2. Doom/Sludge band from Saramento, CA - formed by members of Caulfield
Not to be confused with Australian 1980’s band The Church most famous for their hit-single “Under The Milky Way”.
Untoward
Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's further than you think so you better not let go
(Oh no)
It's better than you thought so you better take it slow, or it'll
(Un-go) [0:40]
Go away from yourself well I oughta know, and I say
(Oh no)
It's further than you think so you better not let go
(Off and on)
(Mer)curial breakthrough
(Off and on)
Cold parable
(Off and on)
Coordinates locked in
(Off and on)
Journey begun
(Somehow)
I hope you get a ride 'cause it's too late for me now, so I
(Cow tow)
To any little despot with a crown upon his brow, and they
(Know how)
That's the kind of energy that nature can endow
(Off and on)
Metaphysical check-up
(Off and on)
Making them king
(Off and on)
Lifespan extensions
(Off and on)
Forever livin'
(One day)
One day I'm gonna change and I'll arrange it all my way
(One day)
One day I'll just ascend and they'll pretend I went away
(Off and on)
Natural science
(Off and on)
So you still wait
(Off and on)
Jump into neutral
(Off and on)
White spirit gate
(Off and on)
(Off and on)
The lyrics of Church's song Untoward are quite cryptic and can be hard to decipher on first listen. However, upon deeper analysis, it's possible to interpret the song as being about the struggle to find one's place in the world and the journey towards self-discovery.
The first verse talks about the importance of holding on to something, even when it seems far away, and taking things slow in order to appreciate them fully. It also mentions the dangers of losing touch with oneself, and how easy it is to let things slip away if you're not paying attention. The second verse talks about the ups and downs of life, the search for meaning, and the idea that there are certain energies in the world that can help guide us towards finding our purpose.
The chorus seems to be about accepting the way things are and making peace with the fact that some things are beyond our control. The repetition of "off and on" throughout the song gives the impression of a journey, with the singer moving in and out of different states of being or levels of consciousness. The song ends on a note of hope, with the promise of change and the idea that one day things will be different.
Overall, the lyrics to Untoward are open to interpretation, but seem to be about the struggle to find one's place in the world, the search for meaning, and the importance of holding on to the things that matter most.
Line by Line Meaning
(How low)
The situation is dire and requires urgent attention
It's further than you think so you better not let go
The solution is more complex and distant than anticipated, requiring perseverance
(Oh no)
The situation is worsening
It's better than you thought so you better take it slow, or it'll
Despite the initial difficulty, there is hope for success if approached methodically
(Un-go)
Self-betrayal will lead to failure
Go away from yourself well I oughta know, and I say
To overcome the difficulty, one must be true to oneself
(Off and on)
(Mer)curial breakthrough
(Off and on)
Cold parable
(Off and on)
Coordinates locked in
(Off and on)
Journey begun
The solution requires frequent adjustments and experimentation, akin to scientific exploration
(Somehow)
Given the current circumstances, there are doubts that success can be achieved
I hope you get a ride 'cause it's too late for me now, so I
While one may not be able to succeed independently, they hope others can
(Cow tow)
Feeling powerless, one is willing to submit to those in power
To any little despot with a crown upon his brow, and they
One finds it difficult to resist those in power
(Know how)
The energy of natural forces is capable of giving power to those who know how to harness it
(Off and on)
Metaphysical check-up
(Off and on)
Making them king
(Off and on)
Lifespan extensions
(Off and on)
Forever livin'
The quest for power leads to dangerous experimentation with metaphysical and medical procedures
(One day)
One day I'm gonna change and I'll arrange it all my way
Despite the current difficulties, one believes they will eventually find a way to succeed
(One day)
One day I'll just ascend and they'll pretend I went away
While others may try to ignore or forget those who succeed, the individual will know the truth
(Off and on)
Natural science
(Off and on)
So you still wait
(Off and on)
Jump into neutral
(Off and on)
White spirit gate
(Off and on)
The solution lies in a combination of scientific and spiritual approaches, requiring patience and experimentation
Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.