The Cult's debut studio album Dreamtime was released in 1984 to moderate success, with its lead single "Spiritwalker" reaching No. 1 on the UK Indie Chart. Their second studio album, Love (1985), was also successful, charting at No. 4 in the UK and including singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary" and "Rain". The band's third album, Electric (1987), launched them new heights of success, also peaking at No. 4 in the UK and charting highly in other territories, and spawned the hit singles "Love Removal Machine", "Lil' Devil" and "Wild Flower". On that album, The Cult supplemented their post-punk sound with hard rock; the polish on this new sound was facilitated by producer Rick Rubin. After moving to Los Angeles, California, where the band has been based for the remainder of their career, The Cult continued the musical experimentation of Electric with its follow-up album Sonic Temple (1989), which marked their first collaboration with Bob Rock, who would produce several of the band's subsequent albums. Sonic Temple was their most successful album to that point, entering the Top 10 on the UK and US charts, and included one of the band's most popular songs "Fire Woman".
By the time of their fifth album Ceremony (1991), tensions and creative differences began to surface among the band members. This resulted in the recording sessions for Ceremony being held without a stable lineup, leaving Astbury and Duffy as the only two official members left, and featuring support from session musicians on bass and drums. The ongoing tension had carried over within the next four years, during which they released one more studio album, The Cult (1994), and called it quits in 1995. The Cult reformed in 1999 and released their seventh album Beyond Good and Evil two years later. The commercial failure of the album and resurfaced tensions led to the band going back on hiatus in 2002. They resumed activity in 2006, and have since released three more studio albums: Born into This (2007), Choice of Weapon (2012), and Hidden City (2016).
According to music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, the band fuse a "hardcore punk revivalist" sound with the "pseudo-mysticism ... of the Doors and Uriah Heep and the guitar-orchestrations of Led Zeppelin and The Cure ... while adding touches of post-punk goth rock". In 1985 Astbury said, "Our music is just melodies and guitars. We're like Big Country and U2, only better!".
On August 15, 2020, Duffy announced on his Twitter that the band were recording a new album with producer Tom Dalgety at Rockfield Studios, where The Cult had recorded their debut album Dreamtime 36 years earlier.
The Cult is also the name of a Las Vegas funk group that recorded one album in 1976, an Australian psych rock band that released one single in 1965, a UK punk band that released one 7" in 1980 and a garage rock band (featuring Allan Springfield of Chelsea Beige) that released two singles in 1965 and 1966.
Dreamtime
The Cult Lyrics
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Dreamtime, dreamtime
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Oh the dream, dreamtime
I will have my dreamtime
My dreamtime, my dreamtime
The only thing untouched that's mine
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Oh the dream, dreamtime
I will wear my hair long
My hair long, my hair long
An extension of my heart
I will wear my hair long
Dream
Dream
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Oh the dream, dreamtime
I will have my dreamtime
My dreamtime, my dreamtime
The only thing untouched that's mine
I will have my dreamtime
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Dreamtime, dreamtime
Oh the dream, dreamtime
Dream
Dreamtime
The song "Dreamtime" by The Cult is a poetic reflection on the value of personal freedom and individuality, represented by the concept of "dreamtime". The lyrics repeat the phrase "dreamtime" throughout the song, emphasizing its importance and mythical quality. The use of repetition also creates a trance-like quality that reinforces the idea of entering into a dreamlike state of mind. The singer asserts their desire to have their own dreamtime, a space of privacy and untouched personal identity. This is represented by the symbol of the long hair, "an extension of my heart", which becomes a metaphor for the self-expression and individuality that the singer craves.
The song can be interpreted as a critique of conformity and societal pressure to conform. In a world that seeks to homogenize individuals, "Dreamtime" asserts the importance of retaining one's unique identity and personal autonomy. It is a call to resist the pressure to conform to society's expectations, and to create a space of personal freedom and creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Dreamtime, dreamtime
The singer is repeating the phrase 'dreamtime' multiple times to emphasize its importance.
Oh the dream, dreamtime
The singer is expressing their desire for a dreamy state of mind, hence the phrase 'oh the dream, dreamtime'
I will have my dreamtime
The singer proclaims that they will find and maintain their own dreamy state of mind.
My dreamtime, my dreamtime
The singer solidifies that their dreamy state of mind will be entirely of their own creation, represented by the repetition of the phrase 'my dreamtime'.
The only thing untouched that's mine
The singer reflects on the importance of having a sanctuary of unadulterated thought, represented by the phrase 'the only thing untouched that's mine'.
I will wear my hair long
The singer declares that they will wear their hair long as a symbol of their freedom and autonomy.
An extension of my heart
The singer believes that their hair is an extension and expression of their innermost self and states this as 'an extension of my heart'.
Dream
This lone word emphasizes that the singer is still fixated on reaching their dreamy state of mind.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID GREENFIELD, BRIAN JOHN DUFFY, JEAN JACQUES BURNEL, HUGH ALAN CORNWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind