After releasing six studio albums, including best-selling records The Real Thing (1989) and Angel Dust (1992), Faith No More officially announced its breakup on April 20, 1998. The band has since reunited, conducting The Second Coming Tour between 2009 and 2010, and releasing its seventh studio album, Sol Invictus, in May 2015. After the touring cycle of Sol Invictus, Faith No More went on hiatus once again. In November 2019, the band announced that it would reunite to embark on a 2020 UK and European tour, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was postponed. Touring was due to recommence with a brief US tour in September 2021, followed by the previously postponed UK and Europe dates in June 2022, but all tour dates were cancelled with Patton citing mental health reasons.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_No_More
Studio albums
We Care a Lot (1985)
Introduce Yourself (1987)
The Real Thing (1989)
Angel Dust (1992)
King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime (1995)
Album of the Year (1997)
Sol Invictus (2015)
Spirit
Faith No More Lyrics
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I smiled at her and then just walked away
Then the lights came on and it was over
To my surprise, she wasn't a girl at all
So I packed it up and took to a rock show
Where you can feel the pulse getting stronger
And you can only hear the beat for so long
No, he said, just smile and act as if
You worship the very ground on which they walk on
No way
A temporary absence of gesture
A hidden meaning known to everyone
A slight misconception of leizure
Don't see how that could hurt anyone I know but
Spirit, excellence, further down the road,
These are the tools you'll need further down the road
So lets pack it up and take it somewhere special
From a quintessential, existential nightmare
To a sanctuary waiting in the sun
The song "Spirit" by Faith No More is a complex exploration of the nature of interpersonal relationships and the role they can play in shaping our lives. The opening verse seems to depict a chance encounter between two people, with the singer being impressed by the woman's ability to dance the bosa nova. However, this impression is short-lived, as he quickly discovers that the woman in question is not actually a woman at all.
This sudden revelation seems to shock the singer, leading him to seek solace in the anonymity of a rock show. Here, he talks to someone who offers him the somewhat cynical advice to "smile and act as if you worship the very ground on which they walk on". This idea of putting on a facade in order to fit in or get what you want seems to be a recurring theme throughout the song, as the singer reflects on the "hidden meaning known to everyone" and the "slight misconception of leisure" that can define our interactions with others.
Despite these somewhat pessimistic sentiments, the song ends on a more positive note, with the suggestion that "spirit, excellence, further down the road, these are the tools you'll need". It seems that the singer has come to the realization that the challenges he has faced have helped him to develop a resilience and inner strength that will enable him to thrive in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
She looked at me and did the bosa nova
A woman caught my attention, but despite the attraction, I did not engage in any further interaction with her.
I smiled at her and then just walked away
I chose to not follow up on any potential connection, and decided to leave her behind.
Then the lights came on and it was over
The moment was short-lived and lacked any substance or depth.
To my surprise, she wasn't a girl at all
Upon closer inspection, the object of my desire turned out to be nothing like what I had imagined or hoped for.
So I packed it up and took to a rock show
I moved on from that fleeting encounter, and sought refuge in the energetic atmosphere of a concert.
Where you can feel the pulse getting stronger
The music had the power to invigorate and elevate one's spirits.
And you can only hear the beat for so long
This sense of euphoria from the performance inevitably fades with time.
I asked if there was any way to stop it
I questioned whether there was a way to prolong or maintain the feeling of elation from the concert.
No, he said, just smile and act as if
The answer provided was to simply pretend and put on a façade of enjoyment.
You worship the very ground on which they walk on
The suggestion was to overly praise and idolize the performers, treating them as deities.
No way
I reject this answer as insincere and inadequate.
A temporary absence of gesture
In the absence of a clear solution, I choose to do nothing for the time being.
A hidden meaning known to everyone
Despite the surface level experiences and interactions, there exists a deeper understanding that remains universally known.
A slight misconception of leisure
The innocent enjoyment of music and entertainment can sometimes be interpreted or perceived as something more sinister or malicious.
Don't see how that could hurt anyone I know but
While I don't personally see the harm in this innocent activity, I understand that others may.
Spirit, excellence, further down the road,
In order to achieve greatness and success in the future, one must cultivate a strong and virtuous character in the present.
These are the tools you'll need further down the road
The traits of spirit and excellence will serve as valuable assets and resources for navigating through life's challenges in the future.
So lets pack it up and take it somewhere special
Let us harness these qualities and elevate them to new heights in order to realize our full potential.
From a quintessential, existential nightmare
We must transcend our fears and anxieties of the unknown and embrace our true purpose and identity.
To a sanctuary waiting in the sun
By doing so, we can find solace and security in both our internal and external environments, and ultimately find peace and happiness.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARTIN, BILL GOULD, C. MOSELY, MICHAEL ANDREW BORDIN, RODDY CHRISTOPHER BOTTUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind