Their name is taken from the protagonist of Franz Kafka's novel, "The Trial".
Josef K. is also a pop-rock band from Podgorica, Montenegro debuted in 1988.
Josef K. is also Prague-based rapper debuting with album Linka B in 2020.
Heaven Sent
Josef K Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There'll be? a message by the phone
So you know just what to say
When heaven calls to ask you home
Oh no, not again
To heaven I will send
Oh no, not again
Invitations are all but won
To come and hear the things you done
I wait around until they say
It's all OK on judgement day
The day I get there, just in time
And be prepared for what I find
If you feel that it's OK
I'll stick around, they'll be away
I see you off there, flying high
You disappear into the sky
I watch the angels gather 'round
And then you fall down to the ground
And so the gates were closed to you
And all the time I think of you
Nevermind, maybe they'll send
An invitation to try again
The song "Heaven Sent" by Josef K sounds like it's about a person who has passed away and gone to Heaven. It begins with the singer saying that while they are away, there will be a message by the phone so that the person on the other end knows what to say when Heaven calls to ask them home. However, the singer seems hesitant about the idea of sending someone to Heaven again which could mean that they have lost someone before.
Invitations are all but won for this person to come back to earth to hear the things they've done. The singer is waiting around until they say it's okay on judgement day. He wants to be prepared for what he finds on the day he gets there. The lyrics suggest that the person being referred to here was a good person, maybe one that the singer was close to. The song talks about the angel's festivities waiting for good people to come home, but that they will fall to the ground when they don't match up to Heaven's standards.
Perhaps the singer is questioning their own place in the afterlife and hoping that they will receive another invitation to try again. Overall "Heaven Sent" is a melancholy song that reflects on the finality of death and the hope of redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
One fine day while I'm away
At some point in time when I'm not present
There'll be? a message by the phone
A notification via phone will be delivered
So you know just what to say
In order to inform me correctly
When heaven calls to ask you home
In the event of an invitation from heaven to return
Oh no, not again
This experience is recurring, unfortunate
To heaven I will send
Destination is heaven or death
Invitations are all but won
All opportunities have been exhausted
To come and hear the things you done
To attend and learn of your past deeds
I wait around until they say
To linger until the verdict is given
It's all OK on judgement day
The decision on judgement day is favorable
The day I get there, just in time
Arriving at the last possible moment
And be prepared for what I find
Mentally ready to handle the situation
If you feel that it's OK
When you are satisfied with the outcome
I'll stick around, they'll be away
I'll stay if they leave
I see you off there, flying high
Observing your ascent into the sky
You disappear into the sky
Vanishing into the air
I watch the angels gather 'round
Seeing the angels congregate
And then you fall down to the ground
Descending down to the Earth
And so the gates were closed to you
Access barred through closed gates
And all the time I think of you
Oftentimes, you come to mind
Nevermind, maybe they'll send
Disregarding the past; perhaps another opportunity will arise
An invitation to try again
An opportunity to start anew
Writer(s): Paul Haig Copyright: Dawn Certainty Music Ltd.
Contributed by Nora H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
theoriginalmilo
Nice one - my favourite Josef K track! And yes - it was recorded for the Peel session in 81 or 82 - but was only released as a single in 87 before the Endless Soul (best of) LP came out. Prior to that , my taped version suffered from interference and hiss from the FM radio prog it was taped off. At least Peel had the good grace not to witter throughout the beginning and ending of the track like most Radio 1 DJs would have (assuming they were cool enough to play Josef K that is)!
Shane Orange
One of my all-time fave tunes... Pure pop genius...
hatori hirofumi
My favorite Josef K. song!
therealsoulproduct
My favorite Josef K. song. Or one of them at least.
Boris Rangelov
Absolutely the same lyrics as Haig's solo "Heaven Sent" from April 1983.
Bettiri Sants
love it
tim s
Actually, the guitarist Malcolm Ross was in both bands
ComoParkStudio
The Editors to some extent yes (more from Joy Division and other post punk/electronic), but Franz Ferdinand, most definitely.
angel cabral
The soundtrack to my wasted youth
Richie Montero
Mine too, man