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Pure Chance
Church Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What chance of meeting
So far out here
As if repeating
What's never clear

The verdant meadows
The smoky coil
The air and ether
The boiling soil

I read your novel
The names were switched
I heard you travel
You must be rich

Those distant cities
Are safe and warm
Within their walls
Of chloroform

Home
It's so far away now
Pure chance
It's so far
It's so far away now

My wife was warm
But the water was cold
And she was young
And the ocean was old

There were voices singing from under the sea
As I followed them down I felt them drowning me

What chance of meeting
So long ago
Just for a fleeting...
Ah, well you know

How unintentional
A random whim
Coincidental
A shallow thing

Home
It's so far away now
Pure chance
It's so far
It's so far away now

My wife was soft
The mountain was hard
Her skin was smooth
The rocks were scarred

There were voices singing above in the sky
As I followed them up I was prepared to die

Overall Meaning

The song "Pure Chance" by Church's opens with a series of questions that seemingly reflect on the chances of two people meeting randomly in the midst of nature. The lyrics "What chance of meeting, So far out here, As if repeating, What's never clear" suggest that the meeting is unexpected and accidentally coincidental, yet to some extent, it might be destiny. The reference to the "verdant meadows," "smoky coil," "air and ether," and "boiling soil" highlights the idea of nature as a powerful presence in people's lives. Perhaps their meeting is not incidental, but rather intentional or even fated, with the imagery suggesting a beautiful, natural, and passionate connection between two individuals. The lyrics "I heard you travel, You must be rich, Those distant cities, Are safe and warm, Within their walls, Of chloroform" could allude to the value of experiencing nature as much richer than the safety and comfort of city/civilization.


The second verse speaks of the singer's wife, who is warm but whose surroundings are cold. The lyrics "My wife was warm, But the water was cold, And she was young, And the ocean was old" illustrate her vulnerability among stronger elements. Then the lyrics "There were voices singing from under the sea, As I followed them down, I felt them drowning me" conveys a sense of foreboding or possibly a loss of control. The next set of lyrics somewhat contradicts the hope of an intentional or fated meeting effect on chance versus intention, determination versus impulsion: "How unintentional, A random whim, Coincidental, A shallow thing." This confusion highlights the intricacy of relationships and how they are affected by both environmental situations and our natural ability to choose (free will).


Church's "Pure Chance" creates a compelling emotional connection to the audience, which deepens with each verse, ultimately ending with a contrasting sense of hope and despair. Sparks of beauty in our lives, such as unexpected meetings, can make all the difference, while natural surroundings can bring romance, risk, and wonder. In contrast, civilization and its false securities can keep people more contained, which may eventually lead to melancholy. Overall, the lyrics nest a message about the importance of embracing life in its entirety - the beauty, the adventure, the risks, and the unknown.


Line by Line Meaning

What chance of meeting
What are the odds of encountering someone here, in this remote location?


So far out here
In this vast, isolated terrain


As if repeating
As if reliving a similar scenario


What's never clear
Yet the outcome is uncertain


The verdant meadows
Green, lush fields


The smoky coil
A murky, hard-to-see spiral of smoke


The air and ether
The atmosphere and the space between all matter


The boiling soil
The fiery, heated ground beneath our feet


I read your novel
I perused a book you wrote


The names were switched
The characters' identities were altered


I heard you travel
I learned that you journey frequently


You must be rich
Surely, you have great wealth


Those distant cities
The cities located far away


Are safe and warm
They provide security and comfort


Within their walls
Sheltered behind their barriers


Of chloroform
Perhaps, a reference to the use of anesthetic to keep people calm and oblivious


Home
The place of our origin and loved ones


It's so far away now
It seems distant and unattainable at this very moment


Pure chance
A completely random happening


My wife was warm
My partner felt cozy


But the water was cold
The liquid around us was frigid


And she was young
My companion was youthful


And the ocean was old
Yet the current and the waves were ancient


There were voices singing from under the sea
A choir chiming from the abyss


As I followed them down I felt them drowning me
As I descended toward them, I sensed their deadly pull


So long ago
It took place ages in the past


Just for a fleeting...
Only for a brief moment


Ah, well you know
It's a familiar story


How unintentional
How thoughtless and accidental


A random whim
A capricious choice


Coincidental
Fortuitous, resultant of coincidence


A shallow thing
A superficial matter


My wife was soft
My better half was delicate


The mountain was hard
The rocky mount was solid and formidable


Her skin was smooth
My companion's epidermis was silky


The rocks were scarred
The stones bore signs of wounds and blemishes


There were voices singing above in the sky
A melodious chorus originating from the firmament


As I followed them up I was prepared to die
As I pursued them upward, I resigned myself to passing away




Contributed by Jake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Michael

What can you say when 95% of the music they make is amazing and ahead of it's time? They are eqic for the last 40 years.

1976Renault

Agree with Richie Z here. Astonishing piece of music from a remarkably consistent band.

David troen-krasnow

as a drum nerd i gotta say...what a great ride cymbal

Richie Z

killer song, i wonder if there's any live takes anywhere? didn't find here on youtube

Elijah Knutsen

Richie Z very late comment but look up “the church live in the basement 2006.” A lot of Uninvited songs including this one. Very good show.

1 More Replies...

Michael

The verdant meadows
The smoky coil
The air and ether
The boiling soil

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