Matching Mole was an English progressive rock band associated with the Cant… Read Full Bio ↴Matching Mole was an English progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Robert Wyatt formed the band in October 1971 after he left Soft Machine and recorded his first solo album The End of an Ear. He continued his role on vocals and drums and was joined by David Sinclair, of Caravan, on organ and piano, Phil Miller on guitar, and Bill MacCormick, formerly of Quiet Sun, on bass. The band name is a pun on Machine Molle, the French translation of the name of Wyatt's previous group Soft Machine.

Their first, eponymous album was released in April 1972, the bulk of which was composed by Wyatt himself, with the exception of the lush mellotron-laced "O Caroline" (a Dave Sinclair composition with lyrics by Wyatt about his recent breakup with girlfriend, Caroline Coon) and Phil Miller's "Part of the Dance". For their second album, Matching Mole's Little Red Record, released in November 1972 and produced by Robert Fripp, Sinclair was replaced by New Zealand-born keyboard player and composer Dave MacRae who had already played a guest role on the first album. This album was more of a team effort, with Wyatt concentrating on lyrics and vocal melodies and leaving the composing to his bandmates.

Matching Mole disbanded in late September 1972 immediately upon completion of a European tour supporting Soft Machine, with Sinclair and Miller going on to form the more successful Hatfield and the North. A new lineup consisting of Wyatt, MacCormick, ex-Curved Air keyboardist Francis Monkman, and jazz saxophonist Gary Windo - was due to record a third album in 1973, but this was cancelled when Wyatt fell from a window and was paralyzed from the waist down and was therefore unable to continue drumming. He later recovered and embarked on a celebrated solo career, but Matching Mole was no more. In early 2000's, Cuineform Records reissued some of the band's archived live recordings as two live albums, Smoke Signals (2001) and March (2002).

God Song
Matching Mole Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And next time you send your boy down here
Give him a wife and a sexy daughter
Someone we can understand
Who's got some ideas we can use, really relate to
We've all read your rules, tried them
Learnt them in school, then tried them
They're impossible rules
And you've made us look fools
Well done, God, but now please...

Don't hunt me down, for Heaven's sake!
You know that I'm only joking, aren't I?
Pardon me, I'm very drunk!
But I know what I'm trying to say
And it's nearly night time
And we're still alone
Waiting for something unknown, still waiting

So throw down a stone, or something
Give us a sign, for Christ's sake!

Overall Meaning

The song begins with a series of questions directed towards God as the singer is confused about God's plan for humanity. The singer even goes as far as to ask whether God is playing a joke on humanity by not answering their prayers. The singer also questions why God is not actively involved in the world, and accuses God of being nothing but hot air. The singer goes on to ask where God's son is and requests for his return.

The second half of the song is more of a plea for God to give humanity something to hold onto, such as a wife, a sexy daughter or someone relatable with ideas they can use. The singer admits to being drunk but insists that they know what they are trying to say. As the night wears on, the singer and all of humanity are still waiting for something, anything to happen. They plead with God to give them a sign.

Line by Line Meaning

What on Earth are you doing, God?
As an omnipotent being, what exactly are you doing with your power and why?

Is this some sort of joke you're playing?
Are your actions a source of amusement or mockery for you?

Is it 'cause we didn't pray?
Are you punishing us for failing to pray to you enough?

Well I can't see the point of the word without the action
Mere words are meaningless without corresponding actions to back them up

Are you just hot air, breathing over us and over all?
Just like hot air that passes over us, are your words also without actual substance or power?

Is it fun watching us all?
Is it entertaining for you to watch us struggle and suffer?

Where's your son? We want him again!
Where exactly is your son and why have you left us without his guidance?

And next time you send your boy down here
If you choose to send your son down to Earth again

Give him a wife and a sexy daughter
Give him more relatable familial relationships that we humans can better understand

Someone we can understand
Make your son more approachable and understandable to us humans

Who's got some ideas we can use, really relate to
Facilitate a transfer of usable and relevant knowledge that we can apply to our lives

We've all read your rules, tried them
We've all attempted to follow your religious doctrines

Learnt them in school, then tried them
We've been taught your teachings in school and then put them into practice

They're impossible rules
Your rules are too difficult or even impossible to follow completely

And you've made us look fools
As a result of your 'impossible rules', we appear ridiculous or foolish to those around us

Well done, God, but now please...
Congratulations on your accomplishment, but now we'd like to respectfully request something different

Don't hunt me down, for Heaven's sake!
Please don't come after me for making these comments

You know that I'm only joking, aren't I?
I'm just kidding and not actually speaking ill towards you

Pardon me, I'm very drunk!
Please excuse my behavior as it is influenced by alcohol

But I know what I'm trying to say
Despite my inebriation, I still know what I'm trying to convey

And it's nearly night time
The day is almost over

And we're still alone
Despite our calls for help and divine intervention, we remain isolated and without aid

Waiting for something unknown, still waiting
Continuing to wait for something that remains unclear or undefined

So throw down a stone, or something
Please send us some sort of sign or tangible representation of your power or presence

Give us a sign, for Christ's sake!
For the love of Christ, please provide us with a sign so we can continue our faith without doubts or uncertainties

Contributed by Claire A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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01Starting in the Middle of the Day We Can Drink Our Politics Away

02Marchides8:25

03Nan True's Hole3:37

04Righteous Rhumba

05Brandy as in Benj4:39

PT3M

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Maria Diaz

6y↑7

What on Earth are you doing, God?
Is this some sort of joke you're playing?
Is it 'cause we didn't pray?
Well I can't see the point of the word without the action
Are you just hot air, breathing over us and over all?
Is it fun watching us all?
Where's your son? We want him again!

And next time you send your boy down here
Give him a wife and a sexy daughter
Someone we can understand
Who's got some ideas we can use, really relate to
We've all read your rules, tried them
Learnt them in school, then tried them
They're impossible rules
And you've made us look fools
Well done, God, but now please...

Don't hunt me down, for Heaven's sake!
You know that I'm only joking, aren't I?
Pardon me, I'm very drunk!
But I know what I'm trying to say
And it's nearly night time
And we're still alone
Waiting for something unknown, still waiting
So throw down a stone, or something
Give us a sign, for Christ's sake!