Unger-Hamilton studied English Literature; the other three Fine Art. In their second year of studies, Newman showed Sainsbury a handful of his own songs inspired by his guitar-playing dad and hallucinogens, and the pair began recording in their dorm rooms with Sainsbury acting as producer on Garageband.
First as Daljit Dhaliwal and then as Films, they spent the next two years playing around town. Their eponymous first 4-track demo ∆, was recorded with producer Charlie Andrew in London and included early versions of "Breezeblocks", "Hand-Made", "Matilda" and "Tessellate".
Their first 2012 release for Infectious was the triangle shaped 7" "Matilda" / "Fitzpleasure", followed by "Breezeblocks" as an advance of their first album An Awesome Wave, released on 25 May 2012. That same year, they won the prestigious Barclaycard Mercury Prize for An Awesome Wave.
On January 2014, Sainsbury announced that he had left the band. "Hunger of the Pine" was released in June, with an accompanying video. Their second record, This is All Yours was released in September 2014.
On 6 March 2017 alt-J released "3WW", which features lead singer Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice, as a digital single and announced dates for the Relaxer Tour in support of the album. Three weeks later, on 29 March, they released "In Cold Blood", the second single from Relaxer.On 24 May 2017 alt-J released "Adeline", the third single from Relaxer. The album was released shortly afterwards, on 2 June 2017.
On September 28, 2018 an alternative version of Relaxer was released. The album, titled REDUXER, is a "rap heavy do-over" of the previous year's record
http://altjband.com
The Gospel of John Hurt
alt-J Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
L-shaped
Tetris
Tile seeking
Somewhere
Oh somewhere
To fit in
Alien
(Come on) Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Ak
Twenty
4-7
Civilian
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Jeremiah
Looking down
And you know where you're looking on down
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Jeremiah
Looking down but you know where you're looking
But you go
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
And oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
And oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
And oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
The lyrics of alt-J's "The Gospel of John Hurt" may initially come across as strange and abstract, but upon closer inspection, a deeper meaning can be discerned. The first verse speaks to the feeling of not fitting in, searching for somewhere to belong - represented by the Tetris-like tile seeking. The use of "L-shaped" and "no space" emphasizes the difficulty of finding one's place in society or in one's personal life. The reference to being "alien" adds to this feeling of otherness and not quite belonging.
The repeated chorus of "coming out of the woodwork, chest bursts like John Hurt, coming out of the woods" is a reference to the scene in the movie Alien where John Hurt's character experiences a gruesome chest-bursting incident. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling like one's true self is bursting out of one's chest, ready to be shown to the world. The seemingly random letters and numbers in the second verse (Ak, twenty, 4-7, civilian) may be a representation of the confusion and chaos that can accompany this sort of self-realization and expression.
Finally, the song ends with a reference to the biblical figure Jeremiah, who is known for his prophetic vision and warning of the destruction of Jerusalem. The lyrics "looking down" and "headed on the strings for the E-X-T-I-N-C-T" suggest a hopeless, apocalyptic future. However, the use of the word "gospel" in the song's title implies a message of hope or salvation.
Overall, "The Gospel of John Hurt" conveys the struggle of finding one's place and identity in the world, and the potential for individual expression and salvation in the face of a bleak future.
Line by Line Meaning
No space
Feeling of not fitting in or belonging anywhere
L-shaped
Feeling of being different or peculiar
Tetris
Metaphor for the constant search of a perfect fit
Tile seeking
The search for a place to belong
Somewhere
Hopeful yet uncertain search for a place to fit in
Oh somewhere
Emphasis on the importance and desperation of finding a place to belong
To fit in
Desire to find a place in a community or society
Alien
Feeling of being an outsider to the norm or majority
(Come on) Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Metaphor for emerging from isolation and finding a place to belong
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Metaphor for intense feelings of isolation or anxiety
Coming out of the woods
Leaving isolation and finding a place to belong
Ak
Acronym for 'all kinds', representing diversity
Twenty
Reference to the twenty dollar bill, possibly symbolizing the worth or value of an individual
4-7
Possibly representing the age range of individuals who feel the need to belong
Civilian
Feeling of being an ordinary person or lacking special qualities
Jeremiah
Possibly referencing the Old Testament prophet, symbolizing guidance or direction
Looking down
Experiencing despair or defeat
And you know where you're looking on down
Feeling aware of one's struggles and search for belonging
Do you know where you go
Uncertainty and questioning of the future and where it will lead
You're headed on the strings
Possibly referencing the puppet strings of a marionette, symbolizing lack of control
For the E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Spelling out 'extinct', symbolizing the danger of not finding a place to belong
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: AUGUSTUS UNGER HAMILTON, JOE NEWMAN, THOMAS GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@2bright2see
No space
L-shaped
Tetris
Tile seeking
Somewhere
Oh somewhere
To fit in
Alien
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
AK
Twenty
4, 7
Civilian
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Jeremiah
Looking down
and you know where you're looking on
down
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the
E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Jeremiah
Looking down but you know where you're looking
but you go
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the
E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods (x6)
@AllisonGhost
"The Gospel Of John Hurt"
No space
L-shaped
Tetris
Tile seeking
Somewhere
Oh somewhere
To fit in
Alien
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
AK
Twenty
47
Civilian
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Jeremiah
Looking down
and you know where you're looking on
down
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the
E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Jeremiah
Looking down but you know where you're looking
but you go
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the
E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
@anthonylarsen887
Lyrics:
No Space
L-shaped
Tetris
Tile seeking
Somewhere
Oh somewhere
To fit in
Alien
AK
Twenty
47
Civillain
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the wood
Jeremiah
Looking down and you know where you're looking on down
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the
E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Jeremiah
Looking down but you know where you're looking but you go
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the
E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest burst like John Hurt
Coming out of the wood
@InventorRJ
Jeremiah!
Looking down
And you know where you're looking on down
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Jeremiah!
Looking down but you know where you're looking
But you go
Do you know where you go
You're headed on the strings
For the E-X-T-I-N-C-T
@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy
I am 66 years old and I cannot stop listening to this group's work. Hypnotic is the only real word I can come up with to describe it. The rest is just a feeling that these guys "get it".
@jessstumbaugh8767
Same ❤️ beat.
@andrewsams9748
I’ve been listing to them since freshman year of high school
@LetSuspiriorum
@@jessstumbaugh8767 🖤🎧
@artoo45
Geezers for alt-J unite!
@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy
@@artoo45 LOL....hell yes...
@Gattobuono
Anyone noticed how alt-J videos have some of the most polite and educated comments on youtube?
It's actually a pleasure to read them!
@im26c4u5
Yup :)
@TheMarbles1
+Gatto Buono apart from mine { in Nara }
@jazzalterio692
Have you ever read Gorillaz videos comments? XD no insults, it's amazing