Playing With Fire (1989) expanded on the psychedelic and drone themes of the earlier albums; its second single, "Revolution" reached #1 on the UK indie charts. But soon after, a combination of personnel changes, drug problems and intra-band tension (especially between Kember and Pierce) began to break the band apart. Recurring, released in 1991, was their last proper album, though its recording reflected the split between Pierce and Kember as each recorded their own side of the album in different studios, with a cover of Mudhoney's 'When Tomorrow Hits' to separate them (Mudhoney would later return the favour with a cover of Spacemen 3's 'Revolution'). It was their most popular record, but by its release Kember and Pierce had already formed new bands, Spectrum,were self described "noise experimentation" and Spiritualized, respectively. The final conflict that contributed to the split was Pierce's decision to release a cover of The Troggs' 'Any Way That You Want Me', as the first Spiritualized single, which Kember had been wanting to cover for years.
From the outset Spacemen 3 had a very defined set of aesthetic principles. They based almost their entire sound on their own concept of minimalism—droning guitars, feedback, as few chords as possible, pounding drums—with their motto “Taking drugs to make music to take drugs to”. Their minimalism bled into their stage show as well. Sitting down to play their guitars and covered in the spinning colours of a cheap psychedelic light show, their stage “act” was very anti-performance. Another striking aspect of Spacemen 3 was their willingness to cover and share their influences. Song titles, lyrics and interviews were peppered with references to bands and artists they believed shared their “minimal is maximal” aesthetic. The Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones, The Stooges, MC5, early Captain Beefheart, out-there jazz legend Sun Ra, Silver Apples, garage punk of the 1960s such as the 13th Floor Elevators, Red Krayola, and the Electric Prunes; the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and other surf bands; ’80s rockabilly groups The Cramps, the Gun Club, Tav Falco; blues and gospel acts like Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, the Staple Singers and John Lee Hooker; and the production techniques of Joe Meek, Brian Wilson and Delia Derbyshire were just some of the names mentioned by the band.
Since the break-up there have been a stream of semi-legitimate albums, early demos and live recordings, many of which have been issued by the Kember-affiliated Space Age Recordings. Highlights include Dreamweapon: An Evening of Contemporary Sitar Music, a 45 minute drone piece performed in front of a live audience, Forged Prescriptions, a collection of Perfect Prescription demos and alternate versions (Kember claims in the liner notes that the alternate versions reproduce the layers of guitars they recorded but later removed because they felt they'd never be able to reproduce them live), and the band's singles compilation, which is perhaps the best introduction to the breadth of their work.
In 1998, a tribute album was released on Rocket Girl, which included tracks by Mogwai and Low. Kember’s Spectrum has toured under the banner “Songs the Spacemen Taught Us”, while Pierce routinely includes their songs in his Spiritualized set. In 2004, US journalist Erik Morse published his account of the band’s life and work, Dreamweapon: Spacemen 3 and the Birth of Spiritualized.
Members of the band went on to form Spiritualized, the Darkside and Spectrum (AKA Sonic Boom). Spiritualized carry on, to critical acclaim, though they have largely discarded the dark psychedelic edge. Sonic has also been on the road, playing gigs in London and occasional tours in the US as E.A.R. (Experimental Audio Research), which features synthesizers heavily. The Darkside split, while Rosco (AKA Sterling Roswell) went on to form the Sterling Roswell Blues Band and now is currently in The Gimps.
Lord Can You Hear Me?
Spacemen 3 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd take my life but I'm in doubt
Just where my soul will lie
deep in the earth or way up in the sky
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
All my loves left my side
Can't get enough of life to keep me satisfied
Oh I've lost about everything
Lord, look what shape I am in
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me, hear me at all?
The lyrics to Spacemen 3's song "Lord Can You Hear Me?" are a plea for divine guidance and assistance during a time of personal crisis. The singer is contemplating suicide, but is uncertain about the fate of their soul after death. The second stanza reveals that the singer has lost everything they once held dear, including their loved ones, and is unable to find fulfillment in life. The repeated refrain of "Lord, can you hear me when I call?" expresses a deep sense of desperation and isolation, as the singer questions whether their prayers are being heard at all.
Throughout the song, the use of religious language and imagery underscores the singer's sense of spiritual unease. The reference to the soul implies a belief in an afterlife, while the phrase "deep in the earth or way up in the sky" suggests uncertainty about what that afterlife might entail. The use of "Lord" as a form of address similarly situates the singer within a religious context, while also implying a sense of deference and supplication.
Overall, "Lord Can You Hear Me?" is a powerful and emotionally charged exploration of themes surrounding faith, doubt, and personal struggle. The song's haunting melody and sparse instrumentation accentuate the rawness of the lyrics, making for a deeply affecting listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, help me out
I am in need of your assistance, please help me
I'd take my life but I'm in doubt
I am considering ending my life due to uncertainty and hesitation
Just where my soul will lie
I am unsure of where my soul will end up after death
deep in the earth or way up in the sky
I question if my soul will rest in the ground or ascend to heaven
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
I am calling out to you, wondering if you can hear my pleas for help
All my loves left my side
All of my loved ones have abandoned me and I feel lonely
Can't get enough of life to keep me satisfied
I am unable to find fulfillment or satisfaction in life
Oh I've lost about everything
I have lost almost everything I hold dear
Lord, look what shape I am in
I am in a desperate and pitiful state and begging for your attention
Lord, can you hear me, hear me at all?
I am crying out to you, hoping that my prayers and pleas do not fall on deaf ears
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jason Pierce
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
alejo pdl
Lord, help me out
I'd take my life but I'm in doubt
Just where my soul will lie
deep in the earth or way up in the sky
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me, hear me at all?
All my loves left my side
Can't get enough of life to keep me satisfied
Oh I've lost about everything
Lord, look what shape I am in
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me, hear me at all?
Alive
Some have it easier than others and yet we’re all suffering
Marco Venieri
the most beautiful prayer
Plaintiff's Ex
Hard to beat when every note, word, chord is unbeatable.
alejo pdl
Lord, help me out
I'd take my life but I'm in doubt
Just where my soul will lie
deep in the earth or way up in the sky
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me, hear me at all?
All my loves left my side
Can't get enough of life to keep me satisfied
Oh I've lost about everything
Lord, look what shape I am in
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me when I call?
Lord, can you hear me, hear me at all?
Rippenhengst
That's what state you're in when you're near death.
georgeharrison70
Great song!
Brian Crain aka Cain
What a pretty song...
Oscar Slater
The Greatest Song of All Time
Teerath Whang
Thank you for pointing that out, once and for all.
Oscar Slater
@Teerath Whang no trouble man. you know i’m right