Floorshow
The Sisters of Mercy Lyrics


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The bodies on the naked on the low damp ground
In the violet hour to the violent sound
And the darkness the blinding the eyes that shine
And the voices and the singing and the line on line
This is the floor show the clapping hands
Animal flow from the animal glands
In the violet hour to the violent sound
Going round and around and around and around and around

I feel the bite I feel the beat I see the dancing feet
I feel the light I feel the heat I see the new elite
I see the final floor show I see the western dream
I see the faces glow and I see the bodies steam

See them shimmy see them go
See their painted faces glow
Slow slow quick quick slow
See those pagans go go go go go

This is the floor show the last ideal
It's populist got mass appeal
The old religion redefined
For the facile futile totally blind

Mundane by day inane at night
Pagan playing in the flashing light
In the violet hour to the violent sound
Going round and around and around and around and around
And the bodies naked on the low damp ground
In the violet hour to the violet sound
And the darkness the blinding the eyes that shine
And the voices singing line on line

See them shimmy see them go
See their painted faces glow




Slow slow quick quick slow
See those pagans go go go go go

Overall Meaning

The Sisters of Mercy's "Floorshow" is a dark and evocative song that delves into themes of sexuality, religion, and primal urges. The lyrics describe a scene of bodies lying naked on the ground, lit by a violet hour and pulsing with a violent sound. The floor show is a spectacle of animalistic desire, with clapping hands and a rhythm that comes straight from the glands. The rest of the song is a series of vivid images that paint a picture of a debauched and otherworldly scene. The dancing feet, painted faces, and glowing bodies are all part of a pagan ritual that takes place in the flashing light of the night.


The song is a commentary on the nature of religion and the human need for transcendence. It suggests that even as we move away from traditional religion, we still crave some kind of spiritual experience. The pagan rituals described in the song provide a temporary escape from the mundane world, a chance to connect with something bigger than ourselves. At the same time, the song is also a celebration of the body and its primal instincts. The bodies on the ground are a symbol of the raw, physical energy that underlies everything we do.


Overall, "Floorshow" is a powerful and evocative song that captures the spirit of The Sisters of Mercy's music. With its dark imagery and insistent beat, it creates a world that is both unsettling and deeply alluring.


Line by Line Meaning

The bodies on the naked on the low damp ground
The corpses are naked and strewn across the damp ground


In the violet hour to the violent sound
The scene is set during the twilight hours with loud, aggressive noise


And the darkness the blinding the eyes that shine
The overwhelming darkness makes it hard to see, but shining eyes can still be seen


And the voices and the singing and the line on line
There are many voices singing together in unison


This is the floor show the clapping hands
The entire scene is a floor show with the audience clapping their hands


Animal flow from the animal glands
The energy in the room is like that of wild animals, emanating from within them


In the violet hour to the violent sound
The scene is still set during the same time and with the same sound as before


Going round and around and around and around and around
The chaos and energy of the floor show keeps going and going


I feel the bite I feel the beat I see the dancing feet
The artist can feel the rhythm and movements of the music and dance


I feel the light I feel the heat I see the new elite
The atmosphere is intense, with new people gaining status and power


I see the final floor show I see the western dream
The singer sees the end of the floor show and a dream of the 'wild west'


I see the faces glow and I see the bodies steam
The faces of the participants are glowing and the energy is so high, their bodies seem to be steaming


See them shimmy see them go
The singer is drawing attention to the dancers' movements


See their painted faces glow
The dancers' faces are painted and reflecting the light in the room


Slow slow quick quick slow
The dancers' movements are following a pattern of tempo changes


See those pagans go go go go go
The artist is highlighting the wild and pagan-like behavior happening


This is the floor show the last ideal
The entire scene represents the pinnacle of the ideal being the 'floor show'


It's populist got mass appeal
The floor show is very popular and appeals to the masses


The old religion redefined
The idea of religion or a set way of life is being redefined within this floor show


For the facile futile totally blind
This new way of life is something the artist views as meaningless and blind


Mundane by day inane at night
During the day, things seem mundane and normal, but at night, everything becomes meaningless


Pagan playing in the flashing light
The theme of pagan rituals is present and emphasized through flashing lights


In the violet hour to the violent sound
The scene is still set during the same time and with the same sound as before


Going round and around and around and around and around
The chaos and energy of the floor show keeps going and going


And the bodies naked on the low damp ground
The scene is still cluttered with the naked corpses on the ground


In the violet hour to the violet sound
The sound of the floor show has changed tone to become more purple or subdued


And the darkness the blinding the eyes that shine
The increased darkness makes it hard to see, but shining eyes can still be seen


And the voices singing line on line
The singing grows more unison and repetitive as the scene progresses




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW ELDRITCH, CRAIG DAVID ADAMS, GARY MARX

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@dopul-x3852

The bodies on the naked on the low damp ground
In the violet hour to the violent sound
And the darkness the blinding the eyes that shine
And the voices singing line on line
This is the floorshow the clapping hands
Animal flow from the animal glands
In the violet hour to the violent sound
Going round and around and around and around and around

I feel the bite I feel the beat I see the dancing feet
I feel the light I feel the heat I see the new elite
I see the final floorshow I see the western dream
I see the faces glow and I see the bodies steam

See them shimmy see them go
See their painted faces glow
Slow slow quick quick slow
See those pagans go go go go go

Why, this is the floorshow the last ideal
It's populist got mass appeal
The old religion redefined
For the facile futile totally blind
For the totally blind

Mundane by day inane at night
Pagan playing in the flashing light
In the violet hour to the violent sound
Going round and around and around and around and around
The bodies and the naked on the low damp ground
In the violet hour to the violet sound
And the darkness the blinding the eyes that shine
And the voices singing line on line

See them shimmy see them go
See their painted faces glow
Slow slow quick quick slow
See those pagans go go go go go



All comments from YouTube:

@dopul-x3852

The bodies on the naked on the low damp ground
In the violet hour to the violent sound
And the darkness the blinding the eyes that shine
And the voices singing line on line
This is the floorshow the clapping hands
Animal flow from the animal glands
In the violet hour to the violent sound
Going round and around and around and around and around

I feel the bite I feel the beat I see the dancing feet
I feel the light I feel the heat I see the new elite
I see the final floorshow I see the western dream
I see the faces glow and I see the bodies steam

See them shimmy see them go
See their painted faces glow
Slow slow quick quick slow
See those pagans go go go go go

Why, this is the floorshow the last ideal
It's populist got mass appeal
The old religion redefined
For the facile futile totally blind
For the totally blind

Mundane by day inane at night
Pagan playing in the flashing light
In the violet hour to the violent sound
Going round and around and around and around and around
The bodies and the naked on the low damp ground
In the violet hour to the violet sound
And the darkness the blinding the eyes that shine
And the voices singing line on line

See them shimmy see them go
See their painted faces glow
Slow slow quick quick slow
See those pagans go go go go go

@rubberplantsandwich

you are a star

@pawekoodziej4245

It's been more than ten years since I last heard this song. There was a time, when I used to play it over and over again. Amazing how it still sends shivers down the spine.

@Happystack

I feel the bite I feel the beat I see the dancing feet
I feel the light I feel the heat I see the new elite
I see the final floor show I see the western dream
I see the faces glow and I see the bodies steam

@givemeest

The yowling howl at 2:04 is one of the most exalting, passionate sounds a man has ever made!

@baldieman64

Try "Alice".

@tutts999

Still an amazing track from a hugely underrated band

@Jamie-js3qw

they are Sisters of Mercy. Underrated?! Compared to who? Kanye? I agree

@marting6037

Agree with Jamie; definitely not underrated by anyone who witnessed their rise. Sister's entirely changed the early 80's music scene and influenced a myriad of bands both at the time and for many years thereafter.
There weren't many (any?) rock bands shamelessly using an £80 drum machine to such glorious effect. Bold, original and 100% captivating

@joannaclark3012

Absolute genius! One of my favourite songs to dance to back in the day. Gives me goosebumps!

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