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.
The Witch
The Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got your funky ass out of the can
Well, a girl is coming to you
Gonna show you what is true
The witch, she need a lover, boy
Maybe it could be you
It took a while to understand, whoa, yeah
Stole the needs of another man, yeah
Push your sex on a mortal man
Your dreams are coming true
They said they wouldn't do
Cool world need to save you, boy
Maybe it could be you
Took a while to understand, yeah
Push your sex on a mortal man, yeah yeah yeah
Took a while to understand, whoa, yeah-yeah
Push your sex on a mortal man, yeah
She's got what you need
What she got is good, good
She's got what you need
What she got is good, yeah
She's got what you need (she's got what you need)
What she got is good, so good uh
She's got what you need
What she got is good
She's got it
She's got it good, yeah
She's got it, mmmm
She's got it good, yeah
She's got it, woo
She's got it good, yeah
She's got it
She's got it good, yeah
She's got what you need
What she got is good, yeah
She's got what you need
What she got is good
She's got what you need, yeah
And the witch is coming to you, ow
Everybody need a savior, baby
Everybody need a savior
Everybody tryin' to save you, baby
Everybody tryin' to paralyze, yeah, woo, woo
Everybody need a savior, baby
Cool world need a savior
Everybody tryin' to save you, baby
Cool world need-a-paralyze, yeah
She's got what you need
What she got is good, yeah
She's got what you need
Yeah, the witch is coming to you
And the witch is coming for you, yeah
Comin' as a wizard, maybe
And the witch is coming to you, yeah
The Cult's song "The Witch" is a tantalizing tune that lures the listener in with its rhythm and suggestive lyrics. The song is about a man who has finally found his groove and is getting out of a bad situation. A woman approaches him, and he believes she is going to show him what is true. The woman is referred to as "the witch," and she is in need of a lover. The man believes he could be the one to fulfill that need. The song suggests that the man's dreams are coming true, even though others said they wouldn't. The reference to the "cool world" and the need to save it implies that something exciting and dangerous is happening.
The song is open to interpretation, but it has been suggested that it is about the allure of the occult and the power of seduction. The lyrics suggest that the man is willing to be seduced by the witch, even though he knows it may not end well for him. The pulsing rhythm and the repetition of the lyrics build a hypnotic feeling that suggests the man is losing control of his own will. Overall, the song has a dark and sensual vibe that makes it a memorable addition to The Cult's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
So you finally found your rhythm, man
You're finally feeling confident and in control of your life
Got your funky ass out of the can
You've been released from a difficult situation and can now enjoy your newfound freedom
Well, a girl is coming to you
A woman is about to enter your life
Gonna show you what is true
She will reveal to you important truths about yourself and your desires
The witch, she need a lover, boy
The witch desires a lover and you could be that person
Maybe it could be you
You have a chance to be with the witch if you so choose
It took a while to understand, whoa, yeah
You needed some time to comprehend the situation
Stole the needs of another man, yeah
You took what another man wanted or needed
Push your sex on a mortal man
You are using your sexuality to manipulate someone else
Your dreams are coming true
Things you've always wanted are finally happening
They said they wouldn't do
Others doubted that your dreams could come true
Cool world need to save you, boy
The world needs saving and you have the potential to make a difference
Took a while to understand, yeah
It took some time to fully comprehend the situation
She's got what you need
The witch has something that you want or desire
And the witch is coming to you, ow
The witch is going to make contact with you
Everybody need a savior, baby
Everyone needs someone to rescue them from their problems
Everybody tryin' to save you, baby
People are trying to help you but it might not be what you want
Cool world need a savior
The world needs a hero to make it a better place
Cool world need-a-paralyze, yeah
The world is in such bad shape that it needs to be stopped and reevaluated
And the witch is coming for you, yeah
The witch is coming to get you and make you hers
Comin' as a wizard, maybe
Perhaps the witch is coming as a wizard, implying that there is more to her than meets the eye
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY DUFFY, IAN ASTBURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hartley81848184
I had this song played for my wife at our wedding reception. I dedicated it to her. All the old folks were shocked a little bit - but hell, it was good for them to hear something different.
@nyakris
Haha great!
@stevenrowe3438
thats pretty cool
@HyggeAve917
5 star choice
@hectorhyat2669
why didnt you invite me
@dirkrichter293
Thats right and great song..
@BR0WN_H0RN3T
Ian Astbury. One of the greatest soul singers of our time.
@lee_fox7553
Massively underrated band way ahead of there time !
@kevinknight1924
We’re a part of the and ahead of their time. I’m 52 and loved them back in the nineties
@nujtffdd7815
Lol ahead of their time this just in the future sucks…😂