Coil spent the next period of its existence exploring visual media. In late 1984 they recorded a rendition of Tainted Love (originally recorded by Gloria Jones, but made popular by Soft Cell in the 80s), producing a widely banned, hallucinogenic video clip featuring Marc Almond as the Angel of Death; despite considerable controversy at home, the video ultimately found its way to the archives of the Museum of Modern Art. After spending several years working with filmmaker Derek Jarman on the feature The Angelic Conversation, Coil issued a remixed edition of their soundtrack. Following 1986’s Nightmare Culture, a collaboration with Boyd Rice produced as split release with Current 93, Christopherson and Balance invited Stephen Thrower to join the group in a full-time capacity. As a trio, they recorded 1986’s LP Horse Rotorvator, introducing orchestral, jazz, and middle Eastern textures into the mix; this album included The Anal Staircase.
In 1987, Coil issued The Unreleased Themes for Hellraiser, a collection of atmospheric gothic instrumentals commissioned for but ultimately cut from the Clive Barker horror film, followed by compilation album Gold Is the Metal (With the Broadest Shoulders), a remixed history of the group’s first several years of work. Unnatural History, another career overview, effectively ended the first phase of the band’s career in 1990; when Coil resurfaced a year later with Love’s Secret Domain, their music reflected the strong influence of the acid house culture. Another long layoff brought on by financial difficulties ended in 1995, when the group - now consisting of Sleazy, Balance, and Drew McDowell - signed to Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor’s Nothing Records to release Backwards, an album which was never officially released, although it is available in a number of bootleg versions. Additionally, they recorded the LP Worship the Glitch, issued under the name ELpH, and in 1996 cut A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room as Black Light District.
1998 marked a significant stylistic shift for Coil, as the group moved away from the industrial dance sound they pioneered in the first half of their career towards what Balance referred to as "Moon Musick". This began with the release of four seasonal EPs throughout that year, coinciding with the equinoxes and solstices; this marked the group making further forays into ambient and neoclassical styles. Lyrically, there was a push towards naturalistic, pagan imagery, and an emphasis on free form, improvisatory chants. All four of these releases were later collected and released as Moons Milk (in Four Phases) in 2002. Coil also put out a purely drone based project, Time Machines, under that alias the same year.
In 1999 Coil started to work with Thighpaulsandra, and with him released the chilling Musick to Play in the Dark, a dark, meditative work featuring mostly intoned vocals from Balance, and exploring deeper electronic textures and pitches. A second volume followed in 2000. After years of refusal to do so, Coil started to perform live again in 1999. They released a number of albums containing the various shows they did in the period 2000 - 2004. Coil have released a lot of material in very limited editions, and have distributed certain records only at concerts. In 2003 they started a project to re-issue these tracks. Amidst their sporadic touring, and growing internal tensions within the group, Black Antlers was released in 2004, consisting of many of the songs played in concert at the time. This would prove to be the last studio recording put out in Balance's lifetime.
Jhonn Balance’s long-time struggle with alcoholism led to his death on 13th November, 2004. He fell from the second floor window at his home, while drunk, and died a short time after. Coil’s last live performance took place at Dublin’s City Hall on 23 October 2004 and is expected to appear on the forthcoming DVD box set “Colour Sound Oblivion”. A number of songs that were (as good as) ready were released in autumn 2005 as a last farewell to Jhonn.
Peter Christopherson passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 25, 2010. Instead of sending flowers in memory of Peter Christopherson, people were asked to donate money to help children affected by AIDS in Thailand, the country he loved and died in.
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Things Happen
Coil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kill the creator! Send them the bomb!
Daddy, do you have a cigarette for me? I think
Maybe it's getting late, maybe time is running out
You know, I knew somebody once, rifled through his drawers
I wasn't that suspicious but you know, these things they happen
But, muñeca, do you have a towel?
Baby do you have a light?
What's it like in Ohio... baby?
What d'you want to call me, muñeca?
Honey, do you like my dress?
You know, I think the colour pink suits my complexion
Or is it a reflection of the sky outside, you know
Why are those people crowding around?
You know I think your time is running out
What was your name, anyway?
No lipstick on his collar, but maybe it was blood
I don't know to this day, dear
Do you have another, uh...
Did you light that cigarette for me?
Oh, did you leave that on the side?
Do you have another cigarette for me? You know, uh,
Well, I had somebody once, ah,
You know, we used to cook a lot
It was a...
Do you like chillis in Ohio?
Muñeca, yo te quiero
Yo te quiero Ohio
Anyway... muy bonito
Where did I leave my matches?
I thought they were on the table there
By the way, did you, uh...?
Do you have some, uh, cash for me
Because you know I have to, uh, get a cab somewhere, after here
You know, I don't want to push you, but, uh,
You know, I've got to go some place
There's something burning in the kitchen
Did I put the pepper in?
I don't... uh... oh, dear
You know you have to watch yourself, don't you?
Why are those people crowding round me in the street
It must be like that for you a little bit, huh?
It's a bit of a commotion
Nice meeting you
I have no regrets, but I did feel a little bad, you know?
It's kind of like, you know what it's like
The lyrics of Coil's song "Things Happen" are poetic and enigmatic, creating a dream-like atmosphere that is both alluring and unsettling. The repeated refrain of "Kill the creator! Send them the bomb!" sets a tone of violence and destruction, but the rest of the lyrics seem to be disconnected fragments of conversation and thoughts, as if the singer is wandering through a dream landscape, encountering strange people and situations.
