While The Lords retained a punk rebellion, their music was darker, more melodic and (frankly) better-produced. Their talents alienated the die-hard punk audience, while bringing them a wider, more diverse following.
The Lords concept began in 1980 when Bator and James renewed an acquaintance that began when the Dead Boys opened for the Damned on several CBGB dates and an English tour. After splitting with their previous bands, Bator and James briefly enlisted ex-Generation X bassist Tony James and ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes. Later in 1980, Damned drummer Rat Scabies, and Tregunna replaced Tony and Terry for a single gig billed as the "Dead Damned Sham Band." By the time The Lords recorded their self-titled I.R.S. release in 1982, Turner had replaced Scabies and this more or less became the permanent lineup retained throughout the band's most productive years.
Though the debut was well-received, The Lords became more notorious for their live shows. A devotee of Iggy Pop, Bator had developed a fearless reputation in his Dead Boys days and continued such antics with The Lords. The most famous being the time he reportedly hanged himself during a show. Bator's stunt had went awry. He was pronounced clinically dead for several minutes. Nonetheless, Bator survived and The Lords recorded two more successful albums for I.R.S., IS NOTHING SACRED? and THE METHOD TO OUR MADNESS.
In 1985, The Lords slowly began to disintegrate. They recorded a mockingly rich single of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" for the IRS' "Best Of" Collection, KILLER LORDS. Around this time Tregunna left, replaced briefly by Grant Flemming, before returning to the band a short time later. A second guitarist, Alistair Simmons, was also added but later canned. Eventually Turner quit to be with his singer/actress wife, Hillary Shepard (of IRS stablemate American Girls with whom he had started a family) and was replaced by Danny Fury on the drums. Bator injured his back in 1988, forcing James to advertise for a replacement singer. When Bator found out, he played the encore of his last show donning a T-shirt with James' newspaper ad printed across the front. He then proceeded to fire the remaining members on-stage.
Bator died in 1990 of injuries sustained when he was reportedly struck by a car in Paris, quashing all possibilities of his return or a reunion of the original band.
In 2001, surviving members Brian James and Dave Tregunna announced a reformed Lords of the New Church featuring Floridian LordsoftheNewChurch.com webmaster Steven Blankfield Marque on vocals. After a few more change ups on drums and guitar, The LustKillers Adam Becvare was chosen to guest on guitar and vocals as it was learned Marque was unable to sing the band's classic material.
The Lords 2003 were finally laid to rest in June of that year after recording and touring Europe for their self released "Hang On" Cd.
James and Tregunna continue on as The Brian James Gang. Becvare continues with The LustKillers and Vancouver's Black Halos.
(taken from Wikipedia)
Dance With Me
Lords Of The New Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Show me secret sins
Love can be like bondage
Seduce me once again
Burning like an angel
Who has heaven in reprieve
Burning like the voodoo man
Won't you dance with me
In my world of fantasy?
Won't you dance with me?
Ritual fertility.
Like an apparition
You don't seem real at all
Like a premonition
Of curses on my soul
The way I want to love you
Well it could be against the law
I've seen you in a thousand minds
You've made the angels fall
Won't you dance with me
In my world of fantasy?
Won't you dance with me?
Ritual fertility.
Oh come on little stranger
There's only one last dance
Soon the music's over
Let's give it one more chance.
Won't you dance with me
In my world of fantasy?
Won't you dance with me?
Ritual fertility.
Take a chance with me
In my world of fantasy.
Won't you dance with me?
Ritual fertility.
The lyrics of "Dance With Me" by Lords of the New Church describe a desire for forbidden love and a need for escape from reality. The singer is calling out to a mysterious stranger, urging them to reveal their secret sins and to indulge in a fantasy world of love and seduction. The song likens love to bondage, suggesting a dangerous and all-consuming passion.
The imagery in the lyrics is powerful and evocative. The singer imagines the object of their desire as both an angel and a voodoo man, suggesting a complex and unpredictable character. The lyrics also suggest a sense of foreboding or danger, with references to curses and fallen angels.
Overall, "Dance With Me" is a haunting and seductive song that captures the intensity of forbidden love and the allure of fantasy.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's dance little stranger
Come dance with me, my unfamiliar partner
Show me secret sins
Reveal to me the sins you hide from the world
Love can be like bondage
Romantic love can resemble the restraint of bondage
Seduce me once again
Entice me once more with your charm
Burning like an angel
Burning with passion and desire like a heavenly being
Who has heaven in reprieve
Who has been granted mercy from heaven
Burning like the voodoo man
Passionately burning like a voodoo priest
With devils on his sleeve
Displaying his malevolent intentions on his sleeve
Won't you dance with me
Won't you join me in this dance?
In my world of fantasy?
In this imaginary world we will create together
Ritual fertility.
Let our dance bring about fertility as in a ritual
Like an apparition
You seem ghostly and surreal to me
You don't seem real at all
You appear totally unreal to me
Like a premonition
You feel like a forewarning
Of curses on my soul
Of misfortune that will befall me
The way I want to love you
The passion I feel for you may be forbidden
Well it could be against the law
It may be illegal to love you as I do
I've seen you in a thousand minds
I've imagined you in countless scenarios
You've made the angels fall
You are so attractive that even angels would be tempted to sin for you
Oh come on little stranger
Please don't be afraid to dance with me, my unfamiliar partner
There's only one last dance
This may be our final opportunity to dance together
Soon the music's over
The song will soon come to an end
Let's give it one more chance.
Let's make the most of our time left and dance once more
Take a chance with me
Take a risk and dance with me
Won't you dance with me?
Please join me in this dance
Ritual fertility.
Let our dance bring about fertility as in a ritual
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@noOnionswithoutTears
If you are watching this video in 2023, you have the best musical taste on the planet. Go forth and preach the words of The New Church. Long Live Stiv Bators!!!!!!
@hansandreasaamo
Jeg hørte den da den kom. Stiv Bator hadde en utrolig bra stemme. RIP
@coletteferlay807
❤❤❤❤ I m OK with you, it s amazing. I LOVE
@francescadamico5785
I agree
@paulorodrigues7323
I´m watching and dancing now 05/01/2024...
@gentillygirl545
Thank you!!
@Liquidmice9
Still listening in November 2023. I still have this cassette I bought back in the early 80s. One of my favorites from back then.
@lyralittlewing
This is one of my favorite songs ever. When I die, I want this song to be played.
@P5ssword
Great song. Also a brilliant chilled out version by Nouvelle Vague x
@carrikrueger9696
that is a beautiful choice!