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.

Night Friends
The Church Lyrics

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Night friends
Coming through the mirror
Sliding down the light
Night friends
Arriving in the garden
Stay with me tonight
Night friends
Watching, you've been watching from a second in our century

As the minutes gain momentum like a bird, man
Watching, you've been waiting
For the other worlds to sync up to our own
Reaching, you've been reaching through the nonexistent surface
It separates our doubles from this soul man
Trying, we've been trying
To make contact with nothings all alone
Watching, you've been watching from a second in our century
As the minutes gain momentum like a bird, man
Waiting, we've been waiting
For other worlds to sync up to our own
Reaching, you've been reaching through the nonexistent surface
It separates our doubles from the soul man
Trying, we've been trying
To make contact with nothings all alone
Loving, we've been loving
But sometimes hate is better
You can't keep out the killers with love, man

Hating, we've been hating
But only love can heal up the hate (all right)

Overall Meaning

The Church's song "Night Friends" is a contemplative reflection on the idea of alternate realities and the possibility of connections between them. The lyrics are mysterious and evocative, painting a picture of "night friends" who come through mirrors and slide down light, arriving in the garden to stay with the singer for the evening. The song suggests that these "night friends" are watching and waiting for other worlds to sync up with our own, and that there is a nonexistent surface that separates our doubles from our soul. The singer and his companions are trying to make contact with these other realities, reaching through the surface that separates them, but they are ultimately alone in their efforts.

The song also explores the dichotomy between love and hate, suggesting that while hate may seem like a stronger force, ultimately only love can heal the wounds that hate creates. The lyrics seem to suggest that it is a struggle to balance these two opposing forces, and that ultimately, the power of love is what will triumph. Overall, "Night Friends" is a poignant reflection on the nature of reality and the strength of human connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Night friends
Refers to unknown entities entering our world during the night

Coming through the mirror
These entities enter our world through a reflection surface

Sliding down the light
The entities use light to move through space

Arriving in the garden
These entities have a particular interest in our earthly environment

Stay with me tonight
The entities are inviting the singer to spend more time with them

Watching, you've been watching from a second in our century
The entities have been observing us for a long time

As the minutes gain momentum like a bird, man
Time passes quickly, like a bird taking flight

Waiting, we've been waiting for other worlds to sync up to our own
The entities are waiting for a time when our world will be better aligned with others

Reaching, you've been reaching through the nonexistent surface
The entities are attempting to make contact with us through some barrier

It separates our doubles from the soul man
The barrier separates our physical and spiritual selves

Trying, we've been trying to make contact with nothings all alone
We are also trying to make contact with those who are not of this world

Loving, we've been loving but sometimes hate is better
Sometimes it is necessary to take a more aggressive approach to protect oneself

You can't keep out the killers with love, man
Love alone cannot protect against those who would do harm

Hating, we've been hating but only love can heal up the hate
While hate can be destructive, only love can truly heal those who are damaged

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS, Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: STEVEN JOHN KILBEY, MARTIN HOWARD WILLSON-PIPER, PETER KOPPES, TIM POWLES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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