La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh) (4:05)

“La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)” is the second single to be released from the album Gold Against the Soul by the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 26 July 1993.

A rough translation of the song’s title is the sadness will last. It was taken from a book about Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh was found injured in bed on July 27, 1890 after he had attempted suicide. His brother Theo tried to persuade him that everything would be all right and Vincent answered “La tristesse durera toujours” (The sadness will always last). He died the following day. The song tells of how society in general treats war veterans with little concern on a day to day basis and how they’re lauded once a year for one day.

The b-side, “Patrick Bateman”, is a ‘tribute’ to the American Psycho character. Six months before the release of the Gold Against The Soul, Nicky Wire had even said that the song would be the first single from the album. “La Tristesse Durera” reached number twenty-two in UK charts on July 31 1993.

It also made an appearance as track number four on Forever Delayed (October 28, 2002), the Manics’ greatest hits album.

This song is one of two that contain guitar work from Richey Edwards the other being “No Surface All Feeling” on Everything Must Go.

Track listing

CD

1. “La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh) (7” Version)”
2. “Patrick Bateman”
3. “What’s My Name (live The Clash cover At Cambridge Junction, 20 October 1992)”