By 1983, Bauhaus broke up and Murphy went on to new projects not involving Bauhaus members Kevin Haskins, David J, or Daniel Ash. After some brief dabbling with acting and dance - including a slightly odd televised performance to Bauhaus's "Hollow Hills" - he soon formed Dalis Car with Mick Karn, the bass player from Japan.
Murphy's solo career over time became more varied than Bauhaus, ranging from pseudo-pop to haunting ballads that showcased his deep and complex vocals. After the commercial non-start of Dali's Car, Murphy's first solo album was similarly overlooked. Should the World Fail to Fall Apart did spawn several singles, including a cover of Pere Ubu's "Final Solution" that made a minor splash on the club scene.
The followup, Love Hysteria, did much better. It also marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration with songwriter Paul Statham, who co-wrote songs with Murphy until 1995. The resulting singles "All Night Long" and "Indigo Eyes" helped garner a wider following, and the black-and-white video for "All Night Long" entered rotation on MTV.
The pinnacle of Murphy's solo popularity came with the release of Deep. For this album Murphy reinvented himself as somewhat of a rock-god, now sporting hair dyed platinum blonde and performing a much more aggressive alt-rock sound. The single "Cuts You Up" from Deep held on to the top spot on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for longer than any other single before - displacing "So Alive" by his former Bauhaus-bandmates Love and Rockets.
In 2000, Murphy performed his international Just for Love tour, which resulted in the album aLive Just for Love. It is a live recording of the fully uninterrupted set from the El Rey show in Los Angeles on November 30, 2000. During the tour, Murphy chose to perform with only two back-up musicians, Canadian electric violinist Hugh Marsh and Peter DiStefano from Porno for Pyros on guitar, although former Bauhaus bassist David J sometimes joined the trio for an encore. At this point he also contributed to works by noted film composer Harry Gregson-Williams.
Also in 2000, Murphy gave a nod to the North American goth scene, where his solo works and his works with Bauhaus are still very popular, by making a surprise guest appearance at the sixth annual Convergence festival in Seattle, to perform a low-key, acoustic solo set.
In 2004, Murphy signed to yet another new label, Viastar, which was home to several other 1980s pop artists who had moved into more eclectic areas. Despite numerous problems with the label, the album Unshattered was released, showcasing Murphy returning to a more pop sound.
Murphy undertook extensive tours of the U.S.A and Europe to promote 'Unshattered' in 2005, with a live band featuring guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite of The Mission UK and Tricky on guitar, Jeff Schwartoff of Human Waste Project and Professional Murder Music on bass and Justin Bennett of Skinny Puppy on drums. Murphy and the band reconvened in November 2007 for shows in Portugal and Spain, with Nick Lucero replacing Bennett on drums. In May 2008 Murphy recorded a cover of the song "Warm Leatherette" with Trent Reznor and Jeordie White from Nine Inch Nails. This was played live at an intimate studio performance, and the video recording was released on both the official Nine Inch Nails website and YouTube. A full-length album called Ninth was released in 2011, featuring the single "I Spit Roses".
Secret Silk Society
Peter Murphy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Secret silk society
Secret silk society
Secret silk society
Who is wise? why, our hearts
Made for passing the lote tree
It is very, very far
Oh, thirst, and yet
Astonished we
We seesaw soul
In another place
Secret, secret
Is love as traveling?
Under the doppled glade
Arched embracer trees
Who is wise? who is wise?
Who is wise?
Who is wise?
Why, our hearts
Who is wise?
Why, our hearts
Who is wise? (secret silk society)
Why, our hearts (secret silk society)
Who is wise? (secret silk society)
Why, our hearts (secret silk society)
Oh, secret silk society
Secret silk society
Secret silk society
The song "Secret Silk Society" by Peter Murphy is a mysterious and enigmatic piece that juxtaposes themes of wisdom, love, and secrecy. The repeated refrain of "Secret silk society" hints at a hidden group or organization that is exclusive and shrouded in secrecy. The lyrics suggest that this "society" is associated with wisdom and love, two intangible and abstract concepts that are often intertwined. The reference to the "lote tree" evokes a sense of distance and transcendence, as if the society and its members exist in another realm or plane of existence.
The verses of the song are somewhat cryptic, with lines like "We seesaw soul / In another place" and "Is love as traveling?" suggesting that love and wisdom exist beyond the physical realm, and that they are experienced in a spiritual or metaphysical way. The imagery of the "dappled glade" and "embracer trees" reinforces this otherworldly feel, as if the singer is transported to a paradise-like setting where love and wisdom reign supreme.
Overall, "Secret Silk Society" is a song that explores the esoteric and mystical aspects of human experience, drawing on themes of love, wisdom, and secrecy to create a dreamlike and transcendent atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
Secret silk society
The singer is referring to a secretive group or society that holds a certain level of importance or exclusivity.
Secret, secret
The singer emphasizes the secrecy and exclusivity of the group he is referring to.
Who is wise? why, our hearts
The singer values the inherent wisdom found in following one's heart.
Made for passing the lote tree
The singer alludes to a religious symbol, the lote tree, which represents the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds.
It is very, very far
The spiritual world is distant and difficult to reach.
Very far indeed
The singer repeats the idea that the spiritual world is inaccessible to most people.
Oh, thirst, and yet
Despite the difficulty of accessing the spiritual world, the singer still experiences a yearning for it.
Astonished we
The singer is surprised and overwhelmed by the complexity of the spiritual journey.
We seesaw soul
The singer symbolically compares the ups and downs of the spiritual journey to a seesaw.
In another place
The spiritual world is separate from the physical world, and can only be accessed mentally or emotionally.
Is love as traveling?
The singer asks if finding love is similar to embarking on a spiritual journey.
Under the doppled glade
The singer paints a picture of a peaceful and tranquil setting.
Arched embracer trees
The trees provide a metaphor for the spiritual journey, where the seeker is sheltered and guided.
Who is wise?
The singer repeats the question of who is truly wise and capable of accessing the spiritual world.
Why, our hearts
The singer suggests that the answer to finding wisdom lies within ourselves.
Oh, secret silk society
The singer repeats the title of the song, emphasizing the exclusivity and importance of the group he is referring to.
Secret silk society
The song ends with the repetition of the title, underscoring the significance of the subject matter.
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
torukojinkubi
absolute awesome track i love it
Carmen Funes
best song in the album
Hox Vox
Whatever he sings, sounds great
Duke de PallMall
This is the Peter Murphy I like, one step removed from the mainstream.
Wojtek
Bardzo mi się podoba - momentami jak David Bowie z płyty 1.Outside!
Mark Elkins
This is peter murphy I remember.
MrCollinGabriel
It's not bad.
Callyon
first and last and always*
P-Noir
first
memogeddon
second