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.
June
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Days of willing it to be
In the nest futures hatch
It's such a lovely thing to see
Oh my God
Like an angel wound
What fortune
Like a child in a field
June is here
Then it's not
In the background constantly
From the west
Lights go out
It's such a lonely thing to see
Oh my Lord
Talk of devil's food
What fortune
Lock the fruit
In a seed
So it grows
So it needs
Oh my soul
Soul like her cocoon
Long gone June
Her dark sides
Her bed feels
As she knows, as she feels
The Church's song "June" evokes feelings of anticipation and transience through its lyrics. The opening line "June arrives, rumored days" hints at the ephemeral nature of the month of June, where the days feel like they are built on rumors, as if they might disappear at any moment. The next line "Days of willing it to be" speaks to the longing for time to move forward and for new futures to emerge. The following line "In the nest futures hatch" imagines these new futures as if they are delicate eggs that are about to hatch. The band uses the metaphor of futures hatching like birds to indicate this sense of emergence, but also highlights the fragility of these futures.
The next line "It's such a lovely thing to see" feels hopeful, suggesting that they are excited and comfortable with the changes that June may bring. But then the chorus "Oh my God/Like an angel wound" takes a slightly darker turn. The idea of an "angel wound" suggests that something pure and divine is somehow wounded, leading to a sense of loss. The next few lines "What fortune/Like a child in a field/So it goes, so it yields" again speak to the transience and unpredictability of life. While it may seem like fortune has smiled upon them, like a child playing in a field, this too may be fleeting and uncontrollable.
The second verse begins with "June is here/Then it's not", once again highlighting the transience of the month. The lines "In the background constantly/From the west" evoke the idea of something looming in the background, possibly a metaphorical storm that is brewing. The next few lines "Lights go out/It's such a lonely thing to see/Oh my Lord/Talk of devil's food/What fortune" continue to hint at a sense of loss and impending doom, but it is unclear what exactly is happening. The line "Lock the fruit/In a seed/So it grows/So it needs" perhaps suggests that growth and renewal may come from something that has been locked away, waiting for its moment to blossom.
The song ends with "Oh my soul/Soul like her cocoon/Long gone June/Her dark sides/Her bed feels/As she knows, as she feels". Here, the reference to a cocoon suggests that the soul is undergoing a transformation, much like a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The sense of loss associated with June is echoed in the line "Long gone June", and the final lines suggest that June knows the dark sides of life and that it feels them deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
June arrives, rumored days
The beginning of June brings excitement and anticipation of what the upcoming days might hold.
Days of willing it to be
People are longing for summer to fully arrive and eagerly waiting for June to take over the season.
In the nest futures hatch
June is a time for new beginnings and the chance for things to grow and come to fruition.
It's such a lovely thing to see
The beauty of nature is on full display during this month and it's a sight to behold.
Oh my God
The artist is in awe of the beauty surrounding them.
Like an angel wound
The peacefulness of June is like a comforting embrace that the singer is taking in like a spiritual experience.
What fortune
The singer feels lucky to witness the beauty and serenity of June.
Like a child in a field
The artist feels free from worries and responsibilities of adulthood and is able to embrace the innocence and joy of youth.
So it goes, so it yields
The artist is recognizing how the world is cyclical in nature and that time carries on just as it has before.
June is here
The artist revels in the fact that June has arrived, bringing new opportunities and experiences.
Then it's not
However, the singer acknowledges that just like anything else, June will come to an end and it's important to appreciate it while it's here.
In the background constantly
Even when the excitement of June fades away, it is always lingering in the artist's thoughts.
From the west
The singer is acknowledging the direction from which the wind, and the changing of the season, comes from.
Lights go out
As the season comes to an end, the light starts to diminish and things become less vibrant and lively.
It's such a lonely thing to see
The beauty of June fades and the singer reflects on how melancholy this can feel.
Oh my Lord
The artist turns to a higher power to help them through the inevitable feelings of sadness that come with the end of June.
Talk of devil's food
The artist is reflecting on how the promise of good things, like devil's food cake, can be used to distract from the harsh reality of summer's end.
What fortune
Despite the melancholy, the singer is grateful for the memories and opportunities that were experienced during June.
Lock the fruit
The singer recognizes the importance of preserving good memories and experiences, to keep them always fresh in their thoughts.
In a seed
The artist realizes that just as a seed carries the potential of a new plant, memories can endure and flourish in peoples' thoughts long after summer ends.
So it grows
The things that were cherished during June can continue to grow and blossom in the artist's life, although they may never be quite as vivid as they were during that time.
So it needs
The fondest memories, like the best plants, require attention and care to keep them alive within ourselves.
Oh my soul
The singer recognizes the importance of cherishing the emotional and spiritual significance of the many wonderful events that occur in June.
Soul like her cocoon
Just as a caterpillar transforms and emerges from a cocoon, the artist feels like the summer has transformed and reinvigorated them as well, giving them new life and perspective.
Long gone June
The singer reflects fondly on the beauty of June and the many special memories associated with this time, recognizing that it can never fully be recaptured.
Her dark sides
Despite the beauty of June, the singer acknowledges that it can come with its own set of challenges, complexities, and difficulties.
Her bed feels
As June fades and summer comes to an end, the singer feels the weight of the melancholy that comes with transition and change.
As she knows, as she feels
The artist is acutely aware of the feelings associated with the beauty and melancholy of June, and accepts them as an important part of the human experience.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: STEVEN JOHN KILBEY, PETER KOPPES, TIM GUY GERARD POWLES, DAVID JOHN TRUMPMANIS, MARTIN HOWARD WILLSON-PIPER, TIM POWLES, DAVID TRUMPMANIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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