Bauhaus first broke up in 1983. Peter Murphy began a solo career while the other members continued as Tones on Tail and later as Love and Rockets. Both enjoyed greater commercial success in the United States than Bauhaus had, but disappeared from the charts in their homeland. The band reunited for a 1998 tour and on a more permanent basis in 2005. The group announced plans to disband again following the release of their final album Go Away White in 2008.
The release of Go Away White signaled the end of the band and there was no supporting tour. Drummer Kevin Haskins said in an interview that they “were getting along really well, but there was an incident that occurred.” As a result, “some of us just felt that we didn’t want to carry on as a working unit.” In an interview with SuicideGirls, bassist David J said about the breakup: “You have a test tube, and you pour in one chemical, and you pour in another chemical, and something happens. It starts to bubble. Pour in another chemical, and it starts to bubble a bit more. You pour in a fourth chemical, and it bubbles really violently, and then explodes. That’s my answer.” Peter Murphy claimed in another interview that he “he was most satisfied with the bonding on an emotional level. It was good to be working together and to put the past behind us and it was very positive. The result was coming out really fast, so it was exciting and it was very enjoyable,” but in the end “That rocky character worked and I think it was a bit right to finish it, really.”
Murphy also stated in his MySpace blog that “there’s a lot more to it than this ‘incident’ that I’ve heard bandied about. In any group’s business there are constant incidents, so what? Committing to being in a band takes tolerance, love, and a massive commitment. I’ve walked on that stage at times when I could emotionally barely manage to and give it all just the same. If I’d let some disagreement or bad word distract me from that goal, then I’d need to question my integrity. Anton Corbijn once related to me how Bono of U2 talked about one of the reasons that U2 had survived was that they’re unlike many English bands; there was a kinship and priority given to each other as family. I personally sympathize with that. ‘There is no love where there is no Love.’”
A Bauhaus reunion was aborted in 2022 after Peter Murphy forced the band to cancel the tour as he entered rehab.
(2) Bauhaus was also the name of an Italian jazz rock band. They made recordings in 1974 but they weren’t released until almost thirty years later.
A God in an Alcove
Bauhaus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once proud idol remembered in stone aloud
Then on coins his face was mirrored
Take a look it soon hath slithered
To a fractured marble slab, renunciation clad
His nourishment extract from his subjects, subjects
That mass production profile
Once he spread the rain
So they dreamt in vain
Once he spread the wheat
Had made some garlands for his feet
Until the lily poet of our times
Horizoned on the line
Love became the in theme then
Opposing fakers thrice by ten
Don't perceive his empty plea
That redundant effigy
He's a God in an alcove
Take in view his empty stool
What's left is satin cool
Clawing adornment for his crimes
They saw they had to draw the line
So they sent him far away
So they sent him far away
To a little alcove
To a little alcove
All alone
He's a God, a God
Now I am silly
Now I am silly
Silly, silly, silly, silly
Silly
The lyrics to Bauhaus's song "God in an Alcove" tell the story of the downfall of a once proud idol or deity. The first few lines reference the idol being remembered and depicted on coins, but eventually being reduced to a "fractured marble slab" and relying on his subjects for nourishment. The chorus repeats the phrase "He's a God in an alcove," emphasizing the idol's isolation and obscurity.
The second verse continues the story, describing how the idol once had control over natural elements like rain and wheat. However, the emergence of a new generation of poets and themes of love began to overshadow the idol's power. The verse ends with a caution against falling for the idol's "redundant effigy."
The final verse describes the physical setting of the idol, a lone alcove with an empty stool. The lines "What's left is satin cool, clawing adornment for his crimes" imply that the idol is no longer deserving of the lavish worship and offerings he once received. The chorus repeats once more before ending with the repetition of "silly," perhaps suggesting that the idea of worshiping a deity who is no longer relevant is foolish.
Overall, "God in an Alcove" can be interpreted as a commentary on the fleeting nature of power and fame, and how even the strongest idols can fall, become forgotten, or be replaced.
Line by Line Meaning
Go and look for the dejected
Search for the forgotten, abandoned idol who was once highly-regarded
Once proud idol remembered in stone aloud
An idol once celebrated and seen in statues now forgotten and neglected
Then on coins his face was mirrored
His image was once so popular that it was minted on coins
Take a look it soon hath slithered
However, his popularity faded quickly and dramatically
To a fractured marble slab, renunciation clad
His statue is now broken and rejected
His nourishment extract from his subjects, subjects
He sustained himself by exploiting and draining his worshippers
That mass production profile
He was only popular because he was easily reproduced and marketed
He's a God in an alcove
Despite his fall from grace, he is still worshipped but only by a few in a hidden corner
Once he spread the rain
He had immense power and influence
So they dreamt in vain
People once had high hopes and aspirations inspired by him
Once he spread the wheat
He provided abundance and prosperity
Had made some garlands for his feet
He was once celebrated and worshipped with adornments
Until the lily poet of our times
A new artist emerged who overshadowed him
Horizoned on the line
This new artist had fresh and innovative ideas that appealed to the masses
Love became the in theme then
The new artist promoted love and unity as their central themes
Opposing fakers thrice by ten
The new artist was in direct opposition to the false idols that came before them
Don't perceive his empty plea
Despite his dwindling influence, he still attempts to stay relevant
That redundant effigy
He is no longer seen as a viable option for people to worship
Take in view his empty stool
His absence is now noticeable and his worshippers leaving him
What's left is satin cool
His image is now seen as a mere facade, no longer genuine or impressive
Clawing adornment for his crimes
He seeks to regain his followers any way he can
They saw they had to draw the line
People eventually realized that he was no longer worthy of their worship
So they sent him far away
He was exiled to a remote corner where his influence no longer reaches
To a little alcove
A small, secluded corner where he can still be worshipped by a few
All alone
He is now lonely and forgotten
He's a God, a God
Despite his fall, he still tries to maintain his status as a god of some sort
Now I am silly
The singer admits to being foolish for ever worshipping this false idol
Silly, silly, silly, silly
The artist repeats this sentiment, emphasizing their foolishness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, DAVID JAY, DAVID JOHN HASKINS, PETER JOHN MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@curespiral6143
Go and look for the dejected once proud
Idol remembered in stone aloud
Then on coins his face was mirrored
Take a look it soon hath slithered
To a fractured marble slab, renunciation clad
His nourishment extract from his subjects
That mass production profile
He's a God in an alcove
Once he spread the rain
So they dreamt in vain
Once he spread the wheat
Had made garlands for his feet
Until the lily poet of our times
Horizoned on the line
Love became the in theme then
Opposing fakers thrice by ten
Don't perceive his empty plea
That redundant effigy
He's a God in an alcove
Take in view his empty stool
What's left is satin cool
Clawing adornment for his crimes
They saw they had to draw the line
So they sent him far away
So they sent him far away
To a little alcove
To a little alcove
All alone
He's a God, a God
Now i'm silly
Now i'm silly
Silly, silly, silly ...
@vikingson9000
Danial Ash's guitar sound is Awesome !! I can tell you nobodys sound was like that back then. The whole band was talented and very original.
@GsCConcrete123
YES
@Trent_Moorman
Others scratch his cuts
@johnmumford9731
Reminds me of Gang if 4 guitar work only more so, brilliant stuff. Saw them live once never to be forgotten
@vikingson9000
@@johnmumford9731 very true !!Andy Gills guitar sound was awesome as well very powerful!
@Artaud1957
Yes, back when I was writing a lot about music I used to tell people that Daniel Ash was one of my top 5 favorite guitarists of all time. Right up there with Mick Ronson, James Williamson and a couple others whose names I forget now. Not just his playing. The look, the attitude, everything. He was really special.
@sweetestcherry275
This is one of my favorite songs of theirs
@danielgreen3715
No One Has a Voice Like Peter Murphy..still sends shivers up your back years later
@truecentral718
And that, ladies and gentleman, is a frontman.
@mandyboose8983
Best frontman ever !!!!