First coming together in 1972, the core duo of Partridge and Moulding went through numerous band names (including The Helium Kidz and Star Park) over the next five years. Drawing influence from the New York Dolls and the emerging New York punk scene, they played glam rock with homemade costumes and slowly built up a following. Drummer Terry Chambers joined in 1973. Keyboard player Barry Andrews followed in 1976, and the band finally settled on a name: XTC. By this time, the punk rock movement was in full swing, and XTC had found their style, a unique brand of hyperactive pop mixed with funk, punk, ska, reggae, and art rock.
The touring years, 1977–82
In 1977 XTC was signed by Virgin Records. They recorded the 3D EP that summer, and followed it up with their debut LP White Music in January 1978. White Music received favorable reviews and entered the British top 30, but lead single "Statue of Liberty" was banned by the BBC for making supposedly lewd references to the famous statue. An early TV appearance to play "Science Friction" on children's show "Magpie" caused additional stir with the graffiti banner on Andrew's Hammond organ saying "Petra's Dead" - a reference to the much loved pet dog on rival show "Blue Peter"
After their second effort, Go 2, and its accompanying Go+ EP (a collection of dub mixes of songs from the album), Andrews left and was replaced by guitarist and keyboardist Dave Gregory. Andrews went on to form Shriekback and also worked with Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen. With Gregory's arrival, the band scored their first charting single, Moulding's "Life Begins at the Hop".
The loss of Andrews' distinctive keyboard playing started the band on a path towards a more traditional rock sound, although Gregory also contributed occasional keyboards (and later, string arrangements). The resulting album, Drums and Wires, contained the band's first big hit, "Making Plans for Nigel", which caused a minor controversy because of its lyrical reference to British Steel. The album found the band branching out into more overtly political topics, culminating in the unhinged ranting of Complicated Game, which became one of the band's most well-known non-hits. Drums and Wires also marked their first sessions at London's Townhouse Studios. The studio was at the time much sought after for its highly reverberant "live" drum room, and it was greatly favoured by their producer of the time, Steve Lillywhite and his engineer Hugh Padgham.
During this period, Partridge also further indulged his love of dub, releasing a solo LP under the name 'Mr Partridge'. The album, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage, featured radical dub deconstructions of music from the preceding XTC albums.
Their 1980 LP, Black Sea spawned the hit singles "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" and "Generals and Majors." The song "Sgt Rock" namechecks a cartoon character of the same name and reflects Partridge's lifelong obsession with American comics, particularly the work of Steve Ditko.
The last major hit of XTC's touring phase was "Senses Working Overtime," the first single from their double album English Settlement and a top 10 hit in 1982. At the peak of their popularity, the band embarked on a major tour, but Partridge suffered a breakdown on stage during one of the first concerts of the tour in Paris on March 18, 1982.
The studio years, 1982–1992
Andy Partridge's breakdown, which manifested itself as uncontrollable stage fright, was reportedly precipitated by his wife throwing away his supply of Valium. According to the band's biography, Andy had become dependent upon the drug after it was prescribed to him as a teenager during his parents' divorce. He reportedly was never withdrawn from the drug and became dependent on it, although many fans were surprised that the group's frenetic early output was produced by a man who was addicted to tranquilisers.
Concerned about her husband's dependence on the drug, Partridge's wife ill-advisedly threw his tablets away—without seeking medical advice—just before the Paris concert. Not surprisingly, Partridge suffered anxiety attacks of such severity that he was soon forced to withdraw from touring permanently. The European and British dates were cancelled and after one show in San Diego the whole U.S. leg was also abandoned. Since then, XTC has been exclusively a studio band, although they have given occasional live-to-air performances from radio stations, and have made a handful of TV appearances as well.
Chambers left the band shortly thereafter, during the recording of their 1983 album Mummer. He was unhappy with the confines of the studio, and also felt the loss of income that resulted from their withdrawal from touring—he did not write, and so received no publishing royalties. Another major factor was his relationship with his Australian girlfriend—they subsequently married, and Chambers migrated to Australia and settled in Newcastle, New South Wales. Rather than finding a replacement, XTC has used a series of session drummers over the years, including Peter Phipps, Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Pat Mastelotto of Mr. Mister, Chuck Sabo, and Dave Gregory's brother, Ian Gregory (as "E.I.E.I. Owen").
