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.
Till the Cows Come Home
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's easy to hope that you're here
In my fine linen suit and my smouldering cheroot
Well disposed to a night of good cheer
The candles and lamps and the losers and champs
Horses all covered in foam
If you don't show then I just do not know
If I'll wait till the cows come home
I remember the day that you first came my way
Yes it stays in my mind like a song
I remember the night when you first caught my sight
And in spite of all that's gone wrong
The moon and the stars and the gentle guitars
You stepped to the microphone
You sang like a lark in the warm fragrant dark
I could listen till the cows come home
When it's raining and cold and love's losing its hold
And you feel like you just want to sleep
And the friends that you trusted, left you all busted
And the hills that you climb are all steep
Yeah your lovers and cronies have all turned out phonies
Sold you a bag full of bones
I'll keep waiting there still on that last final hill
And I will till the cows come home
Though I'm in this valley
I'll fear no evil if you will walk by my side
Though danger's around us, strangers all hound us
Your light will still be my guide
The villains and freaks with their vulgar antiques
And critiques that simper and moan
Oh they twist and they turn
But I'm just standing firm
And I will till the cows come home
The Church's "Till the Cows Come Home" is a song about devotion and faith in love. The first verse describes the scene of a man in a fine linen suit walking through town, hoping for the presence of his beloved. He is surrounded by candlelight and losers and champs, as well as horses covered in foam, which suggests that he is in a bar. The man is uncertain if his lover will join him, and if not, he doesn't know how long he can wait for her.
The second verse recalls the day when the man first met his lover, which he remembers like a song. He also remembers the first night he saw her, where they listened to gentle guitars in the warm, fragrant dark. She sang like a lark, and he could listen to her forever.
The final verse expresses the man's unwavering devotion to his lover. He promises to stand firm no matter the danger or the negative opinions of others. He will wait for her until the cows come home because he believes that their love is worth it. Thus, the song suggests that love requires steadfast loyalty, even in the face of hardship and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm walking through town as the evening comes down
As the sun sets, I am walking through the town.
And it's easy to hope that you're here
I hope that you are here with me.
In my fine linen suit and my smouldering cheroot
I'm dressed in my nice suit and smoking a cigar.
Well disposed to a night of good cheer
I am ready for a night of fun and laughter.
The candles and lamps and the losers and champs
The town is filled with flickering lights and people of all kinds.
Horses all covered in foam
Even the horses are tired from the day's work.
If you don't show then I just do not know
If you do not show up, I do not know what to do.
If I'll wait till the cows come home
I may wait forever.
I remember the day that you first came my way
I remember the day I met you.
Yes it stays in my mind like a song
It is a memory that is forever etched in my mind.
I remember the night when you first caught my sight
I remember the night I first laid eyes on you.
And in spite of all that's gone wrong
Despite all the bad things that have happened.
The moon and the stars and the gentle guitars
The night was peaceful with the moon, stars, and soft guitar music.
You stepped to the microphone
You began to sing into the microphone.
You sang like a lark in the warm fragrant dark
Your voice was beautiful in the dimly lit room.
I could listen till the cows come home
I could listen to you sing forever.
When it's raining and cold and love's losing its hold
During the difficult times when love is fading away.
And you feel like you just want to sleep
When all you want to do is sleep.
And the friends that you trusted, left you all busted
When the friends you relied on have let you down and left you broken.
And the hills that you climb are all steep
When the challenges you face seem insurmountable.
Yeah your lovers and cronies have all turned out phonies
The people you thought loved and cared about you are actually fake.
Sold you a bag full of bones
They have given you a worthless bag of lies.
I'll keep waiting there still on that last final hill
I will continue to wait for you, no matter what the obstacles are.
And I will till the cows come home
I will wait indefinitely.
Though I'm in this valley
Although I am going through a tough time.
I'll fear no evil if you will walk by my side
If you are with me, I will feel safe even in danger.
Though danger's around us, strangers all hound us
People we do not know are a threat to us.
Your light will still be my guide
Your love will be my guiding light when everything is dark.
The villains and freaks with their vulgar antiques
The bad people with their nasty ways.
And critiques that simper and moan
Their criticisms do not bother me.
Oh they twist and they turn
They try to make things difficult for us.
But I'm just standing firm
But I am not backing down.
And I will till the cows come home
I will keep going, no matter what.
Writer(s): Steven Kilbey Copyright: Peermusic Pty. Ltd. (Australia)
Contributed by Tyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@suuzzee5
Fabulous song and images for the music. These lyrics are beyond awesome!
@SUNSHINEandSPIRIT
Thank you very much slumbers,appreciate that
@suuzzee5
Back for another listen....great song, great version!
@SUNSHINEandSPIRIT
Thanks gary, a love song churchstyle
@SUNSHINEandSPIRIT
Hi ShootToLuna,its a song written by the church,thanks,steve
@4846steven
i like this song and great video all the stars here my friend
@ShootToLuna
@SUNSHINEandSPIRIT Are you serious? I thought for the longest it was a cover! Then again, it is written in the Churchs' usual style. Thanks a bunch.
@SUNSHINEandSPIRIT
Thank you anita,glad you liked this video :)
@anitashelby
Great Song & Video!!! 5*s..I enjoyed this very much!Steve,You do some Great Videos my friend..Thanks Lots of Hugs Anita
@SUNSHINEandSPIRIT
Thank you suuzzee glad you liked this church song :)