The group recorded its first release for the label, Livonia, in Defever's home studio. The album features Oliver's shivery vocals along with tape loops, samples, and guitar blasts, for a noise-damaged, ethereal collection of songs about ghosts, reincarnation, and dreams. By 1992's Home Is in Your Head, the band's lineup and scope expanded. New singers Denise James, Karen Neal, Melissa Elliott, and guitarist Jymn Auge added depth and breadth to the band's original lineup. An epic 23 songs long, Home Is in Your Head ranges from folky ballads to electrifying guitar maelstroms and tape collages. That year also saw the release of The Dirt Eaters EP, named for Defever's other, more rock-oriented group, of which Elliot was also a member. In 1993, His Name Is Alive released two albums: King of Sweet, a limited-edition release that mixed tape effects, samples, demos, and unreleased songs, and Mouth by Mouth, which added more pop structure into the group's inherently experimental and dreamy sound, resulting in its most accessible and diverse album to that date. A new drummer, Trey Many, took over Lang's duties.
As Defever's reputation as an innovative producer spread, he lent his skills to bands like Grenadine, a side project of Tsunami's Jenny Toomey and Unrest's Mark Robinson, other 4AD acts like Liquorice (which featured Toomey, Dan Littleton from Ida, and His Name Is Alive's Many) and Tarnation, and other Detroit-area bands like Godzuki and Outrageous Cherry. Defever also worked on other projects, including the folky ESP Summer (with former Pale Saint Ian Masters) and the electronic Robot World and Control Panel, and founded the Time Stereo art collective with a childhood friend, artist/musician Davin Brainard. Some of Time Stereo's projects included films, coloring books, and cassette-only releases from bands like Princess Dragon Mom, the Crash, Godzuki, New Grape, and Noise Camp.
Defever's diverse interests influenced His Name Is Alive's next release, 1996's Stars on ESP. Very little of the group's original ethereal sound remained, augmented instead with touches of dub, folk, gospel, and early- to mid-'60s pop like the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. At the time of the album's release, Defever claimed that he was so fascinated by the group's "Good Vibrations" that he listened to it for months at a time. The following year's Nice Day EP reached to garage rock and '60s R&B for its inspiration, and featured some of the gospel singers from Stars on ESP, including Lovetta Pippen, whose singing also gave His Name Is Alive's 1998 LP, Fort Lake, an earthy sensuality. Fort Lake also marked the first time the band worked with another producer, recording engineer Steve King. King, another Livonia native, had also worked with Funkadelic and Aretha Franklin, and his touch meshes nicely with the funk, soul, and classic rock allusions His Name Is Alive makes on the album. In preparation for recording Fort Lake -- named after a waterlogged Civil War fort in Michigan -- the group played monthly shows at the Gold Dollar, a tiny Detroit club. At this time, Pippen, bassist Chad Gilchrist, and additional drummer Scott Goldstein debuted as part of the new lineup.
In 1999, His Name Is Alive released a U.S. compilation of tracks from their first five albums called Always Stay Sweet; at the time, those albums were only available as British imports. Like the rest of the band's work, the compilation highlights their mercurial, unique nature. Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth appeared two years later. Released in 2002, the darkly soulful Last Night ended up being the group's final album for 4AD, but His Name Is Alive found other outlets for their music, and were actually busier than ever. Time Stereo released several CDs, such as 2004's ten-disc Cloud Box set, Leaf Club, Brown Rice, and The Detroit River, as well as many MP3-only works, including the Summer Bird and Something_Nothing EPs and a remastered version of King of Sweet. UFO Catcher was released in 2005 on CD by the German label En/Of and on vinyl by Time Stereo, while Ypsilanti Records issued the full-length Summer Bird that spring. Late in 2005, His Name Is Alive released the Raindrops Rainbow EP via iTunes as a teaser for Detrola, their debut for Reincarnate, also the home of fellow former 4AD artist Lisa Germano and Sing-Sing, the project of former Lush member Emma Anderson.
Where Knock Is Open Wide
His Name Is Alive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fish me out
In the place to faith assigned
Where ask is have and seek is find
Where knock is open wide
In the dark
Your dark eyes always
The tongue is the fish in the mouth
If I don't see you no more
I'll think about you forever
I write my senses
My soul prayer
Unites creator and I
The lyrics to His Name Is Alive's song "Where Knock Is Open Wide" are quite poetic and open to interpretation. One possible interpretation is that the first few lines describe a sense of intimacy or closeness between two people. "My wet ear slides into your mouth" could suggest two people kissing or whispering intimately. "Fish me out" could suggest that one person is completely submerged in the other, possibly drowning in their passion.
Line by Line Meaning
My wet ear slides into your mouth
I am vulnerable and open to you, allowing you to hear and consume everything I have to offer.
Fish me out
Rescue me from my own insecurities and fears, taking me into a deeper connection with you.
In the place to faith assigned
I have been led to this specific moment and meeting with you by a higher power, driven by our mutual faith and destiny.
Where ask is have and seek is find
We exist in a world where asking for what we desire can yield results, and actively looking for something will lead to its discovery.
Where knock is open wide
The doors to opportunity and growth are wide open, waiting for us to knock and enter with confidence.
In the dark
Even in moments of uncertainty and doubt, we cling to the light and hope of our relationship.
Your dark eyes always
Your gaze is intense and captivating, drawing me into a deeper understanding of myself and our connection.
Always reflecting
Your eyes are constantly reflecting back everything I am and hope to be, acting as a mirror for my soul.
The tongue is the fish in the mouth
The words we speak to each other are the source of nourishment and sustenance, sustaining and growing our relationship.
If I don't see you no more
Even if we physically part ways, our bond and impact on each other will remain forever.
I'll think about you forever
You will always hold a special place in my heart and mind, influencing my thoughts and decisions.
I write my senses
I use my own emotions and physical sensations to better understand and communicate with you.
My soul prayer
My deepest hopes and desires for us are wrapped up in my soul, constantly sending them out into the universe.
Unites creator and I
Our connection is divinely inspired and blessed, bringing us closer to our spiritual selves and each other.
Lyrics © WARREN M. DEFEVER D/B/A PERFORATE MY HEART MUSIC
Written by: HIS NAME IS ALIVE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind