I had my doubts about including this, the second track on the PJ Harvey trio’s Rid of Me LP. My notes suggest that it’s the power of Missed’s closing minute which made it into a possible inclusion. It also helps that Harvey sounds recognisably like herself, rather than putting on the irritating faux-American drawl which served only to alienate me from some of her music in this period.
My problem with Missed when I first heard it was that the verses sounded rambly and unfocused. Harvey appears to be stating her love for someone in typically florid style: I put stars at your head/Put Mars at your feet. The mention of Mary felt creatively lazy, but I now see that the laziness was mine, and that Harvey has actually written something brilliantly poetic and evocative here. Once I looked at the lyrics it became clear to me that Missed is set during the period leading up to the resurrection of Jesus. The hesitant, wan feel of the opening minute reflects a mixture of feelings:
1) Unprocessed grief.
2) Anguish over the empty tomb and missing body (My son, where’s he been?/Don’t deny it and don’t you hide him.)
3) Sceptical astonishment at the prospect of the body being resurrected (Show yourself to me and I’d believe/I’d moan and I’d weep. Fall silent at your speak/I’d burst it, full to the brim.)
Harvey wisely decides that trying to write about the meeting between Mary and the resurrected Jesus might be a little too difficult to pull off, but the doubts and weariness of searching for the missing Saviour which are reflected in the final verse from 3:00 (No words, no sign etc) are underpinned by a whining guitar note which gives way to the final Ha! at 3:32, and as the band crash it in and full volume while Polly Jean repeatedly sings, Oh, I’ve missed him, it all comes together to sound like nothing less than Jesus descending to Earth in front of our eyes (or ears). A stunning piece of music and one of the highlights of the Rid of Me tracks which Peel had played to this point.
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