Skin (2) – One Thousand Years

The track ‘One Thousand Years’ appears on the 1987 Skin album Blood, Women, Roses. The music was composed by Jarboe and the lyrics written by Michael Gira.

The song was also released on a 12” vinyl extended play and a 7” vinyl single, along with two further versions. The A-side of the twelve-inch carries the same version as the first track on Blood, Women, Roses while the B-side has a rare version devoid of percussion or piano.

The A-side of the seven-inch has yet another version, the one with stronger piano and percussion that appears on the compilation albums The World of Skin and Children of God/The World of Skin. Let’s call it “the third version.”

The cello, double bass, viola, violin and strings add a distinct tenor to the basic mix of piano, drums and keyboards. An elegant string arrangement marks the version on Blood, Women, Roses and the A-side of the 12”.

Jarboe’s voice performs lead and backing vocals and the brief recital of the lines “This body is a temple stolen from the Lord / I'll walk in his shadow for a thousand years”.

The track numbering on the label of the 12” B-side is wrong. B1 is ‘My Own Hands’ and B2 is the sparse version of ‘One Thousand Years’ which is stripped of strings and piano .

‘My Own Hands’ is an avant-garde piece, in essence a series of scary squeaks by the cello and strings on a bed of disquiet. Call it Gothic chamber music, if you will.

The B2 version of ‘One Thousand Years’ on the 12” has neither percussion nor piano. Jarboe’s voice, accompanied by the classical instruments, ensure a singular sound.

The “third” version of ‘One Thousand Years’ was used for the promo video. That is the one appearing on the compilation albums The World of Skin and Children of God/World of Skin. It is distinguished by stronger percussion and prominent piano, and a lesser role for the strings.