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.
Phoenix
The Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, dig this
Like the heat from a thousand suns that burns on
Rising ever higher
A phoenix from a pyre
My eternal desire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
Like a kiss from the lips of Ra that burns on
The pleasures getting wilder
Circling ever higher
A servant of desire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
Like the heat from a thousand suns that burns on
Rising ever higher
A phoenix from a pyre
My eternal desire
Like a kiss from the lips of Ra that burns on
The pleasures getting wilder
Circling ever higher
A servant of desire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
Like the heat from a thousand suns that burns on
Rising ever higher
A phoenix from a pyre
My eternal desire
My eternal desire
My eternal desire
My eternal desire
Fire
The lyrics of the song "The Phoenix" by The Cult revolve around the idea of rebirth, regeneration, and the passion that comes with it. The Phoenix, a mythical bird that rises from the ashes every 500 years or so, is a symbol of immortality, renewal, and transformation. The song uses the Phoenix as a metaphor for a person who wants to rise from the ashes of his past self and start anew. The heat from a thousand suns refers to the intensity of the desire to be reborn, to start over, and the phoenix rising higher and higher from the pyre is illustrative of the person's determination to reach higher and achieve something better.
The lyrics suggest that the desire to be reborn can be all-consuming like fire, burning away any doubts or fears, and that passion can be contagious, wild, and ever-evolving, much like the pleasures of life. The Phoenix serves as a representation of that burning desire, a life-giving energy that runs through the veins of those who seek to transform themselves. The kiss from the lips of Ra, the Egyptian sun god, represents the endless source of light, energy, and inspiration that propels the Phoenix, and by extension the person, forward.
The song captures the anticipation, excitement, and thrill that comes with the prospect of starting over, becoming someone new, and overcoming past failures. In essence, it is a song of hope, empowerment, and resilience, encouraging the listener to embrace opportunities for growth and change.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Expression of affirmation or excitement
Oh, dig this
Expression of urging someone to pay attention or be impressed
Like the heat from a thousand suns that burns on
Intense feeling of passion and love that cannot be quenched
Rising ever higher
Motivated and ambitious to reach greater heights
A phoenix from a pyre
The symbolism of rebirth and regeneration from ashes of past experiences
My eternal desire
Unwavering determination to achieve one's goals
I'm on fire
Feeling of passion and enthusiasm
Like a kiss from the lips of Ra that burns on
Intense feeling of passion and love that cannot be quenched
The pleasures getting wilder
Indulging in one's desires and finding oneself losing control
Circling ever higher
Repetitive cycle of seeking new experiences and pushing boundaries
A servant of desire
Being consumed and controlled by one's desires and passions
My eternal desire
Unwavering determination to achieve one's goals
Fire
The intense feeling of passion and desire that drives one's ambitions
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN ROBERT ASTBURY, WILLIAM DUFFY, WILLIAM HENRY DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tropicwave1
Phoenix
The Cult
Produced by Steve Brown
Album: Love
Yeah
Oh, dig this
Like the heat from a thousand suns that burns on
Rising ever higher
A phoenix from a pyre
My eternal desire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
Like a kiss from the lips of Ra that burns on
The pleasures getting wilder
Circling ever higher
A servant of desire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
Like the heat from a thousand suns that burns on
Rising ever higher
A phoenix from a pyre
My eternal desire
Like a kiss from the lips of Ra that burns on
The pleasures getting wilder
Circling ever higher
A servant of desire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
Like the heat from a thousand suns that burns on
Rising ever higher
A phoenix from a pyre
My eternal desire
My eternal desire
My eternal desire
My eternal desire
Fire
WRITTEN BY: BILLY DUFFY, IAN ASTBURY
℗ © 1985 BEGGARS BANQUET LTD.
Aquaria
The most underrated album of the 80s. Still my favorite from the entire decade.
k sturmer
36 years later, it still sounds fresh as a daisy!
Funky Diva
Omg such a long time! Don't remind me lol 💖💖💖 but sounds better than ever
k sturmer
@Funky Diva Hell yeah!! xxxxxxxxx Happy New Year!!
Nuno Fonseca
One of the best songs from this band! Amazing atmosphere! Amazing entire song solo guitar!
Roy
So Good Really!
César Ribeiro
After transcendental meditation I listened this track and my kundalini rised.♾️☯️🌍💖✨
tee
Rarely do you here a guitar solo style during the whole song. Awesome!!!
hellradiolives
This is a wonderful song to listen to when angry. You can imagine spontaneous bonfires appearing behind you💥
Rpreggie
Stop it!! Ha