The Day The Baron Died – Peter Doherty
The Day the Baron Died is a quiet, simple record. It’s a reimagining of The Libertines album track Baron’s Claw and is very reminiscent of Pete’s work with Fredrick Lo on The Fantasy Life of Poetry and Crime. It’s very understated, one of those tracks you could imagine him sitting playing at a bar with just his guitar and lyrics delivered almost at a whisper at times.
I always find this is a stark contrast to the chaos of many of The Libertines records and I wonder if it’s a deliberate delineation or if, when alone, Doherty’s work naturally takes on a more introspective, indie-folk tone without the energy of many others around him. Granted, the version of this song on All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade is a fairly mellow Libs track but it still has a lot more going on and a pace to it, whereas this solo version seems to happily meander along with less urgency.
Lyrically it has all the visual storytelling elements Pete does so beautifully, it’s almost a fairy tale. Taken on the face of it The Day the Baron Died is a poetic story of the baron, a collection of memories, however below the surface it also spoke to me of the regret of getting old.
I enjoyed it a lot. It’s poetic, and feels peaceful without being sad. Pete’s latest solo work has felt more confident and more consistent, and I’m keen to see how this is further explored on the upcoming album Felt Better Alive (presave here).
Listen to The Day the Baron Died here.
About Pete Doherty
Peter Doherty is a British musician, songwriter, and poet best known as the frontman of The Libertines and Babyshambles. Renowned for his raw talent and lyrical brilliance, he has left a lasting mark on the UK indie rock scene. Doherty’s work blends poetic introspection with punk energy, capturing the spirit of a generation. Beyond music, he is a passionate artist and writer, continuously evolving in his creative journey. Pete has released eleven albums throughout his career both with his bands The Libertines and Babyshambles and solo.