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.
Youth Worshipper
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Youth worshipper, like you know what you're doing
I'll bet the sun and rain never touch your face again
Race against the time
Youth worshipper, hope you know what you're worth now
Youth worshipper, Like you're paying the earth now
You want the child back, want an aphrodisiac
To fill the crack with time
I'm gonna stitch you up when you come unsewn
Youth worshipper, wrapped in blue fox and ermine
Youth worshipper, got no pity for vermin
Your engines and machines drink your fuel and steal your scenes
They come between in time
(Chorus)(Repeat first verse)
The Church's song "Youth Worshipper" can be seen as a reflection on the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, and the consumerist and superficial culture that glorifies youth above all else. The song begins with the singer addressing the titular character, the "Youth worshipper," who is portrayed as a sort of goddess of destruction, ruining everything in her path. The singer goes on to speculate that the Youth Worshipper will never again feel the natural elements like the sun and rain on her face, as she is consumed by her pursuit of eternal youthfulness. He warns her that she is racing against time, and that money and material possessions cannot save her from aging.
The chorus repeats the first verse, emphasizing the singer's message to the Youth Worshipper. In the second verse, the singer describes the Youth Worshipper's desire for a childlike innocence and an aphrodisiac to fill the void caused by the passing of time. He then paints a picture of the Youth Worshipper as a wealthy and powerful figure, wrapped in luxurious fur and with no pity for those beneath her. He notes that her obsession with machines and material possessions is both wasteful and isolating, and ultimately prevents her from fully experiencing the world around her.
Overall, the lyrics of "Youth Worshipper" can be seen as a critique of contemporary culture's focus on youth and beauty, and a call to appreciate the richness of life and human experience beyond material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
Youth worshipper, goddess of ruin
Addressing someone who is obsessed with youth, beauty, and pleasure but whose actions in pursuit of these things will only lead to destruction
Youth worshipper, like you know what you're doing
Sarcastically acknowledging the overconfidence of the youth worshipper, who thinks they have everything under control but in reality is quite lost.
I'll bet the sun and rain never touch your face again
Implying that the youth worshipper is so afraid of ageing that they will go to extreme lengths to avoid natural phenomena such as sunshine and rain.
Race against the time
Describing the anxiety felt by someone who worships youth and wants to preserve it at all costs, including against the natural progression of time.
Youth worshipper, hope you know what you're worth now
Highlighting the self-obsession and narcissism inherent in someone who worships youth to the point of self-destruction.
Youth worshipper, like you're paying the earth now
Again, sarcastically pointing out the irony of someone who is obsessed with youth, beauty, and pleasure but is ultimately destroying the earth with their actions.
You want the child back, want an aphrodisiac
The obsession with youth has made the worshipper desperate for anything that can bring back their childlike innocence and sexual appeal.
To fill the crack with time
Trying to patch up the inevitable cracks that appear with ageing by throwing more and more time and resources into the pursuit of youth and beauty.
Hooves and horns and teeth and bones
Describing the physical signs of ageing that the youth worshipper fears and wants to avoid at all costs.
I'm gonna stitch you up when you come unsewn
Promising to fix the youth worshipper when they inevitably crack under the pressure of their obsession with youth and beauty.
Youth worshipper, wrapped in blue fox and ermine
Drawing attention to the decadence and vanity of the youth worshipper, who will wear luxurious and expensive clothes in order to maintain their illusion of youth and beauty.
Youth worshipper, got no pity for vermin
The youth worshipper has become so obsessed with their own beauty and youth that they have no compassion for anyone or anything that is perceived as old or ugly.
Your engines and machines drink your fuel and steal your scenes
People who obsess over their own youth will often use machines or products to retain their youth, but will eventually be consumed by these products and machines, which will take over their lives.
They come between in time
The machines and products that the youth worshipper uses to maintain their youth come between the worshipper and natural time, further separating them from reality.
(Chorus)
The recurring chorus reinforces the main message of the song: that youth worship is ultimately self-destructive, delusional, and at odds with the natural progression of life.
(Repeat first verse)
The conclusion of the song is a repetition of the opening lines, driving home the central message that the youth worshipper is lost, delusional, and ultimately doomed to failure and ruin.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself