4st 7lb

Music and lyrics

Musically, the song features art rock riffs and the extensive addition of guitar reverb.{{cite web |access-date = 2 September 2013 |archive-date = 10 September 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130910002324/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5074-the-holy-bible/ |url-status = live | access-date = 2 September 2013 | access-date = 6 February 2015 | archive-date = 6 February 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150206143911/http://www.newstatesman.com/sarah-ditum/2015/01/razors-pain-you-what-dorothy-parker-teaches-us-about-our-addiction-female | url-status = live | url-access = registration

Lyrically, the song describes advanced-stage anorexia;{{cite web |access-date = 2 September 2013 |author-link = Stephen Thomas Erlewine |archive-date = 7 September 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150907015426/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-holy-bible-mw0000123614 |url-status = live | access-date = 2 September 2013 | archive-date = 2 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140302181256/http://www.nme.com/reviews/name/7538 | url-status = live | access-date = 2 September 2013 | archive-date = 3 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140303100158/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/feb/04/popandrock.shopping10 | url-status = live |access-date = 6 February 2015 |archive-date = 6 February 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150206154833/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/21/manic-street-preachers-roundhouse-observer-review |url-status = live |access-date = 2 September 2013 |archive-date = 28 December 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131228211829/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/manic-street-preachers/the-holy-bible.htm |url-status = live | archive-date = 12 March 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080312163227/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/manicstreetpreachers/albums/album/7237722/review/7239745/the_holy_bible_10th_anniversary_edition | access-date = 2 September 2013 |access-date = 2 September 2013 |archive-date = 5 April 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140405013951/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/manic-street-preachers/pages/holy_bible.shtml |url-status = live | access-date = 27 September 2016 | archive-date = 15 December 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191215184650/https://books.google.com/books?id=cgwKAQAAMAAJ | url-status = live

The song was named after 4 stones 7 pounds, or 63 lbs, the weight below which death is said to be medically unavoidable for an anorexia sufferer.

Reception

The song received acclaim from music critics. Nick Butler of Sputnikmusic praised the song, referring it as "quite simply, genius". He also commented that the song "contains one of the best lyrics even written by anyone, replete with the awesome chorus", while describing the song's musical structure in detail. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote: "the diary of anorexia '4st 7lb' is one of the most chilling songs in rock & roll". Tim O'Neil of PopMatters described the song as "the most specifically evocative track on the album".{{cite web |access-date = 2 September 2013 |archive-date = 1 February 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130201025206/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/manicstreetpreachers-holybible2005/ |url-status = live

Personnel

Manic Street Preachers

• James Dean Bradfield – vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, production
• Richey Edwards – lyrics, production
• Nicky Wire – bass guitar, production
• Sean Moore – drums, production Technical
• Alex Silva – engineering
• Mark Freegard – mixing

References

Sources

• {{cite book

References

1. "Manic Street Preachers - the Holy Bible - Golden Vault 38".