of November 20, 1993, and #12 on the adult contemporary charts the week of January 31, 1994. However, some radio stations played an edited version with the words "with an erection" blanked out.
John Mann (musician)
John F. Mann is a Canadian rock musician and actor.-Music:He is the lead vocalist for the folk rock band Spirit of the West...
and Geoffrey Kelly
Geoffrey Kelly
Geoffrey Kelly is a Canadian rock musician.He plays guitars, flutes and bodhran for the folk rock band Spirit of the West, for whom he is also the lead vocalist on some songs. He and John Mann are the band's primary songwriters.Kelly is also a full time member of The Paperboys, and released a solo...
for the Canadian folk-rock band Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West are a Canadian folk rock band, who were popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s before evolving a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences which made them one of Canada's most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.-Early years:The band began...
. Spirit of the West recorded the song on their studio album Faithlift
Faithlift
Faithlift is a 1993 album by Spirit of the West.It is the band's best-selling album, and includes their biggest Canadian Top 40 hit, "And if Venice Is Sinking." The album peaked at #27 on RPMs Top 100 albums chart the week of October 30, 1993....
. It also appeared on their greatest hits album Hit Parade
Hit Parade (album)
Hit Parade is a 1999 album by Spirit of the West.The album is a compilation, and marked their final release for Warner Music Canada. Despite the album's title, not all of the songs on the album were released as singles, and some songs which were notable singles are not present...
, both in the original studio single and as a live recording with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
.
The song is about Mann's honeymoon in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
with his wife, Jill Daum. Infatuated with the city, Mann expresses his desire never to leave by alluding to the sinking of the city and asserting that he'll go down with it: "And if Venice is sinking/Then I'm going under". The song also references Marino Marini
Marino Marini
Marino Marini was an Italian sculptor. -Biography:He attended the Accademia Di Belle Arti in Florence in 1917. Although he never abandoned painting, Marini devoted himself primarily to sculpture from about 1922. From this time his work was influenced by Etruscan art and the sculpture of Arturo...
's sculpture "Angelo della Città":
We made love upon a bed
That sagged down to the floor
In a room that had a postcard on the door
Of Marini's Little Man
With an erection on a horse
It always leaves me laughing
Several of the band's friends and family members, as well as producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda
Michael Phillip Wojewoda
-External links:*...
, also appear on the track as backing vocalists on the song's final chorus, and are credited in the album's liner notes as "Venetian Choir". Daum herself can be heard laughing in the background after the word "erection".
It proved to be Spirit of the West's most successful single on the Canadian pop charts, reaching #30 on the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Top 100 singles chart the week of November 20, 1993, and #12 on the adult contemporary charts the week of January 31, 1994. However, some radio stations played an edited version with the words "with an erection" blanked out.