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.
Song in Space
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(1-2-3-4!)
You
You wake up late
Yet you're asleep
Inside a dream
Then
You feel something
Upon your thoughts
They say that in the future every man and woman will be a star
And everybody's shining and it's blinding and they don't see too far
You can't spend the whole song in space
Next
You move outside
You feel grey rain
Upon your skin
In
The muted hush
The raindrops crash
The seconds roar
They say we're all assembled from the tiny pieces of the red shift
The elevator's later but it's swifter to just wait for a lift
You can't spend the whole song in space
(Yeah!)
Life
The new frontier
An interlude
Eternity
You
You drink some wine
You had a smoke
You got to smile
They say that at the speed of light the particles all get quite excited
But out here in this universe it's bursting and we're all so delighted
You can't spend the whole song...
You can't spend the whole song in space
The Church's "Song in Space" is a dreamlike, transcendent song that delves into themes of space, time, and the nature of reality. The song begins with a slow, deliberate countdown before launching into a hypnotic groove that carries the listener through the first verse. The lyrics speak of waking up inside a dream, feeling something superimposed upon one's thoughts. The chorus then suggests an intriguing vision of the future, where every man and woman will be a star, shining so brightly that they cannot see too far.
The second verse shifts focus to a rainy outside world, muted and hushed. The raindrops crash against the skin and the seconds roar onward. The lyrics then suggest that we are all assembled from tiny pieces of the red shift, a cosmological phenomenon related to the Doppler effect. The bridge of the song takes a step back from the cosmic perspective, describing human life as a new frontier and an interlude in eternity. The final verse brings the listener back to the present moment, as the singer drinks some wine, smokes a cigarette, and smiles. The final chorus reminds us that "you can't spend the whole song in space" – a statement that could be seen as both a warning and a call to action to fully embrace our lives on Earth.
Line by Line Meaning
(1-2-3...)
The song starts with a countdown to create a sense of anticipation and excitement.
(1-2-3-4!)
The song starts with a loud and energetic beat to grab the listener's attention.
You
The song addresses the listener directly, creating a personal connection.
You wake up late
The song refers to the feeling of being disoriented and out of sync with the world.
Yet you're asleep
Despite being awake, you may feel like you're still in a dreamlike state.
Inside a dream
The song suggests that the world we live in can feel surreal and disconnected from reality.
Then
The song transitions to a new idea or experience.
You feel something
The song refers to a vague sense of awareness or intuition that something is different.
Superimposed
The song suggests that this feeling is layered on top of other thoughts, creating a sense of complexity and confusion.
Upon your thoughts
The song refers to the idea that we are constantly thinking and processing information, even when we're not consciously aware of it.
They say that in the future every man and woman will be a star
The song references a popular idea about the future, implying that we are all destined for greatness.
And everybody's shining and it's blinding and they don't see too far
The song suggests that this idea of everyone being a star may be unrealistic or misguided, and that it can obscure our ability to see beyond ourselves.
You can't spend the whole song in space
The song reminds us that we must come back to reality and engage with the world around us.
Next
The song moves on to a new experience or observation.
You move outside
The song suggests a physical movement, as if stepping out into the world.
You feel grey rain
The song references a specific sensory experience, creating a vivid image for the listener.
Upon your skin
The song emphasizes the physicality of the experience, as rain touches the body.
In
The song shifts focus to a new perspective or context.
The muted hush
The song describes a sense of stillness or quietness, perhaps in contrast to the sound of the rain.
The raindrops crash
The song juxtaposes the quietness of the hush with the louder sound of the rain hitting the ground.
The seconds roar
The song suggests that time is passing quickly or aggressively, perhaps adding to the sense of disorientation or detachment from reality.
They say we're all assembled from the tiny pieces of the red shift
The song references a scientific theory about the origins of the universe, perhaps suggesting that we are all connected to something greater than ourselves.
The elevator's later but it's swifter to just wait for a lift
The song references a common experience of waiting for transportation, perhaps implying that patience is necessary for progress.
Life
The song references the broader concept of existence and being alive.
The new frontier
The song suggests that life is an uncharted territory or a journey into the unknown.
An interlude
The song implies that life is a brief pause or break in something greater.
Eternity
The song juxtaposes the idea of life as a fleeting moment with the concept of eternal existence.
You drink some wine
The song references a specific activity, creating a sense of intimacy and familiarity.
You had a smoke
The song references another specific activity, perhaps suggesting a moment of relaxation or indulgence.
You got to smile
The song references a positive emotion or experience, creating a sense of joy or contentment.
They say that at the speed of light the particles all get quite excited
The song references a scientific fact about the behavior of particles, perhaps suggesting that there is a hidden order or logic to the universe.
But out here in this universe it's bursting and we're all so delighted
The song suggests that even though the universe may be chaotic or overwhelming, there is still a sense of awe and wonder that we can experience.
You can't spend the whole song...
The song reminds us again that we must come back to reality and engage with the world around us.
You can't spend the whole song in space
The song repeats its central message one final time to create a sense of closure and unity.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: STEVEN JOHN KILBEY, PETER KOPPES, TIM GUY GERARD POWLES, MARTIN HOWARD WILLSON-PIPER, MARTY WILLSON-PIPER, STEVEN KILBEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself