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The Leading Man

by D.C. Maxwell

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about

D. C. Maxwell’s long awaited first single is a darkly off-kilter tale of murder set amidst the hustle and bustle of the theatre.

Maxwell has long been the subject of hype and mystery since appearing on the New Zealand music scene last year. His live shows (with a rotating line up of a 4 to 12-piece band) have been the stuff of legend.

His first single is finally here. ‘The Leading Man’ tells the story of an actor committing a real-life murder in the middle of a play. The song’s lush orchestration is reminiscent of the 1970s baroque pop of Lee Hazlewood, Scott Walker, or great Glen Campbell.

"A remarkably assured debut, coolly stylish and lightly alluring. Maxwell confidently strides into the spotlight on his leading single," - Rolling Stone.

lyrics

The Leading Man

By the time those curtains raise I’ll be waiting in the wings
I’ve only got one line to say I’m gonna give it everything
But I’m not the man people came to see
That man is standing centre stage, he’s been drinking since three

Chorus:
Oh the leading man
Is so drunk that he can’t stand
He’s being held up by a stagehand
Whispering the lines in his ear

Oh that man’s a star
And by god he’s risen far
But ain’t it time he burnt out
And gave someone else a chance

The audience is starry eyed but they are laughing in the wrong places
Leading man is fucking all the lines and you can tell by the way his face is
Something must be done to turn around this trainwreck
People came to see blood on the stage and they will see it by the third act

Chorus:

Bridge:
They hand me a prop knife with a blade all covered in duct tape
I take off the tape with the knife in my hand I step on the stage
And I say my one line, I say, ‘I’m going to kill you’
And I thrust the knife into the chest into the beating heart

Pre-Chorus:
Of the leading man
He’s collapsed in the spotlight
He’s bleeding out stage right
And there is nothing in his eyes

The audience applauds
They’ve never seen a show like this before
As I take my bow over the leading man
The curtains fall

credits

released May 19, 2023
D. C. Maxwell - Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Peter Ruddell - Organ, piano, backing vocals, electric guitar, tenor saxophone
Hariet Ellis - Bass, backing vocals
David Harris - Drums
Charmian Keay - First violin
Dave Khan - Second violin
Kathleen Tomacruz - Cello
Eamon Edmundsen-Wells - Double bass
Elizabeth Stokes - Trumpet
Jong-Yun J.Y Lee - Baritone saxophone

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D.C. Maxwell Auckland, New Zealand

Last living song and dance man.

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