Divine Hammer (song)

"Divine Hammer"
Single by the Breeders
from the album Last Splash
B-side
  • "Hoverin'"
  • "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)"
  • "Do You Love Me Now Jr?"
ReleasedOctober 25, 1993 (1993-10-25)[1]
Label
Songwriter(s)Kim Deal
Producer(s)
  • Kim Deal, Mark Freegard (album version)
  • Fred Maher (single version)
The Breeders singles chronology
"Cannonball"
(1993)
"Divine Hammer"
(1993)
"Saints"
(1994)

"Divine Hammer" is a song by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released as the second single from their second album, Last Splash (1993), in October 1993.

Meaning[edit]

Lead vocalist Kim Deal said: "It's about existential angst, really. I'm just looking for some divinity come down and, you know what, I don't think there is anything. I don't use syringe drugs, but you could use drugs to find your divine your divinity. Christian songs, they use all of these things... if you go around the mountain, and if you work hard with the hammer, and you meet a carpenter called Jesus Christ, and you travel miles and miles... all these stupid symbolisms that Christian folk groups will use."[2]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Divine Hammer" (single version)Kim Deal2:42
2."Hoverin'"Deal/Murphy2:53
3."I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)"Hank Williams2:32
4."Do You Love Me Now Jr?"Kim Deal, Kelley Deal[a 1]3:00

"Divine Hammer" is a different version than the LP version, and "Do You Love Me Now Jr?" is an alternate version of the LP version featuring J Mascis on backing vocals.

Music video[edit]

The music video for Divine Hammer was directed by Spike Jonze, Kim Gordon, and Richard Kern.[3]

Charts[edit]

Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 59
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[5] 28

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The "Divine Hammer" single liner notes list only Kim Deal as songwriter of "Do You Love Me Now Jr?" while the "Safari" single liner notes give both Kim and Kelley Deal songwriting credit for "Do You Love Me Now?"

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. October 23, 1993. p. 21.
  2. ^ "7 highlights from Kim Deal's amazing 1993 triple j interview". Double J. June 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Now Playing: "Divine Hammer"
  4. ^ "Breeders: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Breeders Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.