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.
You Got Off Light
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You must be seeing stars
The callous future with a nervousness soon
But that's all in the past
You got off light
Lying there in your own world tonight
Turn off the charm, it's too damn bright
Hey you got off light
You should be very proud
How will it be when they catch up with you
You're standing face to face with the jeering crowd
You got off light
Lying there in your own world tonight
In the dark with your second sight
You got off light
You didn't make such a big mistake
I should have checked on your credit
I pressed your hand in a clammy handshake
And I knew that I'd regret it
You got off light
Lying there in your own world tonight
But you're just too civilized to fight
You got off light
You got off light
Lying there in your own world tonight
Turn off the charm, it's too damn bright
You got off light
The Church's "You Got Off Light" is a song about a failed relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer had made promises and had expectations in the relationship that the other person did not share. The lines, "It seems you think I promised you the moon, you must be seeing stars" suggests that the singer had led their partner to believe that they would get everything they wanted, but in fact, the singer did not fulfill those promises. As a result, the other person ended the relationship and moved on to a better life.
The singer uses sarcasm and irony in the chorus, telling the other person that they "got off light" because they are now lying in bed alone, away from the singer's lies and broken promises. The line, "you're just too civilized to fight" suggests that the other person was too kind to argue or cause a scene. The singer also warns the other person that their lies and rumors will catch up with them, and they will have to face the consequences.
In conclusion, "You Got Off Light" is a song about the aftermath of a broken relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer had made promises they could not keep, and the other person had moved on to a better life. The song uses sarcasm and irony to convey the singer's resentment towards the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems you think I promised you the moon
You have unrealistic expectations of what I can provide
You must be seeing stars
You're delusional or confused
The callous future with a nervousness soon
You're worried about the uncertain and probably unpleasant future
But that's all in the past
Let bygones be bygones
You got off light
You should be grateful that things turned out better than expected
Lying there in your own world tonight
You're blissfully unaware of the reality around you
Turn off the charm, it's too damn bright
Stop pretending like everything is perfect and accept the flaws
Hey you got off light
Again, be grateful for the positive outcome
The rude rumors you started were partially true
You spread malicious gossip that had some basis in reality
You should be very proud
Sarcasm aimed at your sense of dignity
How will it be when they catch up with you
You will eventually face the consequences of your actions
You're standing face to face with the jeering crowd
People are angry and ridiculing you
You didn't make such a big mistake
You did something wrong, but it's not that bad
I should have checked on your credit
I should have done my due diligence and not trusted you blindly
I pressed your hand in a clammy handshake
I was uncomfortable with the situation and didn't want to be there
And I knew that I'd regret it
I had a bad feeling about this, which turned out to be true
But you're just too civilized to fight
You're willing to let things go and not cause a scene
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gianna Daniels
this is one of the coolest rap songs ever
R W
Absolutely
Jose Martinez
I missmi gaby roo
Mitchell McPherson
You already know what it is
Kermit The frog
Yes
jadexo_
Gianna D true 👌🏾
bald and bankrupt
Lunik 9 party tune!
👽MrHalcyonmusic👽
Yeaaah düd!
humming bored
hahaha I watched your video and found this in your comment section 😂
KT
just watched that lol