This Corrosion
"This Corrosion" is a song by English rock band the Sisters of Mercy, released as the lead single from their second studio album, Floodland (1987), in September 1987. The song peaked at number 6 in Ireland, number 7 in the UK, and number 17 in Germany.

Composition 

"This Corrosion" was written by Andrew Eldritch and produced by Jim Steinman, and is one of the band's most well-known songs. It uses a 40-piece choir, and the LP version of the song lasts for nearly 11 minutes (the single versions are substantially shorter).

Eldritch's lyrics concern his previous band members leaving the Sisters of Mercy to form the Mission. The latter's lead singer, Wayne Hussey, was once a guitarist for the Sisters of Mercy. The lyrics of "This Corrosion" are a parody of Hussey's style.

Legacy 

The track was featured in the 2013 science-fiction comedy film, The World's End, with star Simon Pegg playing a 40-something who had been a "goth"/alternative rock fan in the 1980s as a youth who still styled himself on Eldritch. The song is heard twice in the film and in the film's closing credits. The 7" version/single edit (4:27) appears on the soundtrack to the film.

Track listing 

All songs written by Andrew Eldritch.

 7" Merciful Release / MR39

 "This Corrosion" - 4:27
 "Torch" - 3:50

 12" Merciful Release / MR39T

 "This Corrosion" - 8:37
 "Torch" - 3:50
 "Colours" - 7:13

 CD Merciful Release / MR39CD

 "This Corrosion" - 11:21
 "Torch" - 3:55
 "Colours" - 4:16

While none of the mixes have names, the 7", 12" and CD versions of "This Corrosion" are all different. "Colours" is an edited version on the CD single.

Charts

Cover versions 

The song has been covered by several artists, including:
 In Extremo (1999)
 Gerhard Potuznik (2002)
 Lambchop on the bonus disc for their 2002 album Is a Woman
 Godhead's (2004)
 Unheilig (2004)
 Dkay.com (2004)
 Diane Birch (2010)