By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas. Their next, the critically-acclaimed Heaven Up Here, reached the Top Ten in 1981, as did 1983's Porcupine and '84's Ocean Rain. Singles like "The Killing Moon" (later used in the soundtrack to Donnie Darko, a film whose imagery owed much to the artwork of the band's early records.), "Silver," "Bring on the Dancing Horses," and "The Cutter" helped keep the group in the public eye as they took a brief hiatus in the late 1980s. Their 1987 self-titled LP was a small American hit, their only LP to have significant sales there.
McCulloch quit the band in 1988. De Freitas was killed in a motorcycle accident one year later. The others decided to continue, recruiting Noel Burke to replace McCulloch on vocals in Reverberation (1990), which did not generate much excitement among fans or critics. Burke, Sargeant and Pattinson split after that, but the surviving three fourths of the original band reformed in 1997 and released Evergreen (1997), What are You Going to Do with Your Life? (1999), Flowers (2001) , Siberia (2005), and the latest addition, The Fountain (2009). The group's old audience liked the return to their classic sound, and they also managed to gain a number of new, younger listeners.
Echo and the Bunnymen were managed early on by Bill Drummond, who went on to be a founder member of The KLF.
Hole in the Holy
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make a wish and make a will
A wish became, a will because
I wish I am just who I was
And I always hear them singing
And complaining about the world
And my chiming bells are ringing
In the arms, our love
Cling to orders from above
To light our lives with whats
Faith received is grace returned
Well I always hear them singing
And complaining about the world
And my chiming bells are ringing
But I never heard a word
When you feel, will you be feelin'
How she felt against your skin
And as you kneel, will you be kneelin'
Deep in prayer or steeped in sin
Without a [?] within
Within the hole in the holy
A crack in the heart
Its love and love only that sets our worlds apart
Worlds apart, joined at the heart
Take this gun, take these pills
Make a wish and make a will
A wish became, a will because
I wish I am just who I was
But i always hear them singing
And complaining about the world
And my chiming bells are ringing
But I never heard a word
When you feel, will you be feelin'
How she felt against your skin
As you kneel, will you be kneelin'
Deep in prayer or steeped in sin
Without a [?] within
Within the hole in the holy
A crack in the heart
Its love and love only that sets our world
A part of me is giving
A part of me gives in
And takes the beauty out of living
And the guilt of all our sins
The guilt from all our sins
And the [?] is a means to an end of the things
that tempt you away from the path to the true way
In the crippled fire, and the lips do kiss the flame
Will you lower, or go higher
The blameless or the blame
Blameless or the blame
With a hole in the holy
A crack in the heart
Its love and love only that sets our world apart
The lyrics of "Hole in the Holy" by Echo & the Bunnymen express the desire for a return to a past self, before a wish became a will and life moved in an undesired direction. The singer observes the complaints of the world around them, represented by "chiming bells," yet feels disconnected from it all, having never truly heard a single word said. The verse transitions to a focus on love and faith, clinging to orders from above to light our lives with what is received through grace. The second half of the song poses a series of questions, asking if the listener will feel the same things as a past lover, and whether they will be kneeling in deep prayer or steeped in sin. The song concludes with a plea to strive for love and to reject the temptations that pull one away from the path to truth.
Overall, the lyrics of "Hole in the Holy" evoke a sense of longing for a time before one's life path diverged from their true desires. The singer acknowledges the negativity in the world but feels removed from it, clinging to faith and love to guide them back to a path of righteousness.
Line by Line Meaning
Take this gun, take these pills
The singer is offering tools for self-harm or suicide as a means of escape.
Make a wish and make a will
The singer is encouraging the listener to take action to change their circumstances.
A wish became, a will because
The singer emphasizes the power of determination and hope to transform wishes into reality.
I wish I am just who I was
The artist is haunted by the past and longs for a return to a previous version of themselves.
And I always hear them singing
The artist is constantly aware of others' criticisms and complaints.
And complaining about the world
People around the singer frequently express their dissatisfaction with the state of the world.
And my chiming bells are ringing
Despite the noise and distraction of the world, the singer maintains a spiritual connection.
But I never heard a word
Despite listening, the artist is unable to understand or empathize with others' perspectives.
In the arms, our love
Love is a source of comfort and safety for the artist.
Cling to orders from above
The artist references a higher power and the importance of following religious or moral guidelines.
To light our lives with whats
Living in accordance with these orders brings purpose and illumination to life.
Faith received is grace returned
By believing in a higher power, the artist feels that they receive a form of divine grace or favor.
When you feel, will you be feelin'
The singer questions how the listener will experience emotions and moments of intimacy.
How she felt against your skin
The singer references a past lover and asks if the listener will be able to fully appreciate physical sensations in the future.
And as you kneel, will you be kneelin'
The singer references prayer and questions whether the listener will approach it sincerely or hypocritically.
Deep in prayer or steeped in sin
The options presented to the listener are sincere devotion or moral corruption.
Without a [?] within
The word in this line is unclear, but the intent is likely to suggest lacking a moral center or sense of self.
Within the hole in the holy
The singer references a spiritual emptiness or void within the sacred.
A crack in the heart
The singer references emotional pain and vulnerability.
Its love and love only that sets our worlds apart
The artist suggests that love is what makes life unique and worthwhile.
A part of me is giving
The artist feels that they are sacrificing a part of themselves.
A part of me gives in
Despite this sacrifice, there is a part of the artist that feels defeated and overwhelmed.
And takes the beauty out of living
The negative parts of life have obscured the singer's ability to appreciate beauty or joy.
And the guilt of all our sins
The artist is burdened by their own mistakes and the mistakes of others.
And the [?] is a means to an end of the things
The word in this line is unclear, but the singer suggests that something is being used to avoid the right path.
that tempt you away from the path to the true way
The singer suggests that there is a correct moral or spiritual path, and that they or the listener have been led astray.
In the crippled fire, and the lips do kiss the flame
The singer references the destructive nature of passion and desire.
Will you lower, or go higher
The artist questions whether the listener will indulge in destructive behavior or strive for greater good.
The blameless or the blame
The artist references moral culpability and asks whether the listener will avoid or own up to their mistakes.
With a hole in the holy
The singer references a spiritual emptiness or void within the sacred.
Its love and love only that sets our world apart
The singer suggests that love is what makes life unique and worthwhile.
Contributed by Aaliyah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.