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.
Sacred Life
The Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know your king has gone?
Mmm, well well
River Phoenix was so young
Don't you know your prince has gone?
Hey, hey there sister
What is holy in your life?
Sacred in your life?
Kurt Cobain was so young
Sad to see this poet's gone
Andrew Wood was so young
It's hard to feel this priest is gone
The heat is up
The heat is on
The heat is up
The heat is on
What you do is what you get
Don't be surprised by that effect, oh no
Hey, hey there sister
What is holy in your life?
Hey, hey there brother
What is sacred in your life?
Hey, hey there sister
What is holy?
Holy in your life
What is good?
What is pure?
Holy in your life
What is safe?
What is secure?
Holy in your time
Yeah, what is free?
What is me?
Holy in your mind
Sacred and secure
Do we need much more?
Hey, hey there sister
What is holy in your life?
Hey, hey there brother
Was is sacred in your life?
Hey, hey hey sister
What is holy, holy, holy in your life?
Hey there brother
What is safe?
What is secure and sacred in your life?
Well
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
The lyrics of The Cult's "Sacred Life" talk about young individuals who have passed away, leaving behind a legacy and questions about what is sacred and holy in life. Abbie Hoffman, River Phoenix, Kurt Cobain, and Andrew Wood were all young icons who have made a significant impact on their respective fields. The song is a tribute to them, asking the listener to ponder on what is sacred in their own life.
The phrase "Don't you know your king/prince/priest has gone?" highlights how society tends to elevate certain individuals to a god-like status or saviors, only to be reminded of their mortality and vulnerability when they pass. The chorus repeats the question, "what is holy in your life?" inviting the listener to think beyond these celebrity figures and examine their own values.
The bridge of the song, "The heat is up, the heat is on, what you do is what you get, don't be surprised by that effect, oh no," serves as a reminder that one's actions have consequences and that life doesn't always go as planned. Overall, "Sacred Life" is a contemplative piece that encourages listeners to reflect on what truly matters to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Abbie Hoffman was so young
Abbie Hoffman was young, his passing is mourned
Don't you know your king has gone?
A king-like figure is gone, do you realize?
River Phoenix was so young
River Phoenix was young, his passing is mourned
Don't you know your prince has gone?
A prince-like figure is gone, do you realize?
Hey, hey there sister
Addressing a female, hey
What is holy in your life?
What is considered holy to you?
Hey, hey brother
Addressing a male, hey
Sacred in your life?
What is considered sacred to you?
Kurt Cobain was so young
Kurt Cobain was young, his passing is mourned
Sad to see this poet's gone
It's sad that this poet is gone
Andrew Wood was so young
Andrew Wood was young, his passing is mourned
It's hard to feel this priest is gone
It's difficult to accept that this priest-like figure is gone
The heat is up
The temperature is increasing
The heat is on
The situation is getting intense
What you do is what you get
Your actions have consequences
Don't be surprised by that effect, oh no
You shouldn't be caught off guard by these effects
What is holy in your life?
What is considered holy to you?
What is sacred in your life?
What is considered sacred to you?
Hey, hey there sister
Addressing a female, hey
What is holy?
What is considered holy?
Holy in your life
What is considered holy to you?
What is good?
What is considered good?
What is pure?
What is considered pure?
Holy in your life
What is considered holy to you?
What is safe?
What is considered safe?
What is secure?
What is considered secure?
Holy in your time
What is considered holy in your lifetime?
Yeah, what is free?
What is considered free?
What is me?
What makes up 'me'?
Holy in your mind
What is considered holy in your mind?
Sacred and secure
What is considered sacred and secure?
Do we need much more?
Is there really a need for more?
Hey, hey there sister
Addressing a female, hey
What is holy in your life?
What is considered holy to you?
Hey, hey there brother
Addressing a male, hey
Was is sacred in your life?
What is considered sacred to you?
Hey, hey hey sister
Addressing a female, hey
What is holy, holy, holy in your life?
What is considered extremely holy to you?
Hey there brother
Addressing a male, hey
What is safe?
What is considered safe?
What is secure and sacred in your life?
What is considered both secure and sacred to you?
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Musical interlude
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN ROBERT ASTBURY, WILLIAM DUFFY, WILLIAM HENRY DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Frank-sm9yl
A superb, unique, deep album. Very personal songs. The music and Ian's voice really created a mood.
@franklinloll2229
My favorite album from the 90s. Ian and Billy had been doing this for 10 years. They're as deep in the lyrics and as hard in their music as any grunge band. I love grunge and love this album.
@christopherbingham5092
This is an incredible song. The Cult really deserved to have more fame in the U.S.
@monicaborcell1851
I love this song ,it is beautiful! ❤️🙏🎸🎵
@berlinfrancemcconnon1350
I think this song is so underrated!
I simply love it.
@jamiemaher9624
Awesome song by an awesome band, thank you so much for this!!!!
🤟😃🤟
@amodulares
I've always thought that this is the best song on the album The Cult, deep, thoughtful, a great underrated song from an underrated album. Thanks for the lyrics.
@karlshipley5142
Same page brother's and sisters
@randalleasley31
Who out there is a black sheep also
@lanier1000
Man, what an supreme example of an unsung classic ; Too f'n good to not be known by more folks.