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)
Flood II
The Sisters of Mercy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the ocean moves
And her hallway moves
Like the sea
Like the sea
She says "no, no, no, no harm will come your way"
She says "bring it on down, bring on the wave"
Grace of God and raise your arms
She says "face it and it's a place to stay"
This, this is the way it was
This, this is the way it is
When the water come rushing, rushing in
[Chorus]
She says
She says "anytime"
Raise your arms
Flood
And her hallway
Like...
Like...
Like a million voices call my name
Like a million voices calling
Not now, not never again...
Sitting here, now in this bar for hours
Strange men rent strange flowers
Seconds to the drop but it feels like hours and I
Think I'm going to...going to...
This, this is the way it was
This, this is the way it is
When the water come rushing, rushing in
[Chorus]
And her hallway...
[Chorus]
The Sisters of Mercy's song Flood II is a hauntingly beautiful piece with cryptic lyrics that leave much to interpretation. The singer describes the hallway of a woman's house that moves like the ocean or the sea. The woman assures the singer that no harm will come his way and encourages him to face whatever is coming without fear. She suggests that "Grace of God" will protect him, urging him to raise his arms in preparation for the flood that is about to come. The woman's message is both reassuring and ominous, creating a sense of impending doom.
The chorus repeats her advice to raise arms and face the flood, while the verses add more imagery and emotional weight to the song. The singer describes feeling haunted by millions of voices that call his name, making him feel trapped in the hallway. He is surrounded by strange men and strange flowers, left waiting for something that feels like an eternity. The water rushing in is finally mentioned, reminding us of the inevitability of what is coming.
All in all, Flood II creates a mood of anxiety and dread that lingers long after the song has ended. The lyrics suggest that there may be no escaping the flood that is about to come, but the woman in the hallway provides a glimpse of hope with her message of grace and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
And her hallway moves
The way she moves through her hallway reminds me of the movement of the ocean
Like the ocean moves
Her hallway moves like the waves of the ocean
And her hallway moves
Her movement through the hallway is like a constant ebb and flow, like the sea
Like the sea
Her hallway moves like the tides of the sea
She says "no, no, no, no harm will come your way"
She's reassuring me that everything will be fine, and that no harm will come my way
She says "bring it on down, bring on the wave"
She's encouraging me to face my problems head-on, like a surfer facing a giant wave
She says "nobody done no harm"
She's trying to make me see that nobody has hurt me, and that I can overcome anything
Grace of God and raise your arms
She's reminding me to look to God for strength and to raise my arms in a gesture of surrender
She says "face it and it's a place to stay"
She's telling me that if I confront my problems, they become a part of my life and I can then deal with them
This, this is the way it was
This is the way things used to be, in the past
This, this is the way it is
This is the way things are right now, in the present
When the water come rushing, rushing in
When my problems become overwhelming and begin to flood into my life
She says
She's always there to offer advice and support
She says "anytime"
She's telling me that she's available to help me at any time
Raise your arms
She's repeating her earlier advice to raise my arms in surrender to God
Flood
She's using the metaphor of a flood to represent the overwhelming problems in my life
Like a million voices call my name
It feels like the weight of the world is on my shoulders, and everyone is calling out to me for help
Like a million voices calling
The voices are coming from all directions, and I can't escape them
Not now, not never again...
I can't deal with this anymore, and I never want to experience it again
Sitting here, now in this bar for hours
I'm stuck in this place, unable to move on from my problems
Strange men rent strange flowers
I'm surrounded by people who are just trying to distract themselves from their own problems
Seconds to the drop but it feels like hours and I
I'm on the brink of breaking down, and time seems to be moving so slowly
Think I'm going to...going to...
I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I know that I'm at my breaking point
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind