Length 3:38 | ||
B-side "Every Valley Is Not A Lake" Released January 29, 2007 (2007-01-29)July 9, 2007 (2007-07-09) (re-release) Format Digital download, CD, 7" Recorded 2006 at Tackyland in Long Beach, California | ||
"Hang Me Up to Dry" is a song by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. Written and co-produced by all four band members and Matt Wignall, it originally came from their third EP Up in Rags (2006) and is the second track off their debut album Robbers & Cowards (2006). Lyrically, the song tells a story of a 'one-sided relationship' and uses the action of hanging wet clothes on a clothesline as a metaphor for the relationship.
Contents
- Composition
- Music video
- Live performances
- Accolades
- Use in popular culture
- Formats and track listing
- References
It was released as a single on January 29, 2007 by Downtown and V2 Records, charting at number 57 in the UK and number 26 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The song was re-released (using the same catalogue number and track listing) on July 9, 2007 but failed to break back into the charts. An accompanying music video for the song was directed by The Malloys and plays out like a trailer for an avant-garde film.
Composition
According to the digital sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song is set in 4/4 time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of E minor with lead singer Nathan Willett's vocal range spanning from the low-note of E3 to the high-note of B4.
Music video
Directed by The Malloys, the video plays like an avant-garde film trailer where it's shot in black and white and shows made up film review quotes and festival awards. The video was uploaded on their record label's YouTube page on January 23, 2007.
Live performances
Cold War Kids made their U.S. television debut performing "Hang Me Up To Dry" on the Late Show with David Letterman on December 21, 2006. They performed the song again on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on April 10, 2007. They made their U.K. television debut performing "Hang Me Up to Dry" and "Tell Me in the Morning" on Later... with Jools Holland on May 18, 2007.
Accolades
The song ranked at number 46 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2006 and was voted number 8 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2007, alongside "Hospital Beds" which was voted number 37.