The Honeythief | |
Cover: | Hipsway - The Honeythief.jpg |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Hipsway |
Album: | Hipsway |
B-Side: | Wild Sorrow |
Released: | 1986 |
Genre: | New wave[1] |
Length: | 3:10 |
Label: | Mercury |
Producer: | Gary Langan |
Prev Title: | Ask the Lord |
Prev Year: | 1985 |
Next Title: | Long White Car |
Next Year: | 1986 |
"The Honeythief" is a 1986 song performed by the Scottish band Hipsway.[2]
The song's title was inspired by a 16th-century painting, "Venus and Cupid, the Honey Thief", found in the Burrell Collection art museum in Glasgow.[3]
The lyrics are based on Vladimir Nabokov's book Lolita. In 1987, singer Grahame Skinner said, "It's just written from the point of view of a lecherous man who has an attraction for an innocent young girl — 'She's the honey and I'm the thief'."[4]
It was included on their 1986 self-titled debut album and released as a single, which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its remix reached number 9 on the US Dance Club Play Singles chart.
"The Honeythief" was the band's only top 40 hit in the US.[5] It has since appeared on over a dozen '80s music compilations.[6]
Chart (1986–1987) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
Australian (Kent Music Report)[7] | 91 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 19 | |
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 9 | |
US Cash Box[9] | 28 |