Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton (of Nurse With Wound) has appeared on nearly every Current 93 release. Michael Cashmore has also been a constant contributor since Thunder Perfect Mind. Douglas P. of Death In June has played on well over a dozen Current 93 releases, and Steve Ignorant of Crass (using the name Stephen Intelligent), Boyd Rice, runologist Freya Aswynn , Nick Cave, Björk, Andrew W.K., Will Oldham, Ben Chasny, Rose McDowall, Tiny Tim, Tony Wakeford of Sol Invictus, Marc Almond, John Balance of Coil, Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons, Baby Dee and Ian Read of Fire + Ice have also lent their talents over the years. Tibet is fond of the works of American writer Thomas Ligotti, and invited him to collaborate with Current 93.
Current 93 have released over twenty albums and many singles as well as having been a guest on many of the above listed artists' records. Tibet has also collaborated with Nature and Organisation and The Hafler Trio.
Much of Current 93's early work was similar to late 1970s and early 1980s industrial music: abrasive tape loops, droning synthesizer noises and Tibet's distorted, excoriating vocals. This early work became influential with the goth scene. Later works found Tibet mostly casting off such trappings in favor of a more organic sound, labeled by some as "apocalyptic folk" music, occasionally featuring his sinister nursery rhyme-influenced singing and primarily acoustic folk-styled music.
Tibet's lyrics have been fairly consistent, regardless of delivery: The earlier recordings reflect his preoccupation with death, Christ, mysticism, Aleister Crowley (Tibet borrowed the term "93 Current" from Crowley - the 93 Current being the current of Thelema or Agape), Tibetan Buddhism, Gnosticism, runes, swastikas, Noddy, The Wicker Man, and a variety of occult notions. The later to present-day period of Current 93's recordings increasingly reflect Tibet's interest in Christian mysticism. Tibet has stated that he identifies as a Christian.
Literary influences include Lautreamont's Les Chants de Maldoror, the Bible, The Poetic Edda, Hildegard von Bingen, John Dee, Heptarchia Mystica, The Thunder, Perfect Mind, William Blake, Louis Wain, writer Thomas Ligotti, occult British author Arthur Machen (originator of the title "The Inmost Light"), M.R. James's various ghost stories, The Cloud of Unknowing, Count Eric Stenbock, and Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker.
Musical influences include religious chants, traditional folk music, The Tam Lin ballad, The Incredible String Band, Sand, Comus, Blue Öyster Cult, Black Sabbath, Love, Shirley Collins, some progressive bands such as Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and the British composer Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji.
David Keenan's book England's Hidden Reverse - A Secret History of the Esoteric Underground (SAF Publishing 2003) extensively covers Tibet's musical evolution along with that of Coil, Stephen Stapleton, and others.
Imperium
Current 93 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I shall not want
He leadeth me into green pastures
The Lord is my shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd
Shall I see you again?
Imperium
Imperium
One generation passes away
And another generation cometh in
But this earth abideth forever
The sun also rises
And the sun goeth down
And hastens to his place
Way low
All the rivers run into the sea
Yet the sea is never full
And to the place from hence the rivers come
Thither they return again
All things are full of labour
Man can not utter it
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
Nor the eye filled with hearing
Imperium
Imperium
Imperium
The thing that has been it is that which shall be
And that which is done is that which shall be done
And there is no new thing under the sun
Is there any new thing whereof it may be said
See this is new it hadn't been already
Of all time which lasts before us
There is no remembrance of former things
Neither shall there be any remembrance of things
That which is crooked cannot be made straight
That which is wanted cannot be numbered
To every thing there is a season
And a time to every purpose
Under the heavens
A time to be born and a time to die
A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted
A time to kill and a time to heal
A time to break down and a time to build up
A time to weep and a time to laugh
A time to mourn and a time to dance
A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing
A time to get and a time to lose
A time to keep and a time to cast away
A time to weed and a time to sow
A time to keep silence and a time to speak
A time to love and a time to hate
A time of war and a time of peace
Imperium
The lyrics of "Imperium" by Current 93 are deeply reflective, contemplating the nature of existence, the cyclical nature of life, and the passing of time. The song draws inspiration from various sources, including biblical verses and philosophical concepts.
The opening lines, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He leadeth me into green pastures," reference the famous verse from the Book of Psalms, portraying the singer's trust and reliance on a higher power. The repetition of "The Lord is my shepherd" emphasizes this spiritual connection and perhaps poses a question, "Shall I see you again?", implying a longing to reconnect with the divine.
The following verses explore the concept of impermanence and the eternal nature of the world. They express the idea that while generations come and go, the earth remains, and the sun continues its daily cycle. The lines, "All things are full of labour, Man cannot utter it, The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the eye filled with hearing," highlight humanity's insatiable desire for more, never being content or fully satisfied.
