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.
sunrise
The Cult Lyrics
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How I wonder
As we try to reach the sunrise
Sittin' on the other side of the sky
As we try to reach the sunrise
Ah the sunrise
Ah the sunrise
I wish you would come
And shed some light on the house of this man
Peace of mind is so hard to find
How I wonder
As we try to reach the sunrise
Sittin' on the other side of the sky
How I wonder
As we try to reach the sunrise
The Cult's song "Sunrise" is a reflective and introspective piece that talks about the yearning for inner peace and balance. The opening line, "Peace of mind is so hard to find," sets the tone for the entire song, as the lyrics seek to explore the difficulty of attaining inner peace in a chaotic and confusing world. The singer expresses his longing for clarity and insight, as he wonders about the possibility of finding the "sunrise," a metaphor for enlightenment or spiritual awakening.
The second stanza talks about sitting on the other side of the sky, which could be interpreted as a reference to the afterlife or the possibility of transcendence beyond the physical world. The repeated refrain of "Ah the sunrise, I wish you would come and shed some light on the house of this man" expresses the singer's desire for a guiding force or spiritual illumination, which would provide clarity and direction in his life.
Overall, "Sunrise" is a wistful and evocative song that speaks to the universal human experience of seeking inner peace and understanding in a world full of uncertainty and complexity.
Line by Line Meaning
Peace of mind is so hard to find
It's difficult to find inner peace and tranquility in life.
How I wonder
Reflecting on the struggle to find peace of mind, the singer wonders about the possibility of reaching an ideal state of being.
As we try to reach the sunrise
The metaphorical sunrise represents the goal of finding inner peace and the search for something better in life.
Sittin' on the other side of the sky
The goal of inner peace seems unattainable, as if it's on the other side of the world or in a different realm entirely.
Ah the sunrise
The sunrise is an elusive and beautiful symbol of hope and possibility that is constantly on the artist's mind.
I wish you would come
The singer is reaching out to something beyond themselves, asking for guidance and help in finding peace of mind.
And shed some light on the house of this man
The singer wants something or someone to shine a light on their life and help bring clarity, understanding, and peace of mind.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN ROBERT ASTBURY, WILLIAM HENRY DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind