The Damned is a punk rock band started in 1976 in London, UK. Despite being… Read Full Bio ↴The Damned is a punk rock band started in 1976 in London, UK. Despite being one of the definitive early punk bands they were also one of the most ambitious; with their later albums moving away from gothic rock to psychedelic rock.

They are notable for being the first of the British punk bands to release a single, put out an album, and tour the United States. Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, was released six months before The Sex Pistols' debut, Never Mind The Bollocks.

The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with singer Dave Vanian remaining the sole constant. They have incorporated many styles in their music, most notably garage rock, psychedelic music, the British theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and New Romantic.

In addition to serving as inspiration for many of the young bands who created hardcore punk in the US, The Damned are also generally regarded as one of the founders of goth music.

Original members Dave Vanian (David Lett), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns), and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) were all members of the semi-legendary Masters of the Backside which included future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde.

Original guitarist Brian James (Brian Robertson) was a member of the early punk band London SS, a unit that never played live, but whose members later found fame in bands including The Clash and Generation X. Rat Scabies was also tried as the drummer for London SS, but was rejected.

Maintaining the goth connection, between 1996 and 2004 the bass guitarist of the Damned was one-time the Sisters of Mercy / the Sisterhood / Gun Club member Patricia Morrison. Morrison married Dave Vanian in 1996 but left the band after the birth of their daughter Emily. She originally joined the band after bassist Paul Grey was injured during a concert.

Discography:

Damned, Damned, Damned – February 25, 1977 (# 36)
Music For Pleasure – November 18, 1977
Machine Gun Etiquette – November 2, 1979 (# 31)
The Black Album – October 20, 1980 (# 29)
Strawberries – October 1, 1982 (# 15)
Phantasmagoria – July 15, 1985 (# 11)
Anything – December 5, 1986 (# 40)
Not of This Earth – November 11, 1995 (Retitled I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk in the UK, Germany and Sweden)
Grave Disorder – August 21, 2001
So, Who's Paranoid? – October 28, 2008
Evil Spirits – April 13, 2018
Darkadelic - April 28, 2023

Amen
The Damned Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is my house please come on in
It's time to cleanse yourself of sin
Get thee down upon your knees
'Cos non-belief is a disease, Amen

Come all ye faithful, heed the bells
This trip could save you all from hell
Burning crosses through the night

Come and join the holly fight, Amen

So you hear your shephard calling
My wraith won't be denied
Don't stand there looking sheepish
Come and join the flock inside

Who says these people are insane
It's only brainwash, quite humane
A thousand channels take your pick
Another mystic lunatic, Amen

Think you can challenge me come on
I've seen 'em all off one by one
Old Gallileo's long forgot
Though he was right and we were not, Amen

Deliver you from evil
That never was the plan
To those who fall for this one
Deserve the lousy hand

This twisted truth, this slight of hand
Has kept the devil in command

Beyond those gates up in the sky
Sign up now for apple pie, Amen

Overall Meaning

The Damned's song "Amen" appears to be a satirical take on religion and its followers. The lyrics begin by inviting listeners into a house to "cleanse yourself of sin," suggesting that non-belief is a "disease." The song references common religious imagery, such as bells and burning crosses, but in a way that mocks the religious fervor of its followers. The chorus even includes the line "come and join the holly [sic] fight," implying that religion is more about combat than peace.

As the song continues, it becomes clear that the lyrics are critical of organized religion. The line "who says these people are insane" suggests that those who follow organized religion are being brainwashed, and the song even calls out historical figures like Galileo for being right while religious leaders were not. The final two lines of the song reinforce the idea that religion is a scam: "this twisted truth, this slight of hand / has kept the devil in command."

Line by Line Meaning

This is my house please come on in
The singer is welcoming someone to their community or group.

It's time to cleanse yourself of sin
The singer believes that the person they are addressing has sinned and must make amends.

Get thee down upon your knees
The singer is asking the person they are addressing to humbly repent for their sins.

'Cos non-belief is a disease, Amen
The artist believes that non-belief is a negative condition that needs to be remedied, and adds the affirmation 'Amen' to validate their assertion.

Come all ye faithful, heed the bells
The artist is calling out to those who already have faith and encouraging them to listen for guidance.

This trip could save you all from hell
The singer is offering salvation to those who heed their call.

Burning crosses through the night
The singer is advocating for intense, emotionally-charged belief and commitment.

Come and join the holly fight, Amen
The artist is expressing a sense of victory and superiority over those who are not part of their community, and reaffirming this with 'Amen'.

So you hear your shephard calling
The artist believes they are the guiding force and are calling out to their followers.

My wraith won't be denied
The artist is extremely confident in their beliefs and their ability to influence others.

Don't stand there looking sheepish
The singer does not want the person they are addressing to be hesitant or timid in joining their group.

Come and join the flock inside
The artist is emphasizing that the person they are addressing can only be truly safe or 'saved' by joining their community.

Who says these people are insane
The singer is challenging those who criticize or question their beliefs and methods.

It's only brainwash, quite humane
The singer is acknowledging that their group may be criticized as using 'brainwashing' techniques, but they believe these methods are necessary in order to help people.

A thousand channels take your pick
The singer is pointing out that there are many options or 'channels' for people to choose from, but that only their community offers true salvation.

Another mystic lunatic, Amen
The artist is using hyperbole to emphasize their belief that their group is the only true path, and adding 'Amen' to add finality and authority to their statement.

Think you can challenge me come on
The artist is confident and confrontational in the face of opposition.

I've seen 'em all off one by one
The singer believes they are experienced in debating and defeating those who oppose their beliefs.

Old Gallileo's long forgot
The singer is using sarcasm to comment on the way in which historical figures who have opposed certain established beliefs can be disregarded or forgotten.

Though he was right and we were not, Amen
The artist is acknowledging that some people who have opposed certain beliefs or systems may have been right, but is still claiming authority and validation for their own beliefs by adding 'Amen' at the end.

Deliver you from evil
The artist is suggesting that their community can protect people from negative or evil influences, which sets them apart from others.

That never was the plan
The artist admits, albeit indirectly, that their community may not have the power or effectiveness they initially claimed.

To those who fall for this one
The singer is accusing others who may have been critical of their community of naivete or weakness by falling for 'this one' (i.e. their group's beliefs).

Deserve the lousy hand
The artist is suggesting that those who do not follow their community's beliefs are inherently doomed or unlucky in life.

This twisted truth, this slight of hand
The singer is admitting that their community may use falsehoods or misdirection to attract and retain followers.

Has kept the devil in command
The singer is blaming others who may not follow their beliefs for causing society or individuals to become more sinful or immoral.

Beyond those gates up in the sky
The singer is referencing religious notions of paradise or heaven to entice potential followers.

Sign up now for apple pie, Amen
The artist is using a common phrase ('as American as apple pie') to entice followers with a sense of belonging and 'all-American' ideals, and adding 'Amen' for emphasis and validation.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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