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.
Maybe These Boys
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slippery salmon all over her face
Browsing down through the mirrored hall
See Arizona standing ten feet tall
Her father's smart, plays his part
Twirls his star and watch them start
Oh no no don't wander off the set
We haven't reached the borders yet
All the mercenaries are following him
Ripped and raw, lays his glove on the door
Walks in and tells the man on the floor
Maybe these boys want to do some talking
Your room's a mess, it's ugliness
But I go on living in it till you say yes
The curtains are new, but the windows are old
All the stories passing through already been told
We live in a style where trust is a drag
To hold up your end means the middle will sag
Some blackhearted actors interfered in your scene
And you can't stand success or the place where it's been
The fader's been placed, judgment passed down
Staying up all night till pure sleep drags you down
Ripped and raw, her voice at the door
Walks in, expecting him, finds something more
Says maybe these boys want to do some talking
The lyrics to The Church's song "Maybe These Boys" are purposely cryptic and hard to pin down to a singular meaning. It could be interpreted as a commentary on the entertainment industry, or perhaps a story of someone who has lost touch with reality. The lyrics evoke a sense of chaos and disjointedness, with references to "Slippery salmon all over her face" and Arizona "standing ten feet tall," which could be metaphorical or literal. The line "Maybe these boys want to do some talking" is repeated multiple times, leading to questions of what these boys want to talk about and who they even are.
The song also touches on themes of power and authority, with mentions of a father figure who "plays his part" and "twirls his star" while the singer warns not to wander off the set yet. Later, another character enters the scene who seems to hold some sort of power, with the mercenaries following him and him laying his glove on the door. However, the lyrics also suggest a sense of disillusionment with this idea of power, with lines like "Some blackhearted actors interfered in your scene" and "To hold up your end means the middle will sag."
Overall, the lyrics to "Maybe These Boys" are open to interpretation and may mean different things to different people. The poetic language and fragmented storytelling create a sense of unease and uncertainty, leaving the listener to piece together their own meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Framed up baby, know her place
She's been put in a certain position, understands her role
Slippery salmon all over her face
She's covered in something, perhaps makeup or tears
Browsing down through the mirrored hall
Walking through a hallway with mirrors on both sides
See Arizona standing ten feet tall
A person named Arizona is standing confidently
Her father's smart, plays his part
Her father is clever and fulfilling his duties
Twirls his star and watch them start
He flaunts his status and enjoys the reactions it elicits
Oh no no don't wander off the set
Don't deviate from the planned course of action
We haven't reached the borders yet
Still have some way to go before the goal is achieved
Then into town he rides in grim
A person arrives in town with a serious demeanor
All the mercenaries are following him
A group of hired soldiers or workers is trailing behind him
Ripped and raw, lays his glove on the door
He puts his glove down roughly on the door
Walks in and tells the man on the floor
He enters the room and speaks to a person lying on the ground
Maybe these boys want to do some talking
Suggests that the people present may be interested in having a conversation
Your room's a mess, it's ugliness
The room is dirty and unsightly
But I go on living in it till you say yes
He is willing to put up with the poor conditions until a positive response is received
The curtains are new, but the windows are old
The coverings are fresh, but the structure they are on is old
All the stories passing through already been told
Nothing new is being said or done
We live in a style where trust is a drag
Our way of life makes it difficult to trust others
To hold up your end means the middle will sag
Keeping up with responsibilities requires others to make up for what you lack
Some blackhearted actors interfered in your scene
Some deceitful individuals caused problems in your situation
And you can't stand success or the place where it's been
You are unable to handle success or being in a position of power
The fader's been placed, judgment passed down
A decision has been made and its consequences will follow
Staying up all night till pure sleep drags you down
Forcing yourself to stay awake until exhaustion takes over
Ripped and raw, her voice at the door
A person's voice sounds rough and strained as they speak from the other side of the door
Walks in, expecting him, finds something more
Expected to find one thing, but discovers something different
Says maybe these boys want to do some talking
The singer proposes the idea of having a conversation with those present
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself