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)
Black Planet
The Sisters of Mercy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(My kingdom come)
So still so dark all over Europe
And I ride down the highway 101
By the side of the ocean headed for sunset
For the kingdom come
for the
[Chorus x2]
Black
Black planet
Black
Black world
Run around in the radiation
Run around in the acid rain
On a
Black
Black planet
Black planet hanging over the highway
Out of my mind's eye
Out of the memory
Black world out of my mind
Still so dark all over Europe
And the rainbow rises here
In the western sky
The kill to show for
At the end of the great white pier
I see a
[Chorus]
Run around in the radiation
Tune in turn on burn out in the acid rain on a...
[Chorus repeats to fade]
The lyrics to The Sisters of Mercy's song "Black Planet" depict a hopeless and apocalyptic world view. The first two lines refer to the singer's desire for their own kingdom, but this is quickly contrasted with the bleak reality of Europe, which is "so still so dark." The singer is driving down Highway 101 towards the sunset, where they hope to find their own personal kingdom, but the repetition of the chorus phrase of "Black planet, black world" paints a bleak picture of the world at large.
The second verse continues to emphasize the bleakness of the world, with references to radiation and acid rain. The image of a "black planet hanging over the highway" again reinforces the sense of desolation and hopelessness. The rainbow rising in the western sky is referenced, but it is immediately followed by a reference to killing, suggesting that there is no escaping the darkness of this world.
The repeated chorus serves as a reminder of this darkness, with the final line fading out into silence, emphasizing the hopelessness of the situation. Overall, "Black Planet" is a powerful piece of music that paints a vivid picture of a world in turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
(In the western sky)
The singer is looking towards the western sky
(My kingdom come)
The singer is expecting or hoping for a future event or state of being that they refer to as 'their kingdom'
So still so dark all over Europe
The atmosphere in Europe is calm and dark, perhaps metaphorical of a mood or feeling
And I ride down the highway 101
The artist is traveling on a particular highway
By the side of the ocean headed for sunset
The artist is traveling near the ocean and is going towards the direction of the setting sun
For the kingdom come
Repetition of the previous reference to 'kingdom come'
for the
Repetition of a previous structure
[Chorus x2]
The chorus is repeated twice
Black
The color black is being referenced
Black planet
There is a planet that the artist is characterizing as 'black'
Black
Repetition of the previous reference to black
Black world
The world is also being characterized as 'black'
Run around in the radiation
It seems like the singer is enjoining the listener to take some kind of action
Run around in the acid rain
The singer is continuing to list out different possible activities in this environment
On a
A continuation of the previous line's structure
Black
A repetition of the earlier use of the color black
Black planet hanging over the highway
A further characterization of the setting as a planet that is hanging over the highway
Out of my mind's eye
Something is being referenced that is visible in the mind's eye
Out of the memory
Whatever the singer is referencing cannot be remembered
Black world out of my mind
The 'black world' is something that the artist cannot remember
Still so dark all over Europe
Repetition of a similar reference from earlier in the song
And the rainbow rises here
Contrast to the darkness of the previous line--there is a rainbow that is present
In the western sky
Repetition of an earlier reference to the western sky
The kill to show for
Unclear what this line means but it could be interpreted as a reference to violence or destruction
At the end of the great white pier
Some kind of structure (a pier) is being referenced as 'great' and 'white'
I see a
The singer is seeing something
[Chorus]
Repetition of the chorus
Tune in turn on burn out in the acid rain on a...
A continuation of a previous structure where the artist is suggesting different activities in the current setting
[Chorus repeats to fade]
Repetition of the chorus until the end of the song
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW ELDRITCH, WAYNE HUSSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind