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.
Destination (From the album St
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can never cut below the floor, or penetrate the ceiling.
In the space between our houses, some bones have been discovered,
But our procession lurches on, as if we had recovered.
Draconian winter unforetold.
One solar day, suddenly you're old.
Your little envelope just makes me cold,
Our documents are useless, or forged beyond believing.
Page forty-seven is unsigned, I need it by this evening.
In the space between our cities, a storm is slowly forming.
Something eating up our days, I feel it every morning.
Destination, destination.
It's not a religion, it's just a technique.
It's just a way of making you speak.
Distance and speed have left us too weak,
And destination looks kind of bleak.
Our elements are burned out, our beasts have been mistreated.
I tell you it's the only way we'll get this road completed.
In the space between our bodies, the air has grown small fingers.
Just one caress, you're powerless, like all those clapped-out swingers.
Destination, destination.
The Church's song Destination is a complex and nuanced representation of the human condition, exploring themes of mortality, desperation, and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. The opening lines suggest that our emotional experiences cannot be quantified or measured with any degree of precision, with the metaphor of instruments that cannot penetrate floors or ceilings indicating the limitations of our rational understanding when it comes to matters of the heart. The image of bones discovered in the space between houses is a haunting reminder of our own mortality, but the chorus suggests that despite this knowledge, we continue on our journey as though we are invulnerable.
The second verse shifts to a more bureaucratic tone, with references to documents, signatures, and deadlines. The storm forming in the space between cities is a metaphor for the unseen forces that shape our lives, with something ominous and foreboding lurking just beyond our perception. The repetition of the word destination throughout the song underscores the sense of urgency and desperation that permeates the lyrics, suggesting that we are all striving towards some undefined goal, with a sense of futility and hopelessness underlying our efforts.
Overall, Destination is a powerful and evocative song that captures the complexities of the human experience. The cryptic lyrics and haunting melody create a sense of unease and uncertainty, leaving the listener with the feeling that there is something important lurking just beyond our reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Our instruments have no way of measuring this feeling
The depth of our emotions cannot be quantified by any technology or tool.
Can never cut below the floor, or penetrate the ceiling.
There is a limit to what we can perceive and understand, and some things are beyond our reach.
In the space between our houses, some bones have been discovered,
Despite the physical distance between us, we share a common history and are connected by our past.
But our procession lurches on, as if we had recovered.
We continue to move forward, despite the challenges and obstacles we have faced, as if we have already overcome them.
Draconian winter unforetold.
A harsh and unanticipated season that brings with it difficult circumstances.
One solar day, suddenly you're old.
Time passes quickly, and before we know it, we are older and our lives have changed.
Your little envelope just makes me cold,
An insignificant detail or action can cause a strong negative emotional reaction.
Makes destination start to unfold.
The idea of reaching a destination or goal begins to take shape in our minds.
Our documents are useless, or forged beyond believing.
The paperwork or evidence we have is either worthless or fabricated to the point of being unbelievable.
Page forty-seven is unsigned, I need it by this evening.
A specific document or piece of information is missing or incomplete, and we need it urgently.
In the space between our cities, a storm is slowly forming.
There is tension or conflict growing between us, and it could soon erupt in a disruptive manner.
Something eating up our days, I feel it every morning.
There is a sense of time slipping away or being wasted, and it weighs heavily on our minds.
It's not a religion, it's just a technique.
The approach or mindset being discussed is not a spiritual belief system, but a practical strategy for accomplishing something.
It's just a way of making you speak.
The technique is designed to encourage communication or expression in some way.
Distance and speed have left us too weak,
The physical distance and pace of life have made us feel drained or powerless.
And destination looks kind of bleak.
The idea of reaching a goal or destination seems unattainable or undesirable.
Our elements are burned out, our beasts have been mistreated.
Our resources have been depleted, and the things we rely on have been overworked or abused.
I tell you it's the only way we'll get this road completed.
The singer believes that the only way to finish a project or reach a goal is to push through the difficulties and challenges.
In the space between our bodies, the air has grown small fingers.
There is a palpable tension or unease between two people who are physically close but emotionally distant from each other.
Just one caress, you're powerless, like all those clapped-out swingers.
A single touch or action can leave us feeling vulnerable and exposed, as if we have lost our strength and vitality.
Destination, destination.
The repeated mention of 'destination' serves as a reminder of the overarching goal or objective that the artist is striving towards.
Contributed by Avery J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gil Flores
Saw them live at the Haunt in Ithaca,NY April 13th, 2019
30th anniversary of the Starfish album tour.
I actually cried in silence when they started with this song first.
The whole show was amazing and the emotions and memories of my life back in ‘89 (in the Navy, got sober, started whole new life after discharge in ‘90), one of the top albums in that period in my life.
Show was totally worth it and recommend it with the VIP package meet and greet. The whole lot of them are a great bunch of guys, even the lady selling the merch!
Jeff
In the eighties, I never would have thought that listening to a great 80s album, would bring me to tears. I miss those times.
Vegan Higler
Do you remember jiffy peanut butter Ed mc mahon giving checks mirror mirror on the wall, well now in this reality that has never existed look up the mandella effect it's real.
John Wood
I remember driving dark, back roads at high speeds listening to this cassette. No other time will equal the eighties!!!!
The Twang Kings
Strange how much amazing music came out in the 80s. And then came the 90s and music disappeared down a black hole.
Gil Flores
John Wood got that right. as I just told my wife as my play list went on as I showered that the majority of the artists playing in my eclectic mix were sadly all DEAD!!! Prince, Rick Ocasick, Johnny Cash, Lemmy, the freakin’ Ramones! I was kind of depressed after that. it’s like those highschool/navy/college days are like an open sore on my heart when I listen anymore. they’re gone...😢😭
R
@The Twang Kings When garage bands took over, I felt like music had died and would never come back.
Luis Donado
I'm glad you lived to tell it on youtube. Hope you can read this after you posted 11 years ago :-)
josh volk
As a zillenial i can connect with you in that me and my friends have done the same thing to this song before we graduated this year
Steven Lawrence
One of Australia’s finest bands, they are so unique, to say the least, I just love them!
oliver karbus
Best Church Album ever! Bought it when it was released and still love it! Steve Kilbey at the peak of his songwriting. Simply astonishing.