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.
Terra Nova Cain
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll show you how the ancients once travelled
They used to call this a chevy
Just before the continents sank, you could still go outside
I was sitting on a hot off ramp
She pulled up and asked me if I needed a ride
Terra nova cain I need you again
Deep space jam on an alien terrain
Some for the little boys who live down the lane
I should have known there was something amiss
She had unearthly eyes
She had a way of sifting through your mind
Like she'd done it to a million guys
She said will you help with our research
I said take me to your leader
She put her foot down on the oscillation pedal
She was a transdimensional speeder
Terra nova cain I need you again
Protect me from the meteor rain
Terra nova cain I need you again
Put your explosion probe right into my brain
They brought me back after thousands of years
I hadn't aged at all
We used to float around her weightless bedroom
That drove me right up the wall
Terra nova cain I need you again
You dropped me off and you've left me quite drained
Terra nova cain I need you again
Help me break these telekinetic chains
The lyrics to "Terra Nova Cain" by The Church seem to describe an otherworldly experience. The singer of the song references traveling through space and time with a being called Terra Nova Cain. They describe her as having "unearthly eyes" and having the ability to sift through one's mind. Terra Nova Cain takes the singer on a journey through deep space where they encounter an alien terrain and meteor rain.
The lyrics suggest that Terra Nova Cain is some sort of scientist or researcher, as she asks the singer if they will help with her research. The singer agrees and asks her to take him to her leader. Terra Nova Cain then speeds off in her "transdimensional speeder" with the singer. They travel through space for thousands of years before finally returning to Earth. The singer seems both drained and enamored with Terra Nova Cain – he asks for her help to break his "telekinetic chains".
Overall, "Terra Nova Cain" seems to be a surreal exploration of love, lust, and exploration. The lyrics blend the fantastical with the scientific, all set to a dreamy, psychedelic rock backdrop. It's a song that invites the listener to get lost in its mystique and experience the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn down the gravity, this is all too heavy
The situation feels overwhelming and intense.
I'll show you how the ancients once travelled
I'll reveal an alternative method of transportation.
They used to call this a chevy
The previous method of transportation had a nickname.
Just before the continents sank, you could still go outside
The time frame in which the events of the song take place.
I was sitting on a hot off ramp
The artist was waiting for something to happen.
She pulled up and asked me if I needed a ride
The singer met someone who offered to take them away from their current situation.
Terra nova cain I need you again
The singer is calling out to their desired destination.
Deep space jam on an alien terrain
The new environment the artist dreams of experiencing.
Some for the little boys who live down the lane
An unknown reference, adds lyrical depth.
I should have known there was something amiss
The artist begins to realize that there's something strange about their situation.
She had unearthly eyes
The new individual the singer met did not seem human.
She had a way of sifting through your mind
The individual had a special ability to understand others.
Like she'd done it to a million guys
Implying that the individual met other people like the singer before.
She said will you help with our research
The individual asked the singer for assistance.
I said take me to your leader
The singer accepted the request but asked to meet the individual in charge.
She put her foot down on the oscillation pedal
The vehicle being used to transport the artist has unique qualities.
She was a transdimensional speeder
Further description of the vehicle and the environment the artist is in.
Terra nova cain I need you again
Reiterating the singer's desire to reach their destination.
Protect me from the meteor rain
The journey is not without danger.
Put your explosion probe right into my brain
Unknown reference, adds lyrical depth.
They brought me back after thousands of years
A significant amount of time has passed since the previous events.
I hadn't aged at all
The artist did not experience physical changes despite the time that passed.
We used to float around her weightless bedroom
The singer and the individual bonded in close quarters.
That drove me right up the wall
Being in close quarters was also frustrating for the artist.
Terra nova cain I need you again
The singer still longs to reach their destination.
You dropped me off and you've left me quite drained
The singer did not have a positive experience after being dropped off by the individual.
Help me break these telekinetic chains
The individual may have left a lasting impact on the singer.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
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