The first Spiritualized release was a space rock-esque cover of Any Way That You Want Me in 1990, a record which heralded the official split of Spacemen 3 following contractual wrangles over the band's name. Of the final Spacemen 3 line up, bassist Will Carruthers, drummer Jonny Mattock and session guitarist Mark Refoy joined Pierce in the first phase of Spiritualized (for the debut LP, Lazer Guided Melodies), alongside his then girlfriend Kate Radley. None of the original line up remains - Carruthers tried for a solo career, Mattock played for a spell in The Breeders (and later Lupine Howl), Refoy formed Slipstream(his replacement was John Coxon) and Radley married Richard Ashcroft of The Verve. A later cohort of Spiritualized backing musicians - Sean Cook, Damon Reece and Michael Mooney - formed Lupine Howl following summary dismissal by Pierce.
Sax player Ray 'Moonshake' Dickaty was added to the lineup in 1997, and Gregg Hale (guitar) also augmented the band in 1997 and 1998.
Retaining only keyboardist Thighpaulsandra (keyboards)a replacement for Kate Radley, Jason Pierce then debuted a new (and current) line up of Spiritualized, introducing classical percussionist Tom Edwards and former Julian Cope string arranger Martin Schellard on bass guitar. Completing the new Spiritualized line-up were guitarist Doggen of Brain Donor and the Julian Cope band, and drummer Kevin 'Kevlar' Bales who is also ex-Julian Cope band. Ray Dickaty departed in 2003, quitting to play in the free-jazz Solar Fire Trio. The remaining line-up finished recording the album Songs In A&E in Nottingham and London.
The musical style of Spiritualized can perhaps be best described as psychedelic rock, especially earlier albums like Lazer Guided Melodies and Pure Phase, which also incorporated elements of the shoegazing style made popular by influential 1991 album Loveless. The landmark Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space showed influences from African-American gospel and blues beginning to creep in, and wall of sound influences from Phil Spector and Brian Wilson began to predominate, which came to a head on Let It Come Down. Amazing Grace favoured a more stripped down sound with the gospel, blues, and soul influences heavier than ever.
For several years (ending in or about 1999), Spiritualized were the only active artist signed to Dedicated Records, a British independent label which had, by then, been acquired by Spiritualized's then-label, Arista Records.
On 15 June 1997, Spiritualized became the last band to play at Factory Records' Manchester nightclub The Haçienda.
After several years of work and Pierce's serious illness in July 2005,the album, Songs in A&E was released on 26 May 2008 in the UK, and on 27 May 2008 in the US. The first single from the 18-track album was "Soul On Fire". The release was backed by an Electric Mainlines UK tour which began in May. Pierce has also scored Harmony Korine's 2008 film Mister Lonely.
In October and December 2009 the band performed 1997's Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series.
After more than two years in the making, while Pierce was undergoing experimental chemotherapy for a liver disease, and including a year long period of mixing, Sweet Heart Sweet Light was released in April 2012, on Double Six Records. The band had already played some of this new material over the past 3 years but not much else was known about the content of the album. The album cover, an octagon surrounding the word "Huh?" on a plain white background, is a reference to the working title of the album. In an interview regarding the new release it was revealed that the album would "embrace" more poppy songs compared to previous albums. In the same interview, Jason Pierce also said that the album was partly inspired by the experiences of performing Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space live in its entirety.
