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.
Business Woman
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And in the arms of somebody else
I imagine her in bed
With her communication skills
Cabinet full of creams and pills
Paying the bills and beating the rent
You'll never understand
The wonderful mind of that woman
[Chorus]
Look at that business woman
She's got a head on her shoulders
Look at that business woman
She's not that much older than you
And she reveals inner soul
Stopped like the flutters in death's robe (Stock market flutters, index rolls)
When she reveals her secret life
All of the gifts come deep and swift
Promise her anything only if
You're going to have to leave your wife
She'll never understand
The wonderful mind of that woman
Beautiful power in her eyes
[Chorus]
And when she comes the stars explode
Exquisite results in input mode
Just when she comes she's suddenly gone
Maybe you'll find her, maybe you won't
Maybe she loves you, baby she don't
Maybe you'll find that you are alone
You'll never comprehend
All of the means, all of the ends
Business woman in her eyes
[Chorus]
The Church's song Business Woman is a mysterious ode to a powerful and enigmatic woman. The lyrics paint a picture of a wealthy and successful woman who is simultaneously sexually alluring and intellectually stimulating. The singer imagines her in bed, surrounded by creams and pills, paying her bills with ease, and effortlessly beating the rent. There is a sense that this woman operates on a higher level of understanding than those around her, hinted at in the lines “You’ll never understand the wonderful mind of that woman” and “You’ll never comprehend all of the means, all of the ends.”
Despite the somewhat objectifying and fetishizing tone of the lyrics, there is also a sense of reverence and awe towards this woman. She is described as having “powerful beauty in her eyes” and “beautiful power in her eyes”, suggesting that her intelligence and savvy are what make her truly exceptional. The chorus, with its repetition of “Look at that business woman,” is almost a chant of admiration for this woman who has achieved so much in the male-dominated world of business.
Overall, the lyrics of Business Woman create an intriguing portrait of a woman who is both a powerful force and an enigma. The singer is captivated by her intelligence and success, but also seems aware that he will never fully understand her or her motivations. The song seems to be both a celebration of female power and a reflection on the limitations placed on men’s understanding of women.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagine her, all of her wealth
Picture in your mind the immense riches owned by this woman
And in the arms of somebody else
She may be having an affair
I imagine her in bed
We can only assume what she does behind closed doors
With her communication skills
She is able to efficiently articulate her ideas to others
Cabinet full of creams and pills
She takes care of her appearance and health
Paying the bills and beating the rent
She is capable of managing her finances and staying on top of her expenses
You'll never understand
Her level of competence and intelligence is beyond comprehension
The wonderful mind of that woman
She possesses a remarkable intellect
Powerful beauty in her eyes
Her stunningly beautiful eyes exude strength and confidence
Look at that business woman
Observe the accomplished, successful woman before you
She's got a head on her shoulders
She has a wise, grounded mindset
She's not that much older than you
She has accomplished a lot in a relatively short amount of time
And she reveals inner soul
Her true self is exposed in this moment
Stopped like the flutters in death's robe
A metaphorical reference to the erratic, unpredictable nature of the stock market
When she reveals her secret life
Her hidden personal life is exposed
All of the gifts come deep and swift
She has a lot to offer, and she offers it generously
Promise her anything only if
She is not easily won over, and will only be swayed by genuine offers
You're going to have to leave your wife
She has high standards and expects nothing less
And when she comes the stars explode
When she enters a room, everything around her seems brighter and more exciting
Exquisite results in input mode
Her ideas are always creative and achieve incredible outcomes
Just when she comes she's suddenly gone
She is a busy, successful woman who is always on-the-go
Maybe you'll find her, maybe you won't
She is difficult to track down, as she is always on the move and working hard
Maybe she loves you, baby she don't
She is very selective in her romantic interests
Maybe you'll find that you are alone
She is not attached to anyone or anything, and is fiercely independent
You'll never comprehend
Her level of intelligence and success is beyond understanding
All of the means, all of the ends
She knows how to achieve her goals and is always one step ahead
Business woman in her eyes
Her strong, determined, successful spirit is evident in her gaze
Chorus
Refrain throughout the song that highlights the impressive qualities of this business woman
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KILBEY, WILSON-PIPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself