Pity and Fear [Cruel Intentions version]
Recorded
Release history
Alternate version of
Lyrics
I read your diary
I wasn’t too impressed by what I found there
A healthy ego never hurt anyone
But that’s kinda ridiculous
Conquests with illustrations, social critique
But not a lot of heart, manNow you’re effortlessly brilliant
Beautiful and arrogant
Your tastes extravagant
Your manner elegant
But you only fuck for pleasure
Love is cruel and so are youDid you ever know you’re my tragic hero?
You be the pity, I’ll be the fear
And every last Valmont will know
What a truly great man you areIn a dressing gown she said to me, quote:
“Forsake your reputation
Deflower me, defile me!
Take my virginity
Treat me callously
I know you love me.”
I lost my nerve, I lost her number
I fell into a restless unattractive slumber
My sister’s laughing at me
She thinks I’m soft, I think she’s right!
I think I’ve fallen in love with a saint
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!You’re acting like you think I’m quite taken with you
Nothing could be further from what is true
And if I repeat that line a hundred times
Maybe I’ll believe it too
A-ha ha ha ha haDid you ever know you’re my tragic hero?
You be the pity, I’ll be the fear
And every last descendant will know
What a truly great man you truly areSome wear their politics like an aura,
Some take it on like a mantle
Some can’t hold a candle
Some touch, some dabble
But not you!T-t-tragic hero
You’re my tragic hero
T-t-tragic hero
He’s my tragic hero
Quotes
SCN: “P&F” was very nearly the theme song of the movie Cruel Intentions (originally Cruel Inventions, but the studio was afraid kids would think it was about science), but I was reluctant to change the words and botched the deal; a movie version of the song, contrived after the fact half to please the filmmaker and half to satirize him, exists; it’s pretty funny.10A
SCN: The only way to fully understand (you’ll note I didn’t say appreciate, because that, my friends, may simply be too tall an order) this version of this song is to read the 3500-word essay in the document immediately below these lines. Then listen to the song. Or don’t.25B
Notes
- Originally released in 2013 on a USB drive of bonus tracks distributed with some pre-orders of Sean Nelson’s solo album, Make Good Choices.
- This version of the song is discussed in Sean’s essay “Cruel Inversions”.
- Metadata in the KJV Bonus Material release revealed an alternate tracklisting for Dead Sea Scrolls.