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.
Shine A Light
Spiritualized Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord shine a light on me
And when I'm lonesome as can be
Lord shine a light on me
When I'm tired and all alone
Lord shine a light on me
And when I'm lonesome as can be
Lord shine a light on me
Lord shine a light on me
Lord shine a light on me
The lyrics to Spiritualized's song "Shine A Light" express a plea for help during times of exhaustion and loneliness. The repetition of the phrase "Lord shine a light on me" emphasizes the singer's desire for guidance and support. The song conveys the idea that even in our darkest moments, there is hope and comfort to be found if we are open to it. The use of the word "Lord" suggests a religious or spiritual element to the plea, but it can also be interpreted more broadly as a call for assistance from any source. The sparse and repetitive lyrics, combined with the soaring melody and instrumentation, create a powerful emotional resonance that speaks to the universal human experience of seeking connection and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm tired and all alone
When I am overwhelmed and have no one around to help me
Lord shine a light on me
I need divine intervention to guide me through my troubles
And when I'm lonesome as can be
And when I feel completely isolated and abandoned
Lord shine a light on me
I need your guidance and comfort to help me through these feelings
When I'm tired and all alone
I feel weak and helpless without any support
Lord shine a light on me
I need your strength to help me persevere through my struggles
And when I'm lonesome as can be
And when I feel like I have no one in this world who cares about me
Lord shine a light on me
I need your love and guidance to help me find my way
Lord shine a light on me
Please shine your light on me, oh Lord
Lord shine a light on me
I need your divine guidance, comfort, and strength to help me through these trying times
Lyrics Š BMG Rights Management
Written by: JASON PIERCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
vielobst
this is still the greatest song that's ever happened, anyone who disagrees can honestly fight me about it
Samuel Morse
Highly emotional and noisy doesn't automatically equal greatness. The first 5 minutes are pure bliss though. I will gladly beat you to a pulp and convince you it's not the greatest.
sue yu
Red house painters moments is itâs twin song of epic master fade out.
klausharpoon
This song makes me want toâŚ..not fight. Just lie back, eyes closed, and sink into it â¤ď¸
Torriss Balsoff
@nic manza thumbs up for introducing me to that song.... but it seems a tad bit derivative of this song. Great song, nonetheless. Thank you.
nic manza
Rogue Wave's everyone Wants to Be You is this but done better
The Sprawl
What I love is the slow build to the storm of noise later in the song - the way it gradually turns into a howling tornado of free-noise.
BUT, then the storm of noise kinda dies away at the end, and the sax line is still there, playing its patient, insistent melody. It's been there all the while and now it's survived the storm and come through the other side...like a butterfly emerging from a hurricane, or a sail boat coming through an ocean squall and suddenly finding the water calm and the sky clear. That melodic innocence mixed with fury and violence makes me want to cry with joy.
Samuel Morse
The Sprawl is excellent song by Sonic Youth. This song is like beautiful spiritual successors to Sonic Youth, A plus students if you will. Much more beauty and melody here.
F M
Beautiful analogy
Josh Charlesworth
Iâve never heard this song someone sent it to me Iâm listening to it out of respect probably wouldnât listen to it for very long because itâs really not my style but I read this comment this wonderful comment and I gave this song a chance just for you