Let's Dance
Spiritualized Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's better things y'know a lonely rock 'n' roller can do
The hour is getting late
They're putting all our dreams away
And lord have mercy on all of our thoughts today
I should get away
C'mon darling let's dance
Although I'm tired just sitting here falling for you
There's better things y'know a lonely boy and girl can do
The hour is getting late
They're pulling all the curtains drawn and
We got the rest of our lives 'til the coming dawn
Hold my hand awhile
We'll go out in style and dance
C'mon darling let's dance
I'll say a little prayer for us girl
I'll say a little prayer for us girl
I'll say a little prayer for us girl
I'll say a little prayer for us girl
Though I'm tired just sitting here singing for you
There's better things y'know a lonely rock 'n' roller can do
The hour is getting late
They're putting all the chairs away
If they've got Big Star on the radio they'll let us stay
Oh, September girl
Come and rule my world and dance
C'mon darling let's dance
C'mon baby let's dance
C'mon darling let's dance (I'll say a little prayer for us girl)
C'mon baby let's dance (I'll say a little prayer for us girl)
C'mon darling let's dance (I'll say a little prayer for us girl)
C'mon baby let's dance (I'll say a little prayer for us girl)
Show a little love
I wanna be close to mine and
Have a little heart
I'll keep my own in time and
Show a little love
I wanna be close to mine
And dance
The lyrics to Spiritualized's "Let's Dance" express a sense of weariness but also an urgent desire to enjoy life while one can. The song seems to be directed towards a romantic partner, with the singer of the song alluding to their loneliness as a "rock 'n' roller" and a "lonely boy and girl." The hour getting late is a recurring motif in the song, perhaps symbolizing the fleeting nature of life and the need to make the most of every moment. Despite feeling tired, the singer insists on dancing rather than leaving, conveying a sense of seizing the moment amidst a world that may not be accommodating.
The line "lord have mercy on all of our thoughts today" suggests an existential awareness that time is slipping away and that one may not have control over everything. The reference to Big Star on the radio is an allusion to the band's influence on rock music and perhaps a nod to the importance of musical experiences. The line "Show a little love" seems to be a plea to not let the fleeting nature of time get in the way of connections with others.
In all, "Let's Dance" is a song about seizing the moment and enjoying life while it lasts, even amidst feelings of weariness and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Though I'm tired just sitting here talking with you
There's better things y'know a lonely rock 'n' roller can do
I'm feeling drained, even as we talk, and I know there are more exciting things that a solitary rock star like me can do
The hour is getting late
They're putting all our dreams away
And lord have mercy on all of our thoughts today
Time is passing us by, our aspirations seem to be fading, and may the divine have mercy on our state of mind
I should get away
But I would rather stay and dance
C'mon darling let's dance
I know I should leave, but I'd rather stay and enjoy this moment with you. Let's dance together, my dear
Although I'm tired just sitting here falling for you
There's better things y'know a lonely boy and girl can do
I'm exhausted from just sitting here and falling in love with you. However, there are more thrilling things that both of us could be doing as single people
The hour is getting late
They're pulling all the curtains drawn and
We got the rest of our lives 'til the coming dawn
The night is moving on, and they are closing the curtains. We have plenty of time until tomorrow's morning sunlight arrives
Hold my hand awhile
We'll go out in style and dance
C'mon darling let's dance
Take my hand, and let's leave here with style and move to the rhythm of the music. Come on, my love, let's dance!
I'll say a little prayer for us girl
I'll say a little prayer for us girl
I'll say a little prayer for us girl
I'll say a little prayer for us girl
I'll offer up a few words to the divine for our well-being, my love
Though I'm tired just sitting here singing for you
There's better things y'know a lonely rock 'n' roller can do
Despite my exhaustion from singing for you, I know there are more exciting things that a lonely rock star like me can do
The hour is getting late
They're putting all the chairs away
If they've got Big Star on the radio they'll let us stay
It's getting late, and the venue is clearing up. If they are playing a song by Big Star on the radio, they might allow us to stay here for a little while longer
Oh, September girl
Come and rule my world and dance
C'mon darling let's dance
Oh, girl born in September, come and be the queen of my world tonight. Let's dance together, my darling
C'mon baby let's dance
C'mon darling let's dance (I'll say a little prayer for us girl)
C'mon baby let's dance (I'll say a little prayer for us girl)
C'mon darling let's dance (I'll say a little prayer for us girl)
C'mon baby let's dance (I'll say a little prayer for us girl)
Let's dance, my baby. Come on, my love, let's dance together. And I'll whisper a small prayer for our well-being, my darling
Show a little love
I wanna be close to mine and
Have a little heart
I'll keep my own in time and
Show a little love
I wanna be close to mine
And dance
Let's show some love and get closer to each other. Let's open our hearts and keep in sync with each other. Let's be affectionate and dance together
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Jason Andrew Pierce
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind