Creepy Crawlies: Praying Mantis

Don Dixon: Praying Mantis

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Don Dixon is a producer, best known for his work with REM, The Smithereens, and Guadalcanal Diary. His wife is Marti Jones, whose albums he produces to this day. None of this should be allowed to overshadow Dixon’s talent as a bass player and songwriter. Praying Mantis comes from Dixon’s debut in his own name, in 1985; the song was all over college radio that year.

The praying mantis is one of the most beautiful insects. But the female has the disturbing habit of devouring her mate. A Nature show on this puts the narrator of the song in mind of the woman he is involved with at the time...