Retribution Gospel Choir is an indie rock band based out of Duluth, Minneso… Read Full Bio ↴Retribution Gospel Choir is an indie rock band based out of Duluth, Minnesota, USA formed in 2007. Current members of the band include, Alan Sparhawk (guitar, vocals, sampler), Steve Garrington (bass), both of whom are also in the band Low, and Eric Pollard (drums, vocals). Despite sharing the majority of their members, RGC's high-energy performance differs greatly from Low's subdued, minimalist feel. Until 2008, Matt Livingston (formerly Low) played bass for the band. Sparhawk's wife Mimi Parker (and also member of Low) appears on vocals on one Retribution Gospel Choir track as well.

Retribution Gospel Choir plays loud and sings in key. Live, two minute pop songs run into psychedelic improvisations and drum-n-bass-heavy dub. People sometimes think the band is too loud or that they should take turns soloing, but generally, people are pleasantly surprised.

Their self-titled debut album Retribution Gospel Choir was released on March 18, 2008 and was produced by Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon. In 2010 a new album was released simply titled: 2 and promoted with and extensive tour through Europe and the USA.

Take Your Time
Retribution Gospel Choir Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So she waits at the edges of the mattress
What it takes to get a bad mess out of a bad dress
When she sings, it's like a bluebird on a whipping post
When she speaks, she thanks the good Lord for the Holy Ghost
Take your time, sweet thing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Retribution Gospel Choir's song "Take Your Time" tells the story of a woman who is waiting at the edge of the mattress, possibly reflecting on a bad mess that she is trying to get out of a bad dress, which could symbolize something negative that has happened to or around her. The line "When she sings, it's like a bluebird on a whipping post" could be a reference to the 1971 song "Whipping Post" by The Allman Brothers Band, where a whipping post is a metaphor for the trials and tribulations of life. The woman's singing could be her way of expressing her pain and struggles, as well as her hopes and dreams.

The next line "When she speaks, she thanks the good Lord for the Holy Ghost" could be interpreted as her seeking solace and guidance from a higher power during her difficult times. The last line "Take your time, sweet thing" could be a message of encouragement to the woman, implying that she should not rush and take her time to work through her issues at her own pace. Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of empathy and understanding towards those who are going through difficulties in life, and the need to take time to heal and recover.

Line by Line Meaning

So she waits at the edges of the mattress
She lays on the bed, situated at the border of the surface.

What it takes to get a bad mess out of a bad dress
The effort required to clean a stain or dirt from a ruined article of clothing.

When she sings, it's like a bluebird on a whipping post
The woman's singing voice is so beautiful that it is almost painful to hear, like a small, delicate bird tied to a whipping post.

When she speaks, she thanks the good Lord for the Holy Ghost
The woman is very religious and expresses gratitude to God for the Holy Ghost whenever she speaks.

Take your time, sweet thing
Take as long as you need, my dear.

Contributed by Gianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS