I Held Her In My Arms - Violent Femmes

[boneworx]

What's most striking is how contemporary both the video and song seem. Most stuff from 23 years ago feels much more dated than this.

[crawford1976]

Outstanding. Had no idea they even had a vid for this. TBLTN is an excellent album, also.

[boneworx]

Heh, I just discovered this last week as well. And I bought the album when it was released!

[cardigansarecool]

I remember I first got into them in 6th grade. They will always have a place in my heart. Definelty.

[kosherspeare]

Living proof that the 80's didn't entirely suck musically.

[fujivoo]

i'm getting dizzy!!! great song!

[oberonfamily]

go it feels like yesterday, sittin in my room listenin to this

[notchswife10]

I so wish that they would get this back in to mainstream radio! There are so many Femmes fans out there and plenty of the younger generation to create more!

[lalalauren117]

diggin the shirt gordan.

[iammready]

I can't even remember...or if I just wanted to...

"An underrated song by the 'Femmes which kicked ass upon release and continues to do so even now. Enjoy while it's here... "

Right on agreed!

[crawford1976]

An underrated song by the 'Femmes which kicked ass upon release and continues to do so even now. Enjoy while it's here...

[escher10000]

I think the expression current with the "younger" generation is:  DAMN~!!! WHOO HOO~!!!!!!!!! That about sums it up....

[ColorsBright]

This is the redone version right? Because I have the greatest hits and that version sounds more old fashioned, this sounds more 90s. I think this is the redone version.

[bahston00]

I used to play the "Femmes" on a Christian Rock show I hosted on WEZE in Boston. It aired 1984-1986 and was called "Music in the Key of Life".

[crawford1976]

An excellent and underrated song. Thank God for the Violent Femmes.

[bdipilot]

Femmes, music for the people.....normal people.

[bluebettle]

I spent many moments of my teen years crying into my pillow listening to this song.

Not too many, but many.

[TimmytheGeek2009]

God works in mysterious ways, my friend. Many years ago in high school my friends called each other, and other uncool guys, 'femmes' but we didn't know this band yet. So when I heard the Femmes, they clicked with me right away. Still do, even though now I'm way cool. lol

[alexleitch37]

As a full time, 40 year old muso, and as a Christian insanely in love with Jesus, I can not overstate the magnificent effect the Femmes have had on my soul. As the Bible says "some were pulled from the fires of hell" (by the prayers and good deeds of faithful disciples). The Femmes have done just that. God bless you good folk. I shall be forever and ever and ever in your debt. On Judgement day Jesus will reward you will an eternal reward. Such is Jesus passionate love for me (and you too).

[TimmytheGeek2009]

I saw them in 1986 and Gordon said he visited a local black church the day before the show. Not sure about his faith but I think he likes church music.

[alexleitch37]

"I will not kill the one thing that I love. In this world of refuge I look above. I say Help me LORD help me understand, what it means to be a boy, what it means to be a man" (from I held Her in my arms) Thanks for your reply mate. You lucky bloke having seen them at their peek. I saw them in Australia in 96 but they were woeful mate. Gordon's lyrics have been pure gospel to me. I am a strange and awkward person and Femmes music really touched my heart and soul. Have a great day mate. alex

[DroverChicago]

The liner notes of one of their "greatest hits" albums proclaims Gano is Baptist. Not surprising given the evangelical nature of a handful of Femmes songs.

[beartyincognito]

I think his Dad was a Baptist minister.

[yogibeal84]

Violent Femmes Kick ass. IT's unique. It is original. Fuck all you nay sayers. DON'T FUCK WITH THE VIOLENT FEMMES!!!!

[muhhnameismrsmnm]

wow

[tonysaxophone]

possibly the worst video ever made,

[unfluster]

Dear "shanesums"

Go Fuck Yourself!

[lacesthefish]

i dont think shanesums has ever "held her in his arms"

[shanesums]

the only thing missing from this film clip is a person with a machine gun blowing the fuckin hell outta everyone

[williameatloxton]

hahahahahaahaha........

[jakenfriedlove]

i dunno if you are making fun of this song or not but either way that was still funny as hell to me

[jhexxagon]

Gordon Gano reminds me of Ace Ventura in this video. It's the colourful shirt.

[xtoofastforlovex]

gotta love bryan ritchie wearing the black flag shirt

[54spiritedwill54]

This album was definately '86. Ha!

[JakobZetterstrom]

Well, as a few people pointed out already, this is NOT the version from The Blind Leading The Naked... neither better nor worse, just a little different and slightly edgier... and easier on the reverbs... :)

[erestube]

Seems to be a lot of discussion here about the quality of the video! Hey, these guys were great but they never caught on big time (although they did influence quite a few bands along the way). This would be one of those minimal support from the record company jobs.

[BarryShane1Monstrok]

Violent femmes are pretty damn cool, wish a band would come out with their orignality, and like Nirvana's fuck it all attitude, and Aerosmith's riff ability, and The Beatles pop sensibility.

[aimsux3214]

agreed too bad everyone gets old. They are very unique.

[SSSlappy138]

well i'm suicidal half the time & these guys cheer me up so no knit-pickin on which version is better. it makes ppl happy.

[wenahaone]

sooooo not as good as the first album.

[rolvlh]

I will not kill the one thing that I love!

Sing it and mean it people.

[animalkrackers]

it seems like they're on acid or something...great music though

[sajorojas]

Do these guys remind anyone else of They Might Be Giants?

[youdonotbelong1]

not usually, but this song really feels like tmbg

[Phoenixfan77]

Yeah, I get the same vibe as well. Their music is lyrically simple, usually with a lot of repeating parts and highly-pronounced words, and extended pauses between lines.

[papaproposition]

yeah I just started listening to the femmes so im still forming my opinion of them and as soon as I heard this song I thought "oh, so they're kind of like they might be giants."

[tfranklin]

People. This is a different recording than the one on the original "Blind Leading the Naked" from 1986. It's the rerecorded version from the compilation "Add It Up" which came out Sept. of 1993 which would make this video 90s!  Also note the absence of original drummer Victor DeLorenzo from the video as he was no longer in the band in '93. If this was made in 1986, surely Victor would have been in the video!

[erestube]

Good job my man! I wondered where the drummer was! Video seemed a little more modern than the 80's anyway.

[kali2calli]

No, Its soooo santa clause is comin to town

[dolphinio55]

This is very waterboys

[GianniSputo]

i love violent femmes!

[zzybalooga]

I love this so much. Thank you for posting it!

[scrunty1]

good band great songs but that was a lame video for a good song.video killed the radio star.

[lilliashmond]

love the sax solo! my fave song like ever!

[sstyblo]

I like chick peas.

[ponyman13]

lol!

[ParanoidPajamas]

I think I like you.

[hiccupofirony]

i Know i do

[wbr61]

saw them first at the national guard armory in walla walla washington 1997..not many people there ,,,great show.. been hooked ever since..

[warsd4]

Great song.

[robbyxc]

LOL saying jimmyeatworld is better than VF.....heres a dollar mate.....go buy yourself a clue.

[maramarieee]

hahaha

[babybundon]

hmmm that fashion is 90's not 8o's no acid wash ya see.

[mrmojorisin1]

The only thing about that is the video was made in 1986...So I assume the Femmes had a time travel machine

[babybundon]

how was that made in 86? those clothes were 91 ish r u sure they made the video in 86

[rattler2002]

That sounds a lot like the re-recorded version of I Held Her In My Arms from the Add It Up compilation. I don't have the record to hand right now, but that comp was definitely released in the early 90s. It may well have been that the video was made around the same time. It's kinda hard to tell with Femmes videos, since Gordon Gano always just looks about twelve years old. :)

Either way, that song and that video rock my world to pieces. Awesome.

[raindeer667]

i remember the album the blind leading the naked, but all in all they're legendary.

[beartyincognito]

This album was definately '86. Ha! The Femmes were fashion icons, years ehead of their time. Well, five years. Who would have thought it?

[mrtwitz]

No 90's here, I used to listen to this cassette in '86, indeed , '86. The Blind Leading the Naked, great album, still have it, doesn't play anymore though.

[Jeshkama]

Reminds me of a bad Karaoke video but I this is one of my fav VF songs.

[elizabethysmom]

I wonder how much they hated making this video? It made me want to puke just watching all the spinning. VF Foreva!! (and WTF Jimmy eat world person, Jimmy eat world should be licking the ground Gordon Gano walks on).

[slomo8888]

i just looked up for them cause jimmy eat world said they gonna play with them in south africa...LOL what the fuck??? These guys really sucks...JimmyEatWorld should look for some better bands to tour with...

[mrmojorisin1]

You can leave sir. Violent Femmes are far better than Jimmy Eat World will ever be.

[sfmm4life]

agreed.

[MoopsTheCrusher]

hahaha

the ignorance is staggering

[BobDylan1201]

Thank you sire. It truly means alot to me.

[BobDylan1201]

Please pardon me, O exalted Violent Femmes Expert. I was merely suggesting the similaritites to a typical 1990's video.

[mrmojorisin1]

Meh no worries

[BobDylan1201]

I know. I was thinking the same thing. Totally 90's.

[mrmojorisin1]

It was made in 1986. Totally 80s.

[lazlopanoflex]

Possibly the worst video ever made, yet a damn good song

[brokenlenspro]

well, said. i second that. love tha femmes, but what is this spinning shit. lol  totally 90's

[dodinho77]

Been looking for this video for quite a long time now.

Thanks a lot!