Peter Murphy and Boy George Collaborate for First Time on Enchanting Ballad of Transformation, “Let the Flowers Grow”

While working on a solo album with Martin “Youth” Glover, Peter Murphy became absorbed by an unfinished demo the producer had been working on with Boy George. “Whilst listening to a playback of a song during a lull, I heard a piece of music that was coming from his [Youth’s] cell phone,” recalled Murphy in a statement. “It caught my ear for its melodic beauty as well as a Roy Orbison-like voice that sang the song.”

Captivated by the piece of music, Murphy wanted to work on the song and help complete it with Youth (Killing Joke, The Firemen with Paul McCartney). “In a matter of 20 minutes,” added Murphy, “we had ‘Flowers’ finished.”

I gave my soul / To the things that you admired / I caught it / As it came through sings Murphy in the opening verse of “Let the Flowers Grow.” Marked by an ominous pulse at its start, everything expands into a sweeping ode of transformation and rebirth, as both vocals melt into one another in the chorus—I’ve been changing / And mamma don’t know / Let her tears fall / And make the flowers grow.

Initially written by George, “Let the Flowers Grow” was a song about coming out as gay before it flourished into something more universal, spanning religion, race, and more. “With everything going on in the world about identity, [‘Let The Flowers Grow’] feels very powerful,” said George, who had previously worked with Youth on Culture Club‘s unreleased 2014 album Tribes.

“When I heard the mix, I was satiated in every way,” added George of the song, which also features Youth on guitars. “I have always loved Pete’s voice and his writing on this adds a beautiful darkness. The production feels very epic, like Scott Walker. It makes me dizzy and proud.”

[RELATED: 4 Songs You Didn’t Know Boy George Wrote for Other Artists]

George and Murphy first met decades earlier when Murphy was with Bauhaus and supporting Magazine, and George came backstage to meet Howard Devoto. “He struck me as a super-original, self-styled 17th-century fop,” recalled Murphy of their first meeting. “The second time I met him was when we walked into the BBC to do ‘Ziggy Stardust’ on ‘Top of the Pops’ where Culture Club were also making their debut on the show. George greeted me very warmly and I discovered he was a Bauhaus fan.”

Of their finished duet, George said, “It makes me dizzy and proud.” Murphy added, “Boy George loved it and I’m so glad that he did.”

Murphy, who recently reunited with Bauhaus in 2019 and played a series of shows with the band in 2022, released his tenth solo album Lion, also produced by Youth, in 2014. George released This Is What I Do in 2013 and recently toured with Culture on the Letting it Go Tour in 2023 with special guest Howard Jones.

In early 2024, George released the single “Electric Energy,” featuring Nile Rodgers and Ariana DeBose for the Argylle soundtrack. Culture Club is set to tour the UK and Ireland in December before moving into a tour of New Zealand and Australia in 2025.

Photo: Peter Murphy (l) by Jolene Siana; Boy George by Dean Stockings