After Metro recorded New Love in 1979 and Future Imperfect a year later, they broke up. Godwin went solo, releasing the LP Images of Heaven in 1982. The synth pop title track became a cult favorite on new wave radio stations, and a provocative version of its video received controversy because it presented naked women in crucifix poses. David Bowie covered Metro's "Criminal World" on his Let's Dance album in 1983, renewing interest in Godwin's old group. But 1983's Correspondence would be the last time fans would hear from Godwin until 1998's Images of Heaven: The Best of Peter Godwin, a retrospective of his career that featured three new songs. During his absence Godwin wrote for other musicians and even acted in films.
Images of heaven
Peter Godwin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So, give me your soul
Nothing is wasted
On someone like you
Somebody killed me
And tore out my heart, my love
Somebody killed me
And there's nothing I can do
The media made you
There's nothing I can do
'cause you don't exist
you don't exist
Just images of heaven
that take me to hell
Images of heaven
Of something to sell
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
Something possessed me
An image of you, my love
Video visions
That play on my mind
Nobody blessed me
With power to reach, my love
When you're an illusion
You can still be divine
And nobody believes
In this new religion
Yeah nobody believes
'cause nobody sees
nobody sees
Images of heaven
Take me to hell
Images of heaven
of something to sell
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
And there's nothing I can do
The camera made you
There's nothing I can do
'Cause you don't exist
You don't exist
Just images of heaven
that take me to hell
Images of heaven
Of something to sell
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
The lyrics of Peter Godwin's song "Images of Heaven" explores themes of loss, obsession, and the power of media to create and manipulate our perceptions of reality. The first verse "Nothing is sacred, so give me your soul" sets the tone for the rest of the song, suggesting that the singer feels a sense of despair and hopelessness in a world where nothing is considered worthy of reverence or protection. The lines "Somebody killed me and tore out my heart, my love, somebody killed me because of you" suggests that the singer has been deeply hurt and possibly betrayed by someone they cared for deeply, leading to feelings of despair and hopelessness. The repeated refrain "there's nothing I can do, the media made you" suggests that the singer feels powerless in the face of the pervasive influence of media and the images it broadcasts to us, leading us to create idealized, unrealistic images of people and things that can never live up to the standards we've set for them.
The second verse continues to explore these themes through the lens of technology, specifically video technology that creates "visions that play on my mind." The line "When you're an illusion, you can still be divine" suggests that the singer has come to accept that the image they've created of this person (or thing) is not authentic, but still holds a kind of reverential quality. The repeated lines "images of heaven take me to hell" suggests that the singer feels trapped in this cycle of obsession and idealization, simultaneously drawn in by these alluring images but also feeling the weight of unrealistic expectations that they can never meet.
In the end, the song suggests that there is little hope for escape from this cycle, as the closing lines reiterate the feeling of powerlessness and futility: "there's nothing I can do, the camera made you, 'cause you don't exist, you don't exist." The song as a whole can be read as a scathing criticism of our culture's obsession with celebrity, image, and technology, warning that these things can lead us further and further away from the truth, leaving us empty and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing is sacred
There's nothing in the world that's entirely holy
So, give me your soul
Offer me your deepest desires and secrets
Nothing is wasted
Everything serves a purpose, no matter how small
On someone like you
On someone who's willing to take chances
Somebody killed me
Somebody destroyed and hurt me deeply
And tore out my heart, my love
And took away my love and passion for life
Because of you
As a result of your actions or influence
And there's nothing I can do
I'm powerless to change the situation
The media made you
The media created an image of you
'cause you don't exist
Because the version of you I've been presented with is not real
Just images of heaven
Merely a beautiful, idealistic portrayal of something heavenly
That take me to hell
That ultimately lead to destruction and despair
Of something to sell
Of a commodity that's marketed and sold for profit
Something possessed me
I was taken over by something, perhaps an idea or vision
An image of you, my love
A representation of my passionate feelings for you
Video visions
Specifically, visual representations seen on film or your screen
That play on my mind
That keep coming back to haunt me and affect my thoughts or emotions
Nobody blessed me
No one gave me the gift or ability to reach my full potential
With power to reach, my love
With the capacity to attain greater things, particularly in the realm of love
When you're an illusion
When you're just a false representation or fabrication
You can still be divine
You can still be perceived as glorious or heavenly
Nobody believes
No one has faith in this new idea or concept
'cause nobody sees
Because it's hard to confirm or validate
Images of heaven
Again, a beautiful, fantastical ideal
Take me to hell
Lead me down a path of destruction and misery
Of something to sell
Of a commodity that's marketed and sold for profit
Images of heaven
Again, a beautiful, fantastical ideal
Images of heaven
Again, a beautiful, fantastical ideal
And there's nothing I can do
Once again, I'm powerless to change the situation
The camera made you
The camera played a big part in creating this false image of you
'Cause you don't exist
Once again, the version of you I've been presented with is not real
Just images of heaven
Once more, a beautiful, idealistic portrayal of something heavenly
That take me to hell
That once again lead to destruction and despair
Of something to sell
An item that's packaged and sold for profit
Images of heaven
A final return to this idealistic, utopian vision
Images of heaven
A final return to this idealistic, utopian vision
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER GODWIN, PETER DOUGLAS GODWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@perpetual61
lyrics
Nothing is sacred
So, give me your soul
Nothing is wasted
On someone like you
Somebody killed me
And tore out my heart, my love
Somebody killed me
Because of you
And there's nothing I can do
The media made you
There's nothing I can do
'cause you don't exist
you don't exist
Just images of heaven
that take me to hell
Images of heaven
Of something to sell
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
Something possessed me
An image of you, my love
Video visions
That play on my mind
Nobody blessed me
With power to reach, my love
When you're an illusion
You can still be divine
And nobody believes
In this new religion
Yeah nobody believes
'cause nobody sees
nobody sees
Images of heaven
Take me to hell
Images of heaven
of something to sell
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
And there's nothing I can do
The camera made you
There's nothing I can do
'Cause you don't exist
You don't exist
Just images of heaven
that take me to hell
Images of heaven
Of something to sell
Images of heaven
Images of heaven
@jaysondyall
Corrected lyrics:
Nothing is sacred - so give me your soul my love
Nothing is wasted on someone like you
Somebody killed me - they tore out my heart my love
Somebody filled me with photos of you
And there's nothing I can do - the media made you
There's nothing I can do - cause you don't exist - you don't exist
Just images of heaven that take me to hell
Images of heaven - or something for sale
Oh images of heaven - images of heaven
Something possessed me - an image of you my love
Video visions that play on my mind
Nobody blessed me with power to reach my love
One cheap illusion can still be divine
And nobody believes in this new religion
Yes nobody believes - cause nobody sees-nobody sees
These images of heaven that take me to hell
Images of heaven - or something for sale
Oh images of heaven - images of heaven
And there's nothing I can do - the camera made you
There's nothing I can do - cause you don't exist - you don't exist
Just images of heaven that take me to hell
Images of heaven - or something for sale
Oh images of heaven - images of heaven
@duantorruellas716
The first time I heard this it was on FM radio . wlir garden city long island and it was like 1983 and that station played what was called " new music ', back then . Bands like the b52s , gang of four, new order , ultravox , and it changed my life. I was in high school back then and this music changed my life. Every once in a while the name of an obscure band I heard back then will rise to the surface of my memories and I will have to play it. Like tonight, I told a friend to sleep tight and dream of images of heaven. And the song came to mind , and here I am. Thx wlir and thx YouTube for making this magickal process possible.
@ColumbiaFrancis
Anyone who grew up in the 80s within the signal reach of WLIR on Long Island was fortunate indeed!
@giannit2777
Yes! WLIR!! What a great radio station that existed at that time!! That is where I also heard this gem of a song!! Many great memories!!
@duantorruellas716
@@ColumbiaFrancis sorry I'm late , but yes you're absolutely right . 👍👍
@duantorruellas716
@@giannit2777 yes , thank you , another kindred spirit. 👍👍
@duantorruellas716
Thank you guys for responding here , yeah as I was on the border of Hempstead and garden city my stereo could lock in on it and I would be in heaven. Those were the best years of my life.
Yeah and I remember it was 92.7 and the rock station was right next to it , I think it was 92.3 . So yeah I know you guys remember that station too, the scorpions love at first sting came out and master of puppets by Metallica. Oh man those were the days. And LIR was crankin gang of 4 , Roxy music , etc. Good stuff.
@thestatuary8752
This song was decades ahead of its time. Still great, even after 39 years.
@anthonyarguien7785
Agreed.
@HyperHorse
And it's a crime it's not available on cd or any streaming service. I guess I'll have to buy a whole record player setup and try and get a used vinyl copy.
@dogchopz
@@HyperHorse get an mp3 download of here