By being one of the first bands to blend anarcho-punk and heavy metal music, Amebix are often cited as one of the key bands that helped to create the crust punk style, and are considered as a proto-thrash metal band. Such notable bands as Sepultura, Neurosis, and Deviated Instinct have paid homage.
The Church Is for Sinners
Amebix Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because to qualify for piety they had to pass a test
How much "roughly" is your god worth to you?
And if he said "lay down your life for me" could you give that too?
And will they never understand
That the future is in man
While thinking of new ways by which to make religion pay
Money from mass misery? There's nothing wrong with that
The church holds out a bloodstained hand to pass around the hat
"By the pricking in my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes"
In Amebix's song The Church Is for Sinners, the lyrics critique the hypocrisy of organized religion, particularly the Church. The opening lines indicate that the Church's emptiness of congregations is due to the requirement of passing a piety test. The very institution that is meant to provide spiritual salvation and guidance instead creates a barrier for those who wish to access it. The lyrics then pose a question of how much worth individuals assign to their God and whether they would be willing to sacrifice their lives for Him. The song then moves to criticize the Church's indifference to the suffering of others, particularly underprivileged children. The Church allegedly chooses to make money off their misery rather than sincerely help. In the final lines, the singer alludes to a sense of foreboding, suggesting that something wicked is coming, likely regarding the Church's use of power.
Line by Line Meaning
The pulpits standing empty, the congregations left
The religious leaders are no longer able to attract people to their church.
Because to qualify for piety they had to pass a test
Religion has become something that only the elite can access and participate in.
How much 'roughly' is your god worth to you?
Religion has become a business where you have to pay to be pious.
And if he said 'lay down your life for me' could you give that too?
Would you sacrifice your life for the church and its beliefs?
And will they never understand
That the future is in man
The church leaders do not understand that humanity and its growth are the future.
The priests, when told of starving kids, look on in mock dismay
The church leaders pretend to care about others' suffering but remain indifferent.
While thinking of new ways by which to make religion pay
Despite their pretentious acts of sadness, the church only thinks of money and how to make even more through their religious practices.
Money from mass misery? There's nothing wrong with that
The church sees nothing wrong with making a profit off of the suffering of others.
The church holds out a bloodstained hand to pass around the hat
The church asks for money with their hand stained by the blood of the poor.
'By the pricking in my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes'
A sense of impending doom looms over the church and its practices.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7Gunr
This song...this band...is awesomely dark. This song has a stronghold on crust punk.
michael patterson
absolutely awesome, one of my favourite alltime punk trax! thanx babyduck!
guiltyspark66
The priests, when told of starving kids, look on in mock dismay While thinking of new ways by which to make religion pay Money from mass misery? There's nothing wrong with that The church holds out a bloodstained hand to pass around the hat
Funky freSh
By the prickling of thumbs, something wicked this way comes.
babyduck1
No worries mate. This has to be my favourite Amebix song.
guigne01
@KraySilence Yes! It's always been my favorite Amebix song, since I first heard them 14 years ago...
babyduck1
What a coincidence. I have this song playing right now. Weird.
madmaxoftherails
yes! i was waiting for someone to post this! and i noticed someone finally posted no gods, no masters as well - awesome!
Riley Byrnes
Amebix destroys.
Thom C
Back when they thought they were Killing Joke. Great song.