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.

Stay All Night
The Church Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am a sailor, did not find me

I don't know, I don't know
I don't know where you go
I don't know, I don't know
Why I loved you so

You said it was alright

It stayed with me all night
It stayed with me all night

I don't think, I don't think
I've ever been to the brink
I don't think, I don't think
I'll have another drink
You said it was enough
Then you called my bluff

You said it was too hard
You took out your trump card
You said it was alright
It stayed with me all night
It stayed with me all night

I don't care, I don't care
I don't care where you are
I don't care, I don't care
I don't care who you are

You said it was too hard
You took out your trump card
You said it was alright
It stayed with me all night
It stayed with me all night

I don't guess the answer will be yes
I don't guess you can't

I don't guess you can't
The answer will be yes

Overall Meaning

The Church's song "Stay All Night" is a song about a potential lover leaving without a trace, leaving the singer to wonder where they went and why they loved them. The opening line, "I am a sailor, did not find me," suggests that even though the singer may have left the sailor lifestyle, they are still lost in terms of love. They are confused and unsure about where their love interest has gone and why they feel such strong emotions towards them. The chorus line "You said it was alright, it stayed with me all night" suggests that the singer is haunted by their lover's words, even though they may not have been entirely comforting. They continue to question what their attraction to this person is, but they can't shake off their feelings.

The second verse suggests that the singer may have reached their limit with drinking and wanting to move on from their lover, but their lover keeps pulling them back in. The line "You said it was too hard, You took out your trump card" implies that the lover is manipulating the singer's emotions, preventing them from moving on entirely. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the idea that the lover's words have a hold over the singer.

Overall, the song depicts the struggle of trying to move on from an unhealthy relationship where the singer is still haunted by their lover's words and actions.

Line by Line Meaning

I am a sailor, did not find me
I am someone who wanders and explores, but you cannot locate me.

I don't know, I don't know
I have uncertainty and confusion.

I don't know where you go
I am unsure of your whereabouts.

Why I loved you so
I question the reason I had such strong feelings for you.

You said it was alright
You gave me your approval.

It stayed with me all night
Your words lingered in my mind throughout the night.

I don't think, I don't think
I have doubts.

I've ever been to the brink
I have not been to the edge, or extreme limit before.

I'll have another drink
I will consume more alcohol.

You said it was enough
You declared that the situation had reached its maximum.

Then you called my bluff
You exposed my false act of confidence.

You took out your trump card
You resorted to your most effective means.

I don't care, I don't care
I express apathy towards the situation.

I don't care where you are
I am indifferent about your location.

I don't care who you are
I have no interest in your identity.

I don't guess the answer will be yes
I assume that your response will be negative.

I don't guess you can't
I presume that you have the ability.

The answer will be yes
You will agree to my request or proposal.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN JOHN KILBEY, PETER KOPPES, TIM GUY GERARD POWLES, MARTIN HOWARD WILLSON-PIPER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS