The band has released various versions of the song. Aside from the original 7" single, three other versions had been released around the same time on 12" formats: "The Long Version", "The Howling Mix", and "Assault on Sanctuary".
In 1993, several more mixes were released on two different CD singles, each called Sanctuary MCMXCIII (Volumes 1 & 2). The "Sundance" remix was remixed by Butch Vig who previously had produced Nirvana's Nevermind Album. The "Dog Star Rising" remix was remixed by Youth who has produced The Cult's eighth album, Born into This. "She Sells Sanctuary" was the last song to be recorded with The Cult's drummer, Nigel Preston, who was fired from the band shortly after its release.
In 2009, two more previously unreleased versions, a demo and the "Olympic Rough Mix" were included in a 4-disc box set of the Omnibus Edition of Love.
She Sells Sanctuary
The Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make my back burn
And those heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn
The sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive
And the sparkle in your eyes
The world
Oh, the world turns around
The world and the world, yeah
The world drags me down
Oh, the heads that turn
Make my back burn
And those heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn, yeah
Hey yeah hey, yeah hey
The fire in your eyes keeps me alive
And the fire in your eyes keeps me alive
Inside her you'll find sanctuary
Inside her you'll find sanctuary
And the world, the world turns around
And the world, and the world, the world drags me down
And the world, and the world, and the world, the world turns around
And the world, and the world, and the world, and the world
The world drags me down
Ah, hey yeah, hey yeah
And the world (hey yeah, hey), and the world turns around (hey yeah, hey)
And the world, and the world (hey yeah, hey)
Yeah, the world drags me down (hey yeah, hey)
And the world (hey yeah, hey)
Yeah, the world turns around (hey yeah, hey)
And the world, and the world (hey yeah, hey), the world drags me down (hey yeah, hey)
Yeah hey, hey yeah
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
The Cult's She Sells Sanctuary is a song about finding refuge in someone during difficult times. The song begins with the singer expressing his discomfort in the presence of those who constantly judge and criticize him, making his back burn with their unwelcome attention. However, the sparkle and fire in his lover's eyes help him withstand the pressures of the world and keep him alive. The singer finds sanctuary within his lover, a place where he is free from the world's judgment and he can be himself.
The chorus repeats the metaphor of the world turning around and dragging the singer down, emphasizing the difficulties of navigating the pressures and expectations of society. The song suggests that finding someone you can trust and rely on can help you overcome these struggles and find sanctuary from the world's weight.
Overall, She Sells Sanctuary is a song about the power of love and its ability to provide refuge and solace in difficult times. Its catchy melody and memorable lyrics have made it a hit and a beloved anthem for many.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the heads that turn
Make my back burn
The negative attention from others causes me discomfort and anxiety.
And those heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn
The continued attention from these people intensifies my discomfort and anxiety.
The sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive
Your affection and attention give me energy and make me feel alive.
And the sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive, keeps me alive
Your consistent affection and attention continue to give me energy and keep me feeling alive.
The world
Oh, the world turns around
The world is constantly in motion and changing.
The world and the world, yeah
The world drags me down
The constant movement of the world and its challenges weigh me down and make me feel overwhelmed.
And the fire in your eyes keeps me alive
Your passionate affection and attention continue to give me energy and keep me feeling alive.
Inside her you'll find sanctuary
Inside her you'll find sanctuary
Finding refuge in this person's love and affection is the key to finding inner peace and tranquility.
The world and the world, yeah
The world drags me down
The constant movement of the world and its challenges continue to weigh me down and make me feel overwhelmed.
And the world, and the world, and the world, the world turns around
And the world, and the world, and the world, and the world
The world drags me down
The world's constant motion and challenges, in addition to their persistence, continue to weigh me down and leave me feeling drained.
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Finding refuge in a person's love and affection is the key to finding inner peace and tranquility.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ian Robert Astbury, William Henry Duffy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@elithesly207
I love him!!! I play his song all the time and can not believe I am now just knowing him, I was so busy raising kids and other tunes on the monster stereo. i absolutely love him!!! He is my age maybe a bit older, big huge respect when a fan was happy to see him. know he loves us we love him. total rock on!!! xoxoxoxoxox!!!!!
@elithesly207
@@bobrisse9823 No he is not dead.
@elithesly207
@@bobrisse9823 Ya I googled him when I first heard the song to see if he was still with us.
@GsCConcrete123
as all ways back to the 1980,s 👍👍👍 my web/servers up 24/7 in Ireland.
@johnniefairchild4504
Ian/Billy have brought it for years.
@bruce1022
Who's listening to this classic in 2024?
@jeremytolbert9633
Me. Lol
@royfrench-qz8zo
me, every time i pull up you tube. saw them in concert once. just as tight and powerful as their studio stuff. just pure energy!!!!
@rondahildreth1104
I'm 64 years old and Still loving them! 💜