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.
This Is It
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He got a chocolate on his eiderdown
Staring out over roofs at the cross
Suppose he must have felt somewhat at loss
This is it, oh, this is it
This is it, oh baby, this is it
What had the quack in London prescribed
You couldn't really say he seemed to care
Sometimes he acted like he wasn't anywhere
This is it, oh baby, this is it
This it it, oh, this is it
Watching films before it start to crash
Even though you've got a fistful of cash
Watching the future it bursts on through
I was one of those who used to envy you
I knew a wise man didn't know a thing
I knew a happy man who made me feel sad
You never know what the other guy is thinking, too bad
Sometimes you come upon a fork in the road
What was waiting there he never could have known
Split-second difference, one tiny percent
Yeah, he came and he went
This is it, oh baby, this is it
This is it, oh, this is it
The lyrics to The Church's song This is It describe a man who seems to be lost and disconnected from the world around him. He is living in a room in the best part of town, but he doesn't seem to be enjoying it. He gets a chocolate on his eiderdown, but it doesn't bring him any happiness. The man is staring out over roofs at the cross, as if searching for something, but he seems to be at a loss.
Despite the man's apparent lack of joy, the chorus of the song proclaims that "this is it". There is a sense of finality to the lyrics, as if the man has reached some kind of turning point in his life. The repetition of the phrase "this is it" emphasizes this idea, as if the man has come to a conclusion about his life and his place in the world.
Throughout the song, there are references to the fleeting nature of life and the uncertainty of the future. Watching films before they crash and envying those who seem to have it all are just a few examples of this. The idea that sometimes you come upon a fork in the road and never know what is waiting for you on the other side is a recurring theme in the lyrics. However, despite the uncertainty, the chorus continues to proclaim that "this is it".
Overall, the lyrics to This is It by The Church are a poignant reflection on the human experience. The song speaks to the universality of feeling lost and disconnected, while also offering a sense of finality and closure.
Line by Line Meaning
He had a room in the best part of town
He lived in a luxurious place situated in the most affluent area of the city
He got a chocolate on his eiderdown
He found a delicious surprise sweets on his fancy bed
Staring out over roofs at the cross
He was gazing at the view of roofs while looking at the symbol of the cross
Suppose he must have felt somewhat at loss
Supposedly, he felt confused about something and had difficulty finding meaning
This is it, oh, this is it
This is the moment or situation that was previously mentioned and focused on
You couldn't say he was feeling very vibed
It wouldn't seem like he was in a positive, energetic state of mind
What had the quack in London prescribed
What kind of questionable medicines did the doctor in London recommend?
You couldn't really say he seemed to care
He didn't seem to show any significant level of concern or interest
Sometimes he acted like he wasn't anywhere
Sometimes he displayed behavior where it seemed like he was absent-minded and not present
Watching films before it start to crash
Witnessing movies right up until the point where they abruptly end or fall apart
Even though you've got a fistful of cash
Having a lot of money doesn't always ensure smooth sailing or happiness
Watching the future it bursts on through
Observing how events occur in the future as they burst forward at a rapid pace
I was one of those who used to envy you
I once belonged to the group of people who were envious of you
I knew a wise man didn't know a thing
I once met a person who was regarded as wise but who actually had no knowledge
I knew a happy man who made me feel sad
I once encountered a content person whose life situation caused me to feel unhappy
You never know what the other guy is thinking, too bad
It's unfortunate that we can never fully understand the thoughts of other people
Sometimes you come upon a fork in the road
Occasionally, a person must make a decision between two options that will greatly impact their future
What was waiting there he never could have known
He could never have predicted what was waiting for him at that time and place
Split-second difference, one tiny percent
A single, small variable can make all the difference in the outcome of an event
Yeah, he came and he went
He arrived at a certain point in time and then departed at another
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN JOHN KILBEY, PETER KOPPES, TIM GUY GERARD POWLES, MARTIN HOWARD WILLSON-PIPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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