The first verse seems to be a conversation between a daughter and her father, with the daughter asking for a cigarette and expressing a sense of urgency. The mention of rifling through drawers and suspicious behavior suggests a sense of paranoia or danger. The second verse is addressed to someone called "muñeca," which means "doll" or "sweetheart" in Spanish. The singer asks about the color of her dress and reflects on the meaning of the color pink. The mention of a crowd gathering and the sense of time running out creates a feeling of unease.
The rest of the lyrics are a stream of consciousness, with references to cooking, chili peppers, and matches. The singer asks for cash to get a cab and mentions something burning in the kitchen. The final lines suggest a sense of regret, as if the singer has caused harm or done something wrong. The repetition of the phrase "you know" throughout the song adds to the sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, as if the singer is trying to make sense of a confusing and chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
Kill the creator! Send them the bomb!
A call to action to kill those responsible for the current state of affairs
Daddy, do you have a cigarette for me? I think
A request for comfort in a time of chaos and uncertainty
Maybe it's getting late, maybe time is running out
Awareness of the limited nature of time and the urgency to act
You know, I knew somebody once, rifled through his drawers
Recollection of past actions that may have been intrusive or inappropriate
I wasn't that suspicious but you know, these things they happen
Acknowledgment that life is unpredictable and things can happen without forewarning
But, muñeca, do you have a towel?
A request for practical help or assistance
See those people gather round
Observation of others paying attention or being drawn to a situation
Baby do you have a light?
A plea for help or support in a difficult time
What's it like in Ohio... baby?
A random and unrelated question, perhaps to distract from the current situation
What d'you want to call me, muñeca?
An inquiry into what name or title to be addressed by
Honey, do you like my dress?
An attempt to seek validation or affirmation from others
You know, I think the colour pink suits my complexion
A comment on one's physical appearance or preference
Or is it a reflection of the sky outside, you know
An alternate interpretation or explanation of a situation
Why are those people crowding around?
Curiosity or confusion about the attention being paid to a situation
You know I think your time is running out
A warning of the limited time available to act or make a change
What was your name, anyway?
A question posed in an attempt to gain greater understanding or context
No lipstick on his collar, but maybe it was blood
A reference to a potential affair or infidelity, or a violent act
I don't know to this day, dear
An admission of uncertainty or lack of knowledge
Do you have another, uh...
A request for a replacement or additional item
Did you light that cigarette for me?
Seeking confirmation or clarification on a recent action
Oh, did you leave that on the side?
A comment on the location of an object or item
Do you have another cigarette for me? You know, uh,
A repeated request for an item or need
Well, I had somebody once, ah, You know, we used to cook a lot
Reminiscing about a past relationship or experience in an attempt to find comfort or connection
It was a...
An unfinished thought or statement, perhaps indicating difficulty in articulating a feeling or idea
Do you like chillis in Ohio?
Another random and unrelated question, possibly used as a distraction technique
Muñeca, yo te quiero
A declaration of affection, potentially romantic or platonic
Yo te quiero Ohio
A connection or fondness for a specific place or location
Anyway... muy bonito
An utterance that may be disconnected or unrelated to the conversation at hand
Where did I leave my matches?
A question regarding a lost or misplaced item
I thought they were on the table there
A comment on the expected location of an item
By the way, did you, uh...?
An attempt to bring up a sensitive or difficult topic
Do you have some, uh, cash for me
Asking for monetary assistance or support
Because you know I have to, uh, get a cab somewhere, after here
An explanation or justification for the request of monetary assistance
You know, I don't want to push you, but, uh,
Acknowledgment of the potential discomfort or inconvenience caused by the request
You know, I've got to go some place
An expression of urgency or necessity regarding a future action
There's something burning in the kitchen
Indication of a potential danger or problem in a different location or situation
Did I put the pepper in?
A question regarding a specific action or detail, often pertaining to one's personal responsibility or accountability
I don't... uh... oh, dear
A realization that something important has been overlooked or forgotten
You know you have to watch yourself, don't you?
A cautionary remark or warning regarding behavior or actions
Why are those people crowding round me in the street
An expression of confusion or concern regarding sudden or unwanted attention
It must be like that for you a little bit, huh?
An attempt to connect with another person through shared experiences or situations
It's a bit of a commotion
Observation of a chaotic or busy situation
Nice meeting you
A polite statement often used at the end of a conversation or interaction
I have no regrets, but I did feel a little bad, you know?
A reflection on past actions or decisions that may have caused harm or regret
It's kind of like, you know what it's like
A comparison or similar experience that may be difficult to articulate or explain
Contributed by Jeremiah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Raskoilniki
This song is my favorite on the album. Something about her voice. Damn.
Rub-A-Dub Ramses
the genius little annie aka annie anxiety (bandez)
elma rillo
Muñeca
Doctor Curiosity
This album is one of my favourites to listen to when it's the height of summer and it's too hot to move.
Valvedriver
I remember trippin balls on 4 hits of Christmas Blotter back in '93. I put this song on loop and didnt move for 3 hours. Oh the wonderous places my mind and I went that night.
sistergrimace
Valvedriver This sounds awfully familiar to an experience I had. Did this take place in Newark, DE?
Tony Smyth
It's kinda like...
You know what it's like
walteredstates
This track came into my mind today, hadn't listened to it for a year maybe.. to the point where I had to put it on .
It is so much better than i remembered it. Annie is just fantastic and the synergy with the musick is phenomenal.
Makes me cry how fucking amazing this piece is.
writermachine80
I LOOOOVE this song!! Coil are da shit! I love the stuff they did for Nine Inch Nails on the "Further Down the Spiral" cd. Sweeeeeet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jenn Hamblen
Thank you for posting this! One of my favorites!