The Church is an alternative rock band which formed in Sydney, Australia in… Read Full Bio ↴The Church is an alternative rock band which formed in Sydney, Australia in 1980. Initially linked in with neo-psychedelia acts of the period, their music later became largely defined by the interplay of guitarists Marty Willson-Piper and Peter Koppes coupled with the abstract lyrics of bassist/singer Steve Kilbey. Their debut album, Of Skins and Heart (1981), earned them their first radio hit "The Unguarded Moment". They were originally signed to EMI's Parlophone label, but record company dissatisfaction led to them being dropped overseas, which limited their exposure early on.

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.

All I Know
The Church Lyrics

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All I know, could be written in this letter
All I know, if I only knew you better
All I know, could be taken down in shorthand
All I know, I forgot it at the news stand

Just like you I am a wanderer
Wandering, wondering
Outrunning all my previous lives

So cleave to me just like a tiny storm
A raining and a thundering
Coming out of clear blue skies

All I know, I wish I'd done my lessons
All I know, it's the flesh that needs suppressing
All I know, I know I got it in me somewhere
All I know, I coulda lost it elsewhere

Just like you I am a pilgrim here
Dusty and alone
Outside a thousand bolted doors
So cleave to me just like a lover, dear
Before you must go home
Before all this is no more

Just like you I am a wanderer
Wandering, wondering
Outrunning all my previous lives
So cleave to me just like a tiny storm
A raining and a thundering
Coming out of clear blue skies

That's all I know

That's all I know
That's all I know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in The Church’s song, All I Know, are deeply introspective and self-reflective, expressing a desire for connection and understanding in a world that can sometimes feel lonely and confusing. The repeated phrase “all I know” suggests that the singer is grappling with the limited knowledge they possess and the fleeting nature of human existence. The first verse touches on missed opportunities for connection and self-improvement, with the singer lamenting that they forgot what they knew at the newsstand. In the second verse, they compare themselves to a pilgrim, emphasizing their sense of isolation and separation from others, but also hinting at their spiritual quest for meaning and belonging. The repeated chorus, with its melancholy yet uplifting melody, underscores the singer’s longing for someone to “cleave to” in the midst of life’s uncertainty and impermanence.

The song was released in 1988 on The Church’s album Starfish, which was their breakthrough commercial success in the United States. It was written by the band’s lead singer and principal songwriter, Steve Kilbey, who has described it as “an attempt at a pop song that isn’t descended from either Lennon-McCartney or Chuck Berry.” The song has been praised for its lush, atmospheric production and Kilbey’s distinctive voice, which is often compared to David Bowie’s. Its lyrics have been interpreted in a variety of ways, with some listeners hearing an expression of existential angst and others finding hope and transcendence in its refrain.

Line by Line Meaning

All I know, could be written in this letter
I only have a limited understanding and knowledge of the world and it could all be summed up in a simple letter.

All I know, if I only knew you better
My lack of knowledge and understanding of you is limiting my ability to truly comprehend the world and all it entails.

All I know, could be taken down in shorthand
My understanding and knowledge of the world is not as complex or extensive as I thought it was, and could be easily summarized in a few short phrases.

All I know, I forgot it at the news stand
My understanding and knowledge of the world is so fragile that it can easily be forgotten or lost, just like a newspaper left behind at a news stand.

Just like you I am a wanderer
I, like everyone else in this world, am constantly searching and exploring, trying to find my place and purpose in this universe.

Wandering, wondering
I am constantly questioning and pondering the complexities of the world around me, never quite satisfied with my level of understanding.

Outrunning all my previous lives
I am constantly evolving and growing as a person, shedding old versions of myself and striving to be the best version of myself that I can be.

So cleave to me just like a tiny storm
Despite my constantly changing and evolving nature, I long for stability and companionship, someone or something to cling to in the midst of the chaos of life.

A raining and a thundering
Despite the turbulent nature of life, I am still drawn to the beauty and power of the natural world surrounding me.

Coming out of clear blue skies
Sometimes the most unexpected and beautiful things in life can emerge out of nowhere, taking us by surprise and leaving us in awe.

All I know, I wish I'd done my lessons
Looking back on my life, I realize that I have made many mistakes and missed many opportunities for growth and learning.

All I know, it's the flesh that needs suppressing
I understand that many of my mistakes and shortcomings stem from my own flaws and limitations as a human being, and I must work to overcome them.

All I know, I know I got it in me somewhere
Despite my flaws and limitations, I have an intrinsic sense of potential within me, a drive and a determination to be better and make a difference in this world.

All I know, I coulda lost it elsewhere
I am constantly aware that my ability to grow and change could have been lost or never discovered under different circumstances or in different places.

Just like you I am a pilgrim here
Like all the other humans on this earth, I am merely a traveler on a journey through life, seeking a greater understanding of myself and the world around me.

Dusty and alone
Despite my constant searching and exploring, I often feel isolated and disconnected from others in my journey through life.

Outside a thousand bolted doors
There are many barriers and obstacles in my path that prevent me from fully realizing my potential or achieving total fulfillment in this life.

So cleave to me just like a lover, dear
Despite the challenges and difficulties, I still yearn for love and companionship in my life, someone to cling to and share my journey with.

Before you must go home
I understand that all good things must come to an end, and that my time on this earth is limited.

Before all this is no more
I am constantly aware of the fleeting nature of life and all it entails, and strive to make the most of every moment I have on this earth.

That's all I know
Despite my many experiences and my constant search for knowledge and understanding, at the end of the day I am just a small part of this great universe, with only limited knowledge and awareness of everything that surrounds me.

Writer(s): Steven Kilbey Copyright: Peermusic Pty. Ltd. (Australia)

Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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