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.
Gone
The Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you expect anyway
There's no patience left in your shattered little self
You haven't got a fucking thing to say
High on your own, gone
Mother fucker, fucking stoned
You're spinnin 'round going nowhere
Sweet dreams of her, she left you alone
You wasted it this time my friend
High on your own, gone
Mother fucker, fucking stoned
My friends and I used to mess about
In the park, we were only fourteen, yeah
I later understood about my attitude
I never thought I'd get that gone
The lyrics to the song Gone by The Cult reflect the frustration and pain of someone who has reached a point of no return, where their anger and self-destruction have led to isolation and emotional numbness. The opening lines "So your anger didn't carry you too far, What you expect anyway" suggest that the person has been lashing out without any real purpose or direction. The repetition of the phrase "High on your own, gone, Mother fucker, fucking stoned" highlights the self-destructive nature of their behavior, as they are lost in a haze of drugs or alcohol, and unable to connect with anyone around them.
The lines "Rain on your back, the wind in your face, You're spinnin' round going nowhere" suggest a feeling of disorientation and confusion, as the person struggles to find their way or make sense of their life. The reference to "Sweet dreams of her, she left you alone" suggests that there was someone in their life who they cared about or relied on, but who has since abandoned them. The song ends with the singer reflecting on their own past, and how they came close to reaching the same point of no return, but managed to pull back from the brink.
Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of the destructive nature of anger and self-doubt, and how it can lead to a sense of alienation and despair. With its driving guitars and intense vocals, it captures the desperation of someone who feels like they have lost everything and has nowhere to turn.
Line by Line Meaning
So your anger didn't carry you too far
Your anger was not effective.
What you expect anyway
You had unrealistic expectations.
There's no patience left in your shattered little self
You have lost patience and composure.
You haven't got a fucking thing to say
You have no valuable contribution to the situation.
High on your own, gone
You are intoxicated or delusional.
Mother fucker, fucking stoned
An exclamation expressing anger or frustration.
Rain on your back the wind in your face
You are defeated and feel helpless.
You're spinnin 'round going nowhere
You are stuck in a cycle of meaningless actions.
Sweet dreams of her, she left you alone
You miss someone who has left you behind.
You wasted it this time my friend
You made a mistake that has cost you something valuable.
My friends and I used to mess about
I used to goof around with my friends.
In the park, we were only fourteen, yeah
When we were young and carefree.
I later understood about my attitude
I realized later that my behavior was problematic.
I never thought I'd get that gone
I never thought I would be so far gone.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN ROBERT ASTBURY, WILLIAM DUFFY, WILLIAM HENRY DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bumble8700
All these years I thought I was the only one who loved this album, it is their best. Ian's most personal lyrics.
Mario Puac
you're not alone, i totally respect previous and later albums, but this album has that special thing
that i'm still trying to figure it out.
Welby Rouse
@Mario Puac it is a masterpiece of rock n' roll that sadly doesn't exist anymore, The Cult rock!
MrMissy1964
Definitely not the only one. This song has always seemed so powerful to me. Full of despair. anger and (self) loathing, with a touch of cocky bravado. Is that even possible?
WPS Reptiles - Kenosha, WI
I'm here in 2022. Totally agree with you. This was an incredible album.
Sergio Laspalas
Their most difficult album but frankly, their masterpiece by far.
Paul Wong
one of the most intense songs by them. The Line "I never new about my attitude .... Never Thought I would get that .... GONE" and the jam at the end is the Fury, the rock and intensity of the CULT
David Garvin
You have NO IDEA how much I love this song!!!!!!
Jay Frehley
Ah man, this album brings back some memories. I loved this album and I know that it wasn't very well received by majority of Cult fans. I could never figure out why because this one is one of their best in my opinion
Gianluca Marras
I am in love with this album. So difficult at the beginning, so beautiful every time I listen to it. I saw The Cult on tour with this album. I flew to Berlin (from Italy) and I was in front of the stage, in front of "Angry Ian" (he was pissed off with MTV) and the concert was not exactly "technically perfect" - he was always late in every song. Nevertheless I appreciated every song of this album and I can say it is one of my favorite.