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.
Wild Child
The Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Savior of the human race
Your cool face
Natural child, terrible child
Not your mother or your father's child
You're our child, screamin' wild
An ancient lunatic reigns in the trees of the night
With hunger at her heels and freedom in her eyes
She dances on her knees, pirate prince at her side
Staring into the hollow idol's eye
Wild child full of grace
Savior of the human race
Your cool face, your cool face, your cool face
You remember when we were in Africa?
The lyrics to The Cult's song Wild Child are a celebration of individuality, freedom, and the power of youth to create change. The song opens with the line "Wild child full of grace, savior of the human race, your cool face," which sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The "wild child" is someone who is unique, unconventional, and unafraid to be themselves. They are a savior of the human race because they represent the potential for creativity, innovation, and progress.
The second stanza of the song highlights the rebellious and non-conformist nature of the wild child. They are described as a "natural child, terrible child, not your mother or your father's child," emphasizing their distance from societal norms and expectations. However, despite this distance, the wild child is considered "our child" and is celebrated for their fearless existence.
The third stanza of the song describes an "ancient lunatic" who "reigns in the trees of the night." This lunatic represents the past and the weight of history that can sometimes feel oppressive. However, the wild child is not burdened by this weight, and instead embraces a sense of hunger and freedom that fuels their creativity and passion. The final line of the song "You remember when we were in Africa?" is a reminder of the wild child's origin story and underscores the idea that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Line by Line Meaning
Wild child full of grace
The free-spirited and uninhibited person is full of elegance and poise.
Savior of the human race
The person is seen as a hero who can revive and uplift humanity.
Your cool face
The person's calm, collected demeanor is admired.
Natural child, terrible child
The person is unbridled and untamed, leaving others perplexed and in fear.
Not your mother or your father's child
The person's independence and nonconformity are apparent, likely due to a troubled childhood.
You're our child, screamin' wild
The person is accepted by their community despite their disruptive behavior.
An ancient lunatic reigns in the trees of the night
The wild child represents a mythical, primal power that is beyond human understanding.
With hunger at her heels and freedom in her eyes
The person is driven by a deep, intense desire for adventure and autonomy.
She dances on her knees, pirate prince at her side
The wild child is living life to the fullest, accompanied by a like-minded companion.
Staring into the hollow idol's eye
The person is confronting the hollowness and superficiality of modern society.
You remember when we were in Africa?
The singer recalls a past experience shared with the wild child, hinting at a deep connection between them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JESSICA LEE HANSELL, ROBIN HANNIBAL MOELSTED BRAUN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jakeplissken1681
Saw the Cult on The Electric tour at the Music Hall in Houston. The Cult played LA Woman substituting Texas for LA in the lyric's.
It was an incredible concert.
Guns and Roses opened. Appetite for Destruction had just been released. Guns covered Dylan's Knocking on Heavens Door which a version of would later be released on Use Your Illusion.
@destinationssa
loved this. it's as good as the original or maybe even better.
@Obeijin
Nice . Should have 10 times more reviews !
@bgray625
"Do you remember when we were in Africa?"
Uhhhh... oh yeah, Africa, sure, like it was only yesterday, Jim ol' buddy.
@juliethomas7311
"YOUR!"
"COOL" FACE" 🎶
✨J✨
@SUNNYBEACHINVEST
hahahh ok funny and quiet nice
@maxidyhr3375
daa good
@iRideuWatch
Prefer the original