The group has released three original studio albums: First and Last and Always (1985), Floodland (1987), and Vision Thing (1990). Each album was recorded by a different line-up; singer-songwriter Andrew Eldritch and the drum machine called Doktor Avalanche are the only points of continuity throughout. Eldritch and Avalanche were also involved in The Sisterhood, a side-project connected with Eldritch's dispute with former members.
The Sisters of Mercy ceased recording activity in the early 1990s, when they went on strike against East West Records, whom they accused of incompetence and withholding royalties, and had pressured the group to release at least two more studio albums; instead, the label released the album Go Figure under the moniker SSV in 1997. Although the Sisters of Mercy were eventually released from their contract with East West, they have never been signed to another label nor released any new material, despite showcasing numerous new songs in their live sets.
Former members of the group established the bands Ghost Dance and The Mission.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sisters_of_Mercy
Discography
First and Last and Always (1985)
Floodland (1987)
Vision Thing (1990)
Some Girls Wander by Mistake (compilation, 1992)
A Slight Case of Overbombing (compilation, 1993)
A Rock And A Hard Place
The Sisters of Mercy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sold me name and innocence
Took my key
And told me to follow her
Down from Igor with her bangles and her reference
One from the church from the valley of the --
Well she wanted a haven and a place to hide
So I gave her an alibi took her inside but ...
(chorus)
A rock and a hard place await for for me
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
Everything I ever did right or wrong
Hid out of sight where I belong,
Belong...
And I didn't have the heart to tell her why
And there wasn't a part of me that
Didn't want to say goodbye but...
Cause and effect go hand in hand and
The devil may care but I don't mind
And I thought she'd never quite understand
So I left her there that night
But will she find me?
I don't think so, no
When you go, you go alone
And I'm gone ...
Far away (x4)
And I didn't have the heart to tell her why
And there wasn't a part of me that
Didn't want to say goodbye but :
chorus (repeat to fade out)
The Sisters of Mercy's song A Rock and a Hard Place tells the story of a man who meets a woman who is desperately seeking a haven and a place to hide. She comes to him, sells him her name and innocence and asks him to follow her down from Igor. The woman seems to have a dark past and is being pursued by some kind of danger. The man feels sympathy for her and takes her in, giving her an alibi and shelter, but he is conflicted. He is trapped between a rock and a hard place, between the devil and the deep blue sea, because he cannot bring himself to tell her the truth about why she needs to hide. He knows that what he is doing is not entirely right, but he also cannot bear to say goodbye. However, he ultimately leaves her alone that night, wondering whether she will ever find him again.
The lyrics are rich in metaphors and symbolism that give the song a haunting and mysterious quality. The title of the song is itself a metaphor for being caught in an impossible situation. The use of the devil and the deep blue sea as two forces that are impossible to reconcile with each other adds to the sense of foreboding and doom. The reference to Igor, the valley of the church, and the bangles also add to the sense of otherworldliness and mythic symbolism in the song. The lyrics also suggest that the man is not entirely blameless, as he has kept the truth from the woman, and is running away from his own past as well.
Line by Line Meaning
And she came to look for me
She actively sought me out
Sold me name and innocence
She tempted and misguided me
Took my key
She stole my access
And told me to follow her
She commanded me to come with her
Down from Igor with her bangles and her reference
Descending from higher ground, adorned with her jewelry and credentials
One from the church from the valley of the,
One who was once of the church in the lowlands
Well she wanted a haven and a place to hide
She sought a refuge and a sanctuary
So I gave her an alibi took her inside but ...
So I covered for her, let her in, but...
A rock and a hard place await for for me
A difficult situation lies ahead for me
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
Caught between two unappealing options
Everything I ever did right or wrong
All my past deeds, good or bad
Hid out of sight where I belong,
Concealed from view, where I am meant to be
Belong...
Belonging (or lack thereof)
And I didn't have the heart to tell her why
And I couldn't bring myself to explain the reasons behind my actions
Cause and effect go hand in hand and
Consequences are a result of actions taken
The devil may care but I don't mind
The devil may be indifferent, but it still affects me
And I thought she'd never quite understand
And I believed she would never fully comprehend
So I left her there that night
Therefore, I abandoned her that evening
But will she find me?
But will she come after me?
I don't think so, no
I doubt it very much
When you go, you go alone
When you leave, you are on your own
And I'm gone ...
And I have departed...
Far away (x4)
To a distant place
And I didn't have the heart to tell her why
And I couldn't bring myself to explain the reasons behind my actions
And there wasn't a part of me that
And there wasn't a single part of me that
Didn't want to say goodbye but :
Didn't experience a desire to say farewell but:
Chorus (repeat to fade out)
The repeated chorus until the song fades out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW ELDRITCH, WAYNE HUSSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind