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.
Stigmata Martyr
Bauhaus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lying cross chequed in agony
Stigmata bleed continuously
Holes in head, hands, feet, and weep for me
Stigmata oh you sordid sight
Stigmata in your splintered plight
Look into your crimson orifice
In scarlet bliss
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
Father, son, and holy ghost
Stigmata martyr
The lyrics of Bauhaus’ song “Stigmata Martyr” paint a vivid and graphic picture of the physical agony that a crucifixion entails. The opening line “In a crucifixion ecstasy” conveys the idea that the crucified person is not just experiencing pain but may be in a state of transcendent ecstasy, which is paradoxical and eerie. The second line, “Lying cross chequed in agony” evokes an image of a body lying on a cross with a checkerboard pattern, suggesting that the cross is more than just a wooden structure but a symbol or a portal. The reference to stigmata in the third line, “Stigmata bleed continuously,” is a direct nod to the wounds that Christ suffered on the cross in the Christian tradition. The last line of the verse, “Holes in head, hands, feet, and weep for me,” is a direct reference to Christ’s wounds, which signify his sacrifice and redemption.
The chorus of the song reiterates these themes, using the image of stigmata as a symbol of sacrifice and martyrdom. The line, “Stigmata oh you sordid sight” suggests that the sight of stigmata, or blood flowing from a person’s wounds, is revolting or disturbing to some. The next line, “Stigmata in your splintered plight,” develops the same idea further, suggesting that the wounds are jagged or torn, and thus, remind us of the fragility or transience of life. The next two lines, “Look into your crimson orifice / In holy remembrance,” suggests that the wounds are not just physical, but also symbolic or spiritual portals that allow us to connect with a higher power. The final line of the chorus, “In scarlet bliss,” hints at the joy or ecstasy that comes with embracing suffering as a path to spiritual transcendence.
“Stigmata Martyr” is a haunting and powerful song that uses Christian imagery to explore themes of sacrifice, suffering, and transcendence. The song’s repetitive refrain of “In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum” suggests that these themes are universal and timeless, and that they resonate with human experience across time and space.
Line by Line Meaning
In a crucifixion ecstasy
Experiencing ecstasy during crucifixion
Lying cross chequed in agony
Experiencing excruciating pain while lying on a cross
Stigmata bleed continuously
Bleeding from the wounds corresponding to those of Jesus on the cross
Holes in head, hands, feet, and weep for me
Bleeding from puncture wounds on the head, hands, and feet, symbolizing Jesus's death, and begging for mercy
Stigmata oh you sordid sight
The sight of stigmata is unpleasant and unclean
Stigmata in your splintered plight
The wounds are caused by splinters, indicating the brutality of the crucifixion
Look into your crimson orifice
Examining the wound where blood is flowing out
In holy remembrance
Honoring the sacred memories of Jesus's sacrifice
In scarlet bliss
Finding comfort in the color of the blood
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Father, son, and holy ghost
The Holy Trinity of Christianity
Stigmata martyr
A person who suffers the same wounds as Jesus on the cross
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, DAVID JAY, KEVIN HASKINS, PETER JOHN MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vampiraalesliee
In a crucifixion ecstasy
Lying cross chequed in agony
Stigmata bleed continuously
Holes in head, hands, feet, and weep for me
Stigmata oh you sordid sight
Stigmata in your splintered plight
Look into your crimson orifice
In holy remembrance
In scarlet bliss
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
Father, son, and holy ghost
Stigmata martyr
@dattmuffy
Stigmata Martyr
Song by Bauhaus
In a crucifixation ecstasy
Lying cross chequed in agony
Stigmata bleed continuously
Holes in head, hands, feet, and weep for me
Stigmata, oh, you sordid sight
Stigmata in your splintered plight
Look to your crimson orifice
In holy remembrance in scarlet bliss
Stigmata
Stigmata
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
In nomine patri et filii et spiriti sanctum
Father, Son, ž and Holy Ghost
@midnite6232
I fucking love Daniel Ash, his theatricallity, the way he moves, the way he plays guitar
@allurhatrbelongtome
He reminds me of hair metal guitar players but without all the glam
@ulsavonhunter9241
But, he was the one person I met and use as the story that meeting your fave celeb might be a bad idea. The image of the icon in your mind may be absolutely NOTHING like the person in you have imagined in real life....I was privy to a long dinner party with him - oh boy- my illusions were shattered...
@altaux
@@ulsavonhunter9241 What happened?!
@mbdisenourbanoyarquitectur730
X2
@albertogarlassi6572
X3
@neilfox6292
That first line with that little scream always gets me, that shit is so fuckin hot and badass
@candypanda4349
Neil Fox well I wasn’t expecting to see noiz here but I’m not disappointed
@stephenvelez9710
god, peter murphy is amazing. whole band is out of control, never fully gets their due.
@kylevaldes3974
i love bauhaus and their imagery..specifically their use of stills from 20s silent films. their name taken from one of the greatest art movements of all time..and producing post punk that was pretty ahead of its time for the early 80s