Poison Arrow

For poisons used on arrows or darts for hunting, see Arrow poison. For the bands, see Poison Arrows and The Poison Arrows.

"Poison Arrow" is a song by the English pop band ABC, released as the second single from their debut studio album, The Lexicon of Love (1982). It reached #6 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it topped off at #24 in Cash Box and #25 in Billboard.

"Poison Arrow"
Single by ABC
from the album The Lexicon of Love
B-side	"Theme from Mantrap" (UK) "Tears Are Not Enough" (US)
Released	15 February 1982 / 11 January 1983 (US)
Recorded	1981
Genre	Disco[1] dance-pop[2] new pop[3] orchestral pop[4] lounge[5]
Length	3:24
Label	Neutron Mercury Vertigo
Songwriter(s)	Martin Fry Mark White Stephen Singleton David Palmer Mark Lickley
Producer(s)	Trevor Horn
ABC singles chronology
"Tears Are Not Enough" (1981) "Poison Arrow" (1982) "The Look of Love" (1982)
Music video
"Poison Arrow" on YouTube

The single was released in the United Kingdom on 15 February 1982^[6] on 7" and 12", with the same mix appearing on both formats; however a subsequent U.S. 12" remix (also known as the "Jazz Remix") appears on several ABC compilations, and as a bonus track on reissues of The Lexicon of Love.

An alternate, lounge music styled version of this song, entitled "Theme from Mantrap", was released as the B-side of "Poison Arrow" in the United Kingdom, and "The Look of Love" in the United States. The 12" single in the United Kingdom additionally included an instrumental version of "Theme from Mantrap" under the title "Mantrap (The Lounge Sequence)". The band's first hit in the United Kingdom "Tears Are Not Enough" was the B-side of "Poison Arrow" in the United States.

Music video

In the music video, ABC's lead vocalist Martin Fry plays three parts: a haughty upper-class opera patron; a messenger boy at the opera; and a bandleader at a 1960s-style swinging nightspot. In all three roles, he unsuccessfully attempts to woo the leading lady, played by Lisa Vanderpump, later of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules.

Personnel

Credits sourced from Sound on Sound and the original album liner notes.^[7]

ABC

• Martin Fry - lead and backing vocals
• Mark White - electric guitars, piano, synthesizers
• Stephen Singleton - saxophone
• Mark Lickley - bass guitar
• David Palmer - drums, congas

Additional musicians

• Trevor Horn - Minimoog bass, Roland TR-808 programming, Roland MC-4 Microcomposer sequencer
• J.J. Jeczalik - Fairlight CMI programming
• John Thirkell - trumpet, flugelhorn
• Karen Clayton - spoken voice

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1982–1983) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 19 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[13] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[14] 25 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[15] 39

Year-end charts Chart (1982) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[16] 31

In popular culture

• The song was featured in an early 1983 episode of the US daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless.
• "Poison Arrow" was used in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the fictional radio station Wave 103.
• In February 1998, the song was featured in an episode of Top Gear, in which scenes of the Vauxhall Astra is being driven, with a voice over by presenter Jeremy Clarkson.^[17]
• The song was featured as the title credits song for the BBC series White Gold in the episode "The Past Does Not Equal the Future".
• The song was featured in the Nine Network program Footy Classified, where it is used to introduce the segment "Caro's Arrow". The segment involves Caroline Wilson delivering a monologue where she targets high-profile issues and personalities in the Australian Football League. This segment ended after 2024 with Wilson's departure.