The song then delves into the notion that there is nothing new under the sun. It suggests that history repeats itself endlessly, and there is no remembrance or recognition of past events. The lyrics also touch upon the unchangeable nature of certain things, like that which is crooked or wanting, emphasizing the futility of attempting to alter them.
The final section of the song draws inspiration from the biblical passage of Ecclesiastes, with its famous lines about the ever-changing nature of life. It mentions various contrasting elements, each representing different experiences and emotions tied to specific moments in time. These juxtapositions reflect the duality and cyclical nature of existence, illustrating the constant flux between opposites - birth and death, love and hate, war and peace.
Overall, "Imperium" presents a contemplation of life's transitory and repeating nature, urging listeners to reflect upon the eternal patterns that govern existence.
Line by Line Meaning
The Lord is my shepherd
I am guided and protected by a higher power
I shall not want
I will never be lacking or deprived
He leadeth me into green pastures
He guides me towards peaceful and abundant places
The Lord is my shepherd
I am under the care and guidance of the Lord
The Lord is my shepherd
I am under the care and guidance of the Lord
Shall I see you again?
Will I have the opportunity to encounter you once more?
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
One generation passes away
One generation departs from existence
And another generation cometh in
And another generation takes its place
But this earth abideth forever
But the Earth remains eternally
The sun also rises
The sun ascends in the sky
And the sun goeth down
And the sun descends beyond the horizon
And hastens to his place
And swiftly returns to its designated spot
Way low
Deep down
All the rivers run into the sea
All the rivers flow into the vast ocean
Yet the sea is never full
However, the sea is never completely filled
And to the place from hence the rivers come
And to the place where the rivers originate
Thither they return again
They return back to their origin
All things are full of labour
Everything requires effort and hard work
Man can not utter it
Man cannot fully comprehend it
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
No matter how much the eye sees, it always desires more
Nor the ear filled with hearing
Nor the ear satisfied with hearing
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
The thing that has been it is that which shall be
What has happened in the past will happen again in the future
And that which is done is that which shall be done
And what has already been accomplished will be accomplished again
And there is no new thing under the sun
There is nothing new or original in this world
Is there any new thing whereof it may be said
Can anything truly be considered new?
See, this is new, it hadn't been already
Look, this may seem new, but it has occurred before
Of all time which lasts before us
Of all the time that has elapsed before our existence
There is no remembrance of former things
There is no memory of past events
Neither shall there be any remembrance of things
And there will be no memory of future events
That which is crooked cannot be made straight
Something that is twisted or distorted cannot be straightened
That which is wanted cannot be numbered
Something that is desired cannot be accurately counted or measured
To every thing there is a season
There is a appropriate time for everything
And a time to every purpose
And a specific time for every intention
Under the heavens
Within the realm of existence
A time to be born and a time to die
There is a time for birth and a time for death
A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted
There is a time for sowing and a time for uprooting what has been sown
A time to kill and a time to heal
There is a time for causing harm and a time for restoration
A time to break down and a time to build up
There is a time for destruction and a time for construction
A time to weep and a time to laugh
There is a time for sorrow and a time for joy
A time to mourn and a time to dance
There is a time for grieving and a time for celebration
A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together
There is a time for discarding and a time for collecting
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing
There is a time for connecting and a time for disconnecting
A time to get and a time to lose
There is a time for acquiring and a time for losing
A time to keep and a time to cast away
There is a time for holding on and a time for letting go
A time to weed and a time to sow
There is a time for removing unwanted elements and a time for planting
A time to keep silence and a time to speak
There is a time to remain quiet and a time to express oneself
A time to love and a time to hate
There is a time for love and a time for hatred
A time of war and a time of peace
There is a time for conflict and a time for harmony
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
Imperium
Supreme power or authority
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@caesargergess
Great album. Hard to find on any platform. Thanks for uploading this. It brings back so many great memories.
@oscarmerle5588
Un chef d'oeuvre de David Tibet que je ne me lasse pas d'écouter : envoutant
@stroszekcristien2780
Nature Unveiled, his first record after he left Psychic TV, super awesome!
@TheOceanBearer
The opening is rather ASMR inducing. Good album to listen to while sleeping.
@WinterandNoodle
The most horrifying ASMR to ever exist lmao
@govtmule611
Maybe tripping. Not sleeping.
@ilpresidentedimarte3493
guys i clicked on 1 experimental music album and now im stuck in an infinite loop of albums
@ryobibattery
This is the path you chose
@marcomartins3563
Which ones do you recommend? (beyond C93)
@ryobibattery
Coil, cyclobe, nurse with wound