PJ Harvey — White Chalk
Album: White ChalkAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 722
Length: 3:02
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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White chalk hills are all I've known
White chalk hills will rot my bones
White chalk sticking to my shoes
White chalk playing as a child with you
White chalk sands against time
White chalk cutting down the sea at night
I walk the valleys by the surf
On a path cut 1500 years ago
And I know
These chalk hills will rot my bones
Dorset's cliffs meet at the sea
Where I walked our unborn child in me
White chalk poor scattered land
Scratched my palms
There's blood on my hands
White chalk hills will rot my bones
White chalk sticking to my shoes
White chalk playing as a child with you
White chalk sands against time
White chalk cutting down the sea at night
I walk the valleys by the surf
On a path cut 1500 years ago
And I know
These chalk hills will rot my bones
Dorset's cliffs meet at the sea
Where I walked our unborn child in me
White chalk poor scattered land
Scratched my palms
There's blood on my hands
Comments (50)add comment
springof63 wrote:
That was written in 2016, now, in 2024 - i've cleared my unintentional rating. Error corrected
Hi, me again - just re-tried, logged out of RP, closed Firefox, started Internet Explorer and tried through that, then the same using Google Chrome, in both cases on selecting '-None-' from the drop down list the effect is the same as described below & the selected box contents just reverts back to what it was before selecting '-None-'. Tried setting other levels, 10, 8, 6 which work fine then selecting '-None-' from there (just in case it was failing on changing from '-1-' to '-None-' only), but the effect is the same. Consequently I am now of the opinion that this IS a bug, and i can't do anything about that.
Sorry PJ, i don't think your song is sucko barfo but the 'system' won't let me fix it. (computer says 'no')
That was written in 2016, now, in 2024 - i've cleared my unintentional rating. Error corrected
Sounds vaguely like a track off Vinewood Radio on GTA 5.
Someone downthread mentioned playing this at 45 rpm... here you go: https://voca.ro/1ipdoRWbFNOt
I’ve seen PJ live 3 times - and they are some of the best I have seen.
A whole lotta creativity here!
Let’s get her and Missy Higgins from Australia together
aspicer wrote:
However... if you buy the vinyl version it has to be played at 45 rpm, not 33. Cough.
Amazingly haunting and beautiful album. Hard to appreciate with only one song. This is a sit down and listen straight through experience - go ahead give it a try - you will not be disappointed. A must buy if you are a PJH fan!
However... if you buy the vinyl version it has to be played at 45 rpm, not 33. Cough.
Love this song think I will make it a 10
eveliko wrote:
P.J's vocal approach on this album is intentionally subdued and the result is quite beautiful.
Babe, you sure you can't sing better than this?
P.J's vocal approach on this album is intentionally subdued and the result is quite beautiful.
Ahhhhh....Polly Jean. How I love your music so. Play more PJ Harvey, please!
Babe, you sure you can't sing better than this?
PJ Harvey is hit and miss for me, but I like this song.
aspicer wrote:
Agreed. I've seen her live 5 times over the years and she is brilliant. Always look forward to what she is going to do next.
Amazingly haunting and beautiful album. Hard to appreciate with only one song. This is a sit down and listen straight through experience - go ahead give it a try - you will not be disappointed. A must buy if you are a PJH fan!
Agreed. I've seen her live 5 times over the years and she is brilliant. Always look forward to what she is going to do next.
Hi, me again - just re-tried, logged out of RP, closed Firefox, started Internet Explorer and tried through that, then the same using Google Chrome, in both cases on selecting '-None-' from the drop down list the effect is the same as described below & the selected box contents just reverts back to what it was before selecting '-None-'. Tried setting other levels, 10, 8, 6 which work fine then selecting '-None-' from there (just in case it was failing on changing from '-1-' to '-None-' only), but the effect is the same. Consequently I am now of the opinion that this IS a bug, and i can't do anything about that.
Sorry PJ, i don't think your song is sucko barfo but the 'system' won't let me fix it. (computer says 'no')
Sorry PJ, i don't think your song is sucko barfo but the 'system' won't let me fix it. (computer says 'no')
rtrt wrote:
Either you're missing something or have a browser problem. Maybe working on a mobile device.
The pulldown list above where you rate the song has a none option for me. I can see it has the correct effect as the number of ratings drops by 1, as I set the rating to none.
Hi rtrt, thanks, but when i click '-None-' in the pulldown list '-None-' appears briefly in the selected box, but only until the pulldown list disappears, then the contents of the selected box reverts to what was in it before i clicked '-None-'. I'm running Win 7 on a PC with Firefox browser. Any other ideas please?
Either you're missing something or have a browser problem. Maybe working on a mobile device.
The pulldown list above where you rate the song has a none option for me. I can see it has the correct effect as the number of ratings drops by 1, as I set the rating to none.
Hi rtrt, thanks, but when i click '-None-' in the pulldown list '-None-' appears briefly in the selected box, but only until the pulldown list disappears, then the contents of the selected box reverts to what was in it before i clicked '-None-'. I'm running Win 7 on a PC with Firefox browser. Any other ideas please?
springof63 wrote:
Either you're missing something or have a browser problem. Maybe working on a mobile device.
The pulldown list above where you rate the song has a none option for me. I can see it has the correct effect as the number of ratings drops by 1, as I set the rating to none.
Sorry - i don't think this is 'sucko/barfo' - i was trying to rate the previous song (a 7 for 'Fatboy - The Wolf Is At The Door') but i stupidly clicked the wrong bit and my rating ended up on this song instead.
Problem is that now i can't move my rating of this song back to 'none', which makes no sense to me! so i've had to reduce the rating to the lowest it will let me.
