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.
The Bloodbells Chime
Current 93 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And pour the milk on Louis' grave
And Catland sometimes called Pussydom
Opens for you instantly it's the inmost light!
It's the inmost light
Somewhere over the rainbow
On the good ship lollipop
Goodnight
The inmost light
The happy children rise all from their pools
Eyes still sealed
Sleep tight
With mud and night
It's their inmost night
Goodnight
And yet still I which I could dream as when young
Sleep tight
As she came to me so young and honest
Goodbye
Yet the bloodbells chime
I do not notice them I shall not notice them
Yet the bloodbells chime
Tommy Katkins still send his regards
Frozen for ever on some animal somme
The last thing on his mind is marriage
But the call of home and heart
Yet the bloobells chime [Repeat: x3]
The opening lines of "The Bloodbells Chime" urge the listener to sell off all physical possessions and do away with them. Instead of material possessions, the lyrics propose that one give everything away to kittens and pour milk on the grave of a dead person named Louis. The song is evocative of a mystical world where Catland or Pussydom is accessible to all. These are metaphors for a higher realm, or inmost light, that can be accessed when material possessions are abandoned.
The song seems to celebrate a new beginning which is symbolized by the image of the happy children rising up from their mud and dirt-filled pools. Though they are asleep, there is a sense of renewal that pervades the song. The refrain, "Yet the bloodbells chime," refers to a darker aspect of existence that is constantly present even in moments of hope and renewal. The song is pervaded by a sense of melancholy and disquiet that is only ever so slightly alleviated by the imagery of Catland and the inmost light.
Line by Line Meaning
Sell all you have give it to the kittens
Give up all your material possessions and donate to the needy, symbolized here by kittens.
And pour the milk on Louis' grave
Offering milk to the deceased Louis is a symbolic rite to honor his memory and ensure his peaceful rest.
And Catland sometimes called Pussydom
Catland or Pussydom is a spiritual realm where cats are revered and considered sacred.
Opens for you instantly it's the inmost light!
By embracing the values and beliefs of Catland, one can attain an inner enlightenment, a state of pure consciousness.
It's the inmost light
This holistic illumination is the ultimate goal of spiritual seekers, who aim to connect with their deepest selves and the universe.
Somewhere over the rainbow
The rainbow is a universal symbol of hope and promise, leading to a better reality beyond the visible horizon.
On the good ship lollipop
The good ship lollipop is an imaginary vessel of joy and bliss that carries people to their happy place.
There oh there
This line alludes to the longing for a utopian world where everything is perfect and harmonious.
Goodnight
The end of the day, the closing of a chapter, the transition from light to darkness.
The inmost light
The archetypal image of a divine, radiant center that illuminates the entire cosmos and guides spiritual seekers on their quest.
The happy children rise all from their pools
Children as embodiments of innocence, purity, and imagination emerge from their watery abodes, a metaphor for being reborn and renewed.
Eyes still sealed
Even though their eyes are closed, the children intuitively perceive the inner light and the beauty of the world around them.
Sleep tight
A soothing phrase, wishing someone a peaceful and restful sleep, free from worries and disturbances.
With mud and night
Mud and night are natural elements that evoke primal and instinctual sensations, a reminder of the rawness and mystery of existence.
It's their inmost night
For the children, the night is not a time of fear or sadness but rather an opportunity to explore their innermost selves and connect with the world beyond.
Goodnight
Same as above, repeated for emphasis.
And yet still I which I could dream as when young
The artist laments the loss of his childlike innocence and the vividness of his imagination, which allowed him to access the inmost light more easily.
As she came to me so young and honest
The singer recalls a past encounter with a person who embodied purity, sincerity, and vulnerability, traits that facilitate access to the inmost light.
Goodbye
A bittersweet farewell to someone or something that is departing, leaving a void that can be filled only by the inmost light.
Yet the bloodbells chime
The bloodbells represent the fear, pain, and violence of the world, which can drown out the sound of the inmost light and prevent people from accessing it.
I do not notice them I shall not notice them
The artist resists the temptation to dwell on the negative aspects of life and instead focuses his attention and intention on the inmost light, refusing to be distracted or deterred by the bloodbells.
Tommy Katkins still sends his regards
Tommy Katkins is a character from English folklore, representing the youthful and carefree aspect of life that the artist nostalgically remembers.
Frozen for ever on some animal somme
The reference to the Somme battlefield where many soldiers died is juxtaposed with the image of Tommy Katkins frozen in time, suggesting that youth and vitality are vulnerable and ephemeral.
The last thing on his mind is marriage
Marriage, convention, and societal norms are irrelevant to Tommy Katkins and the artist, who value freedom, creativity, and individuality more than conformity and tradition.
But the call of home and heart
Despite his wanderlust and rebellion, the singer acknowledges the pull of his roots and affections, which give him a sense of belonging and purpose.
Yet the bloodbells chime [Repeat: x3]
The repetition of the line underscores the persistence of the bloodbells and the need to transcend them in order to attain the inmost light.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: H JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kladbische
Today my Cat died. I listened to this song and cried. And then I wrote to David Tibet about my pain. And he replied and assured me, that I will meet my Cat in Catland, sometimes called Pussydom. Thank you, David. You are much more than your beautiful music.
@psiconauta1969
Mine died today... :(
@kladbische
@@psiconauta1969 hugs to you, my friend.
@adamsandlermovie9355
Those I've known who have either spoke to or met David Tibet have always had positive things to say about him. He's truly one of a kind
@michaelm.3602
That's so beautiful
@genodile7004
Jesus Christ, I cried for two hours when I listened to this song while reading the lyrics.
@benconte3348
First C93 song I ever heard. I'll never forget that moment. This band has changed my life in more ways than I'll ever be able to express.
@chucklopresti7262
So many years listening close. Thanks.
@stefanpredoi4564
This sounds like visiting the house you grew up and spent all your happiest memories in, abandoned and fallen into disrepair.
@theblacksideofthesun1902
Never imagine that the cry is from David T. Before that, I thought the cry was from a child. I don't know why, but knowing that David T. breaks my heart even more.