The Honeythief

"The Honeythief" is a 1986 song performed by the Scottish band Hipsway.[2]

"The Honeythief"
Single by Hipsway
from the album Hipsway
B-side"Wild Sorrow"
Released1986
GenreNew wave[1]
Length3:10
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gary Langan
Hipsway singles chronology
"Ask the Lord"
(1985)		 "The Honeythief"
(1986)		 "Long White Car"
(1986)

Background

The song's title was inspired by a 16th-century painting, "Venus and Cupid, the Honey Thief", found in the Burrell Collection art museum in Glasgow.[3]

The lyrics are based on Vladimir Nabokov's book Lolita.[4] In 1987, singer Grahame Skinner said, "It's just written from the point of view of a lecherous man who has an attraction for an innocent young girl — 'She's the honey and I'm the thief'."[4]

Chart performance

It was included on their 1986 self-titled debut album and released as a single, which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart,[5] and number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] Its remix reached number 9 on the US Dance Club Play Singles chart.[6]

"The Honeythief" was the band's only top 40 hit in the US.[7] It has since appeared on over a dozen '80s music compilations.[8]

Chart (1986–1987) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[9] 91
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 49
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 33
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 17
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 19
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[6] 9
US Cash Box[14] 28

References
  1. Kellman, Andy. "A Kick Up the Eighties, Vol. 9: Steppin' Out – Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  2. Cooper, William. "Hipsway – Hipsway". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  3. Ross, Peter (11 November 2016). "Time to hop back on board Hipsway's Candybar Express?". The Herald. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  4. Heath, Chris (May 1987). "Gimme Some Skin". Star Hits. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  6. "Hipsway – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 287. ISBN 0-8230-7499-4.
  8. "The Honeythief – Appearances". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 139. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7822." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Honeythief". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Hipsway" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  13. "Hipsway – The Honeythief". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  14. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending APRIL 11, 1987". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
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