I'm guessing i'm not the only one who can't remove a song rating that i've made by mistake. Is this a bug or am i missing something??
Problem is that now i can't move my rating of this song back to 'none', which makes no sense to me! so i've had to reduce the rating to the lowest it will let me.
I'm guessing i'm not the only one who can't remove a song rating that i've made by mistake. Is this a bug or am i missing something??
Either you're missing something or have a browser problem. Maybe working on a mobile device.
The pulldown list above where you rate the song has a none option for me. I can see it has the correct effect as the number of ratings drops by 1, as I set the rating to none.
wow.
Amazingly haunting and strange album. 6.
Amazingly haunting and strange album. 6.
Don't overlook this album if you're a PJ fan. It works well from beginning to end.
Sorry - i don't think this is 'sucko/barfo' - i was trying to rate the previous song (a 7 for 'Fatboy - The Wolf Is At The Door') but i stupidly clicked the wrong bit and my rating ended up on this song instead.
Problem is that now i can't move my rating of this song back to 'none', which makes no sense to me! so i've had to reduce the rating to the lowest it will let me.
I'm guessing i'm not the only one who can't remove a song rating that i've made by mistake. Is this a bug or am i missing something??
Problem is that now i can't move my rating of this song back to 'none', which makes no sense to me! so i've had to reduce the rating to the lowest it will let me.
I'm guessing i'm not the only one who can't remove a song rating that i've made by mistake. Is this a bug or am i missing something??
The poorly timed delay effect is annoying.
Amazingly haunting and beautiful album. Hard to appreciate with only one song. This is a sit down and listen straight through experience - go ahead give it a try - you will not be disappointed. A must buy if you are a PJH fan!
Radio_Dweeb wrote:
Snow in south Wales. I'm up in a high valley...The snow is deep here tonight. The wood fire is warm, RP is being very good to me.
Kind of ghostly, could like it in the right mood.
Snow in south Wales. I'm up in a high valley...The snow is deep here tonight. The wood fire is warm, RP is being very good to me.
trekhead wrote:
Hahah, yeah, I hear it too.
Perry Farrell?
7.
7.
Hahah, yeah, I hear it too.
May artists, most notably PJH, always find a forum.
Every song on this album is a gem.
terrapin52 wrote:
Ditto.
OMG! I love this song! Sweet!
Ditto.
OMG! I love this song! Sweet!
I'm like totally in love with PJ!
Her music is ok,doesn't really stand out for me, but ok.
Her music is ok,doesn't really stand out for me, but ok.love PJ - need to get this album
love PJ Harvey!!
and love RP!!
in a few minutes the Pixies, Bob Dylan, the Kings of Convenience, and now... PJ!
What a great selection!!
and love RP!!
in a few minutes the Pixies, Bob Dylan, the Kings of Convenience, and now... PJ!
What a great selection!!
kaybee wrote:
Yes!
What an incredible piece - lyrics and all.
Yes!
Absolutely amazing this woman. God save PJ!!!!!!! 
I wish her songs never end
I wish her songs never end
Kind of ghostly, could like it in the right mood.
Perry Farrell?
7.
7.
indeed uplifting
Uplifting.
What an incredible piece - lyrics and all.
nigelr wrote:
Best way to describe this song and album.
Brilliant.
Best way to describe this song and album.
Brilliant.
I guess every brilliant performance needs one of these to keep the bell curve balanced.
Sorry, PJ. I normally like your stuff but this one probably should have stayed in the can.
Sorry, PJ. I normally like your stuff but this one probably should have stayed in the can.
What the hell is this crap? 
Like it! This spooky minimalism works well for her.
I really like PJ, but this has to be my least favorite of her albums.
Brilliant song from a brilliant album.
Lyrics:
White chalk hills are all I've known
White chalk hills will rot my bones
White chalk sticking to my shoes
White chalk playing as a child with you
White chalk sat against time
White chalk cutting down the sea line
I know Mary's by the surf
On a path cut 1500 years ago
And I know these chalk hills will rot my bones
Dorset's cliffs meet at the sea
Where I walked
(Our unborn child in me)
White chalk
(Poor scattered land)
Scratch my palms
There's blood on my hands
—-
I love the Whilte Chalk album, love how she pushes herself out of the comfort zone.
White chalk hills are all I've known
White chalk hills will rot my bones
White chalk sticking to my shoes
White chalk playing as a child with you
White chalk sat against time
White chalk cutting down the sea line
I know Mary's by the surf
On a path cut 1500 years ago
And I know these chalk hills will rot my bones
Dorset's cliffs meet at the sea
Where I walked
(Our unborn child in me)
White chalk
(Poor scattered land)
Scratch my palms
There's blood on my hands
—-
I love the Whilte Chalk album, love how she pushes herself out of the comfort zone.
As time has gone by the ever-changing PJ Harvey has left me somewhat in the dust. I was with her in lockstep up until her Stories album but since then I haven't been able to absorb anything she's put out. Can anyone bring me up to speed? Is this newer stuff just as great as I would expect from her? I understand it's very different and therefore challenging to the listener, but I can handle that. I guess I'm wanting to know if it's worth the effort.
I really really almost everything PJ has done, but this one...not so much.
Another eclectic addition to PJ's catalog. Her continued evolution as an artist is fascinating listening.
I've always loved this artist, but this song is dreadful. (Sorry, Bill.) 
Woo-hoo! I'm first!
Love PJ! First time hearing this song. I find it quite dark and eerie. I'll have to give it a listen when I get home (my work environment is not the best for a song like this!).
Love PJ! First time hearing this song. I find it quite dark and eerie. I'll have to give it a listen when I get home (my work environment is not the best for a song like this!).
i know of no radio station where this would come on
amazing