The Legendary Pink Dots are a Netherlands-based band formed in August 1980 … Read Full Bio ↴The Legendary Pink Dots are a Netherlands-based band formed in August 1980 in the UK who, although distinctly underground, have been musically influential over the years. The band name was derived from pink dots of nail varnish on the piano in their squat, where founding members Edward and April lived. The band has as its focal point vocalist Edward Ka-Spel, who is, along with Phil "The Silverman" Knight, one of the original remaining members of the band. In the mid eighties the band resettled in the Netherlands, where they still reside today. Apart from Edward and Phil, the line-up has gone through many changes. Members such as Ryan Moore, a Canadian bass player, who joined in 1991 after the recordings of the Last Man to Fly with the Tear Garden (he joined as a session musician), went on to form their own labels and musical projects. See Twilight Circus and M Records. Their music is nothing if not original and it is difficult to categorise, but comparisons may be drawn with bands like Pink Floyd and Can.

Their sound has been described as an amalgamation of psychedelic rock, industrial, synth-pop and avant-garde. They have released over 40 records and continuously tour the world.

Members of the band have also collaborated with Nurse With Wound, The Dresden Dolls, Jarboe, HNAS, Jim O'Rourke, Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key, forming The Tear Garden. Ka Spel accompanied Skinny Puppy for a small part of their 1988 European 'Head Trauma' tour in Sweden. Key also appears on the 1994 album 9 Lives to Wonder.

A Strychnine Kiss
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Cut glass cathedrals slash holes in the air
so it always is raining when we kneel down in prayer
and Christ leans and laughs . . . Christ!
He's shaking his head cos the wine's Portugese and the bread's only bread . . .
No trance, no substance, no conscience for sure
as the Pope licks a jack- boot and lays down the law.
And his flock form a cross--all fall down with disease.
And the only survivors are him and his priests.

In them thar seven hills there's a big crock of gold,
but it's all stashed in sacks and belongs to a Pole.

And name any language, he's got something to sell,
but if you add it up, it's a ticket to hell.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Legendary Pink Dots' song A Strychnine Kiss criticize the hypocrisy and corruption of institutionalized religion. The "cut glass cathedrals" represent the grandeur and opulence inherent in the structures of organized religion. However, these structures only serve to "slash holes in the air," creating a false sense of sanctity. The image of constant rain suggests a sense of mourning and lamentation, as if those who pray are constantly trying to wash away their sins.

The lyrics then turn their focus to Christ, who is portrayed as disillusioned and disappointed with his followers. He laughs and shakes his head at the mundane grape juice and bread that serve as the symbols of his sacrifice, representing the hollow nature of organized religion. Meanwhile, the Pope is depicted as licking the boot of a fascist regime while his flock succumbs to disease. The only survivors are the Pope and his priests, who are able to protect themselves from the suffering of their followers.

Finally, the lyrics turn to the greed present within the Church, specifically within the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. The "big crock of gold" refers to the wealth stored in the Church's coffers, much of which is not used to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Instead, it belongs to a specific group of people, represented in the song's lyrics by the "Pole." The final line suggests that the Church's promises of salvation are simply a guise to sell one's soul for worldly riches.

Overall, the song is a critique of the corruption and hypocrisy present within organized religion, especially as represented by the Roman Catholic Church.

Line by Line Meaning

Cut glass cathedrals slash holes in the air
The grand and imposing cathedrals cut through the sky with such sharpness that they seem to create wounds.

so it always is raining when we kneel down in prayer
The atmosphere surrounding the churches seems so melancholic and sorrowful that it feels like it's always raining when people are praying in there.

and Christ leans and laughs . . . Christ!
When Christ looks down at the churches, he can see the folly of the people trapped there and cannot help but laugh.

He's shaking his head cos the wine's Portugese and the bread's only bread . . .
Even Christ is not impressed with the quality of the wine served during church communion, which is Portuguese and not the quality it should be. Also, the bread used as sacraments is just ordinary bread.

No trance, no substance, no conscience for sure
There is no spirituality, no real meaning in the churches, just empty traditions and rituals which are devoid of logical content.

as the Pope licks a jack-boot and lays down the law.
The Pope is busy appearing worldly and making sure he secures his power while behaving like a sycophant in front of his power holder(s).

And his flock form a cross--all fall down with disease.
The members of the congregation are so blinded by their faith that all they can do is form a cross, unable to see the diseases and social problems that dog their community.

And the only survivors are him and his priests.
The church leaders and the authorities are the only ones who don't struggle despite being aware of the disease, poverty and other social ills that grip their community.

In them thar seven hills there's a big crock of gold,
There are sources of great wealth for the church in the seven hills, but even with all this wealth, the church is unable to help its own people.

but it's all stashed in sacks and belongs to a Pole.
All the wealth collected by the church is confined to a very small group and cannot reach the wider community despite the fact that this wealth belongs to everyone.

And name any language, he's got something to sell,
The church tries to exploit its members by selling its ideology and propaganda with great speed and efficiency in every language in which it speaks.

but if you add it up, it's a ticket to hell.
When you analyze their transactions and see how the church’s wealth is accumulated and how it spends its vast sums, it seems likely that the church condemns its members to hell rather than opening the doors of heaven for them.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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