After signing to Arista in 1988, they saw their largest international success with the album Starfish and the American Top 40 hit "Under The Milky Way" which resurfaced on the soundtrack of the cult movie "Donnie Darko". Whilst the band remain feted by their peers, subsequent commercial success proved elusive: 1990s follow-up album "Gold Afternoon Fix" failed to capitalise on their success, and the band weathered several line-up changes after its release, first losing long-term drummer Richard Ploog, then Peter Koppes following 1992s "Priest = Aura". That album baffled and confused many fans upon its release as to what band The Church was considered to be, but is now considered a seminal album and one of the most revered by Church connoisseurs. The vacant drum-stool on Priest=Aura being occupied by Jay Dee Daugherty of Arista labelmate Patti Smiths group, and it was produced by Gavin MacKillop of Moose.
Reduced to a two-piece, Kilbey & Willson-Piper re-grouped with the assistance of drummer/producer Tim Powles to record 1994's "Sometime Anywhere", concluding their obligations to the Arista and Mushroom labels. The commercial decline, combined with the Church being ignored again by a music press more focused on the Nineties' music trends, could have brought about the demise of the band, had it not coincided with the breakthrough of the internet, thus enabling direct communication from the band to its passionate cult fanbase.
This brought about a new beginning for The Church, with Peter Koppes rejoining the band for recording 1996s "Magician Among The Spirits". The band (with Koppes back into the fold, and Powles now as the permanent drummer ), hit a re-newed creative surge and with regained selfconfidence, released "Hologram Of Baal" 2 years later, and toured Australia, the USA and Europe.
The first decade of the 21st century found the band releasing severeal highly critically acclaimed albums, like 2002's aptly named "After Everything Now this" and 2003's "Forget Yourself", the latter breaking new ground with bandmembers swapping instruments in the recording process. Live performances stray from high profile events like the 03 concerts at Sydney Opera House and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, to low-profile gigs for smaller audiences, often confusing old 80s fans, surprised to find the band still playing, wrongly assuming the band just being one in the never-ending string of reunion acts.
2009's album "Untitled#23" marked yet another highlight.. its essence represented in just 10 songs, and with a strong less-is-more approach, the albums core identity being on par with Starfish, it also finds Steve Kilbey breaking new ground as a vocalist.
2010 saw their 30th anniversary, with extensive touring in the US and Australia. Their unique position and importance in the australian music scene was recognized with an ARIA award.
Their album, "Further Deeper", was released in 2014, and "man woman life death infinity" in 2017.
1. The Unguarded Moment
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew you'd find me crying
Tell those girls with rifles for minds
That their jokes don't make me laugh
They only make me feel like dying
In an unguarded moment
So long, long between mirages
Tell those men with horses for hearts
That their jibes don't make me bleed
They only make me feel like shrinking
In an unguarded moment
So deep, deep without a meaning
I knew you'd find me leaving
Tell those friends with cameras for eyes
That their hands don't make me hang
They only make me feel like breathing
In an unguarded moment
The Church's song "The Unguarded Moment" is a moving and introspective song that delves into the emotions that come with finding inspiration and creativity. The opening lyrics depict the frustration and difficulty of finding inspiration, and the vulnerability that comes with this pursuit. The line "I knew you'd find me crying" suggests that the singer is admitting their vulnerability to a particular person or perhaps a muse who has the power to inspire them. The reference to "girls with rifles for minds" likely represents the pressure from critical voices that can stifle creativity.
The next verse is no less emotional, as it describes the long periods of time between experiencing true inspiration or meaningful encounters. The singer continues to direct their message to specific people, referring to "men with horses for hearts" as those whose criticism does not affect them on a deep level but still makes them feel small. The chorus repeats the phrase "in an unguarded moment," emphasizing that these feelings are raw and unfiltered. Finally, the last verse finds the singer leaving in search of something deeper, perhaps resigning themselves to the fact that inspiration may not be found where they are currently situated. The reference to "friends with cameras for eyes" suggests that the singer feels watched and judged by those around them, further emphasizing their need for solitude in order to find true inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
So hard finding inspiration
It's difficult to come up with new ideas or motivation.
I knew you'd find me crying
I expected you to find me in a vulnerable and emotional state.
Tell those girls with rifles for minds That their jokes don't make me laugh
Inform those who have narrow-minded and aggressive attitudes that their cruel comments are not amusing.
They only make me feel like dying In an unguarded moment
Their actions can lead to me feeling hopeless and despairing, especially when I am vulnerable.
So long, long between mirages
It's been a long time since I've had any real success or happiness.
I knew you'd find me drinking
I expected you to catch me trying to cope with my problems by drinking alcohol.
Tell those men with horses for hearts
Inform those who are heartless and insensitive that their cruel words do not have an impact on me.
That their jibes don't make me bleed
Their mocking comments may hurt, but they do not cause me physical harm.
They only make me feel like shrinking In an unguarded moment
Their comments can make me feel small and vulnerable when I am not prepared to defend myself.
So deep, deep without a meaning
I feel lost and without purpose, unable to find direction in my life.
I knew you'd find me leaving
I expected you to find me trying to escape the feeling of being lost and without purpose.
Tell those friends with cameras for eyes
Inform those who scrutinize and judge me that their gaze does not affect me as much as they think it does.
That their hands don't make me hang
Their judgmental comments do not have the power to make me feel like I want to give up.
They only make me feel like breathing In an unguarded moment
Their comments can actually make me feel more alive and motivated to prove them wrong when I am not expecting criticism.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Claire Sawyer
So hard finding inspiration
I knew you'd find me crying
Tell those girls with rifles for minds
That their jokes don't make me laugh
They only make me feel like dying
In an unguarded moment
So long, long between mirages
I knew you'd find me drinking
Tell those men with horses for hearts
That their jibes don't make me bleed
They only make me feel like shrinking
In an unguarded moment
So deep, deep without a meaning
I knew you'd find me leaving
Tell those friends with cameras for eyes
That their hands don't make me hang
They only make me feel like breathing
In an unguarded moment
The Triumph of the Thrill
One of the all-time greats. One of the most flawless tracks ever. The Church truly left their mark with this.
Seven T Scott
Under the Milky Way left an even bigger mark in America
Pamela Hay
And definitely also in home country Australia… you just have to lay on your back and stare skywards on any clear night outside the cities to be totally blown away by the Brilliance of the Milky Way, Downunder…..✨💫✨💫✨💫✨
Claire Sawyer
So hard finding inspiration
I knew you'd find me crying
Tell those girls with rifles for minds
That their jokes don't make me laugh
They only make me feel like dying
In an unguarded moment
So long, long between mirages
I knew you'd find me drinking
Tell those men with horses for hearts
That their jibes don't make me bleed
They only make me feel like shrinking
In an unguarded moment
So deep, deep without a meaning
I knew you'd find me leaving
Tell those friends with cameras for eyes
That their hands don't make me hang
They only make me feel like breathing
In an unguarded moment
Cloudy Wishes
Thanks
Chas B
Lyrics are top drawer
donald christy
Amazing song and words
Lorenzo Antonio
So 😎 cool
The unguarded moment
Rodney West
beautiful, sad, haunting, thoughtful lyrics. love it, love it
Phteven Warny
The most underestimated song in Aussie Punk Rock History. This song is a fucking Masterpiece.