If Mummer saw Partridge cooling his heels with pastoral gems like "Love on a Farmboy's Wages", the band's next album took a noisy left turn. 1984's The Big Express, surprised both their record company and fans alike with its abrasive sound and became XTC's poorest seller to date. The album nonetheless was a personal high point for Partridge, who considers songs such as "The Everyday Story of Smalltown" and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" amongst the best he's ever written.
In 1986, the band traveled to Todd Rundgren's studio-in-the-woods in Woodstock, New York to record what many consider to be the best album of their career, Skylarking. Although the pairing of XTC and Rundgren was highly anticipated by fans, the sessions were less than enjoyable for the band. Rundgren had insisted that the band send him, in advance, demos of all the songs that they thought they might tackle for the record. When the band got to Woodstock, Rundgren had already worked out a running order for both the recording and sequence of the album itself. True to his "hands-on" studio production style, Rundgren insisted that everyone adhere to his scheme. This did not sit well with the band, Partridge in particular. The two egos of Rundgren and Partridge clashed frequently during the recording of Skylarking and when it was finished Partridge said that he was not at all happy with the result. Partridge has since softened his view, describing the album as "a summer's day baked into one cake."
Skylarking revived the band's commercial fortunes, earning critical accolades and spawning the controversial hit "Dear God", which was originally issued as the B-side of the album's first single, "Grass." Interest in the song saw the album re-pressed with "Dear God" included and the new version of the LP sold 250,000 copies in the USA. ("Dear God" replaced "Mermaid Smiled", which was absent from the album until it was finally reinstated for the remastered "Skylarking" CD in 2000.)
The band's follow up, Oranges and Lemons, produced by Paul Fox, was their biggest seller yet, with "Mayor of Simpleton" and "King for a Day" getting heavy airplay on MTV. It was during this period that Partridge began a relationship with an American fan, Erica Wexler, the niece of famed American record producer Jerry Wexler. Although signs of the failing of Partridge's first marriage were evident as far back as English Settlement (notably on the album's closing track, "Snowman"), it was some time before the still-married Partridge felt comfortable with Wexler's advances; this awkward situation is chronicled in the song "Another Satellite". However, the relationship finally came to fruition after Partridge's first wife Marianne left him, and Wexler and Partridge are now in a long term relationship.
During their long career, XTC have also released material under a variety of pseudonyms, including two albums of psychedelic parodies as "The Dukes of Stratosphear" (ultimately released on a single CD, Chips from the Chocolate Fireball, simultaneous with the second album's vinyl release), a Viz comics promotional single as "Johnny Japes and his Jesticles," a Christmas-themed single as "The Three Wise Men" and a guest appearance on their own tribute album Testimonial Dinner as "Terry and the Lovemen."
Their 1992 album, Nonsuch (named after Henry VIII's fabled palace), united them with famed UK producer Gus Dudgeon and drummer Dave Mattacks. The album featured the US and UK hit tune, "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead", which brought the band perhaps its greatest success after the early eighties. (The video for "Peter Pumpkinhead" made an unusual comparison between Jesus and John F. Kennedy.) Despite its success, soon after its release, a contractual dispute with their label, Virgin Records, saw XTC go "on strike" from 1992 through 1998, finally resulting in the termination of their contract. They issued no new material during this time, although two compilations were released: Upsy Daisy Assortment and the 2-CD set Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles Collection, which featured remastered versions of their singles, including many tracks not issued on CD before.
Management and contractual problems had dogged the band throughout their career, and around the time of the recording of Nonsuch they had to make a legal settlement with their former manager; although most fans assume (and the lyrics of "I Bought Myself a Liarbird" from The Big Express imply) that there was some financial impropriety involved, the terms of the settlement imposed a "gag" on the band and have prevented them from speaking publicly about the matter.
The final straw for the band was Virgin's scuttling of their 1992 single "Wrapped in Grey", which was pressed up in the tens of thousands, and then recalled and destroyed by the label. The band asked that Virgin either allow them to re-negotiate their contract or release them, but the label stalled for years until finally agreeing to release them after a change of management at the company.
Going independent, 1992–2006
After leaving Virgin, Partridge had their accounts audited and it was discovered that the company had withheld substantial royalty payments from them. The settlement of the accounts provided the group with much-needed cash flow, allowing Partridge and Moulding to install fully-equipped studios and work comfortably at home. They are now able to record the majority of their work themselves, although they have used major commercial studios (including Abbey Road Studios in London) for some sessions. Finally released from Virgin, they formed their own label, Idea Records.
Dave Gregory quit the band during the recording of the 1999 album Apple Venus Volume 1 after 20 years' service. His contribution to the mature XTC sound had been immense: the technical skill of his guitar and keyboard playing, and his orchestral scoring, had facilitated a huge expansion in the group's sonic possibilities. His skills also encouraged, perhaps goaded Partridge to new heights of musicianship.
However, without him, Partridge and Moulding delivered Apple Venus Volume 1. Its successor, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2), though favorably reviewed, was considered less strong. The two volumes were originally envisioned as the two discs of a double album, and in October 2005 they were reissued together in the 4 CD Apple Box collection.
Now in control of their own work and with their own small studio, Partridge and Moulding have released instrumental and demo versions of their first two albums on Idea, Apple Venus and Wasp Star. Having left Virgin, relations have improved and Andy Partridge has since released a series of albums of demos of his songs (mainly from the Virgin years) under the title of Fuzzy Warbles in 2002, on a new label imprint APE, which could stand for Andy Partridge Experiments or Andy Partridge Editions or any one of a thousand connotations of the letter E. Colin Moulding declined to contribute his demos to the series. As of January 2006, the Fuzzy Warbles series has run to fully six volumes; volumes seven and eight are slated to appear by mid-2006.
A boxed 4 CD compilation, Coat of Many Cupboards spanning the band's time with Virgin, was also released in 2002.
Though the immediate and medium-term future for XTC still remains uncertain, the inclusion of the first new tracks for five years, "Spiral", penned by Partridge, and "Say It", written by Moulding, on the Apple Box release offers some hope of the band's continuance.
In November 2006, Partridge told several interviewers that Moulding no longer had any interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. Partridge has said he would not continue XTC without Moulding, and that therefore he has been forced to regard XTC "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart.
As of December 2018, five XTC albums (Nonsuch, Drums and Wires, Oranges and Lemons, Skylarking and Black Sea) have been given expanded reissues on APE featuring 5.1 Surround mixes and new stereo mixes by renowned remixer Steven Wilson, with a yet-unnamed sixth in the works as confirmed on Andy Partridge's Twitter. Further vinyl and CD reissues have been released of English Settlement, Apple Venus Volume 1 and Wasp Star, with more planned for 2019 and 2020 according to sleeve notes on the Apple Venus/Wasp Star vinyl.
Dear God
XTC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I pray you can make it better down here
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer
But all the people that you made in your image
See them starving on their feet
'Cause they don't get enough to eat from God
Can't believe in you
I feel that I should be heard loud and clear
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears
And all the people that you made in your image
See them fighting in the street
'Cause they can't make opinions meet about God
I can't believe in you
Did you make disease and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the Devil too
Dear God, don't know if you've noticed but
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book
And us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look
And all the people that you made in your image
Still believing that junk is true
Well I know it ain't, and so do you
Dear God
I can't believe in
I don't believe in
I won't believe in heaven, hell
No saints, no sinners, no devil as well
No pearly gates, no thorny crown
You're always letting us humans down
The wars you bring, the babes you drown
Those lost at sea and never found
And it's the same the whole world 'round
The hurt I see helps to compound
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Is just somebody's unholy hoax
And if you're up there you'd perceive
That my heart's here upon my sleeve
If there's one thing I don't believe in
It's you
Dear God
The song "Dear God" by XTC is a poignant and thought-provoking critique of religion and God from the perspective of a disillusioned believer. The lyrics express frustration with the suffering and inequality in the world, questioning how a loving God could allow it to happen. The singer of the song addresses God directly, asking if he really exists and if he is responsible for creating disease, war, and other atrocities.
The song is particularly powerful because it does not come from a place of anger, but rather from a sincere desire to understand and communicate with God. It expresses a longing for a better world and a more meaningful relationship with a higher power, but ultimately concludes that the traditional religious doctrine is ultimately unsatisfying and untenable.
The use of repetition throughout the song, particularly in the refrain of "Dear God, I can't believe in you," emphasizes the emotional weight of the singer's doubts and struggles with faith. The final line of the song, "If there's one thing I don't believe in, it's you, Dear God," is a sad and powerful rejection of the idea of a loving deity who is responsible for the world we live in.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear God, hope you got the letter and
Addressing God, writer hopes their message has been received.
I pray you can make it better down here
Writer hopes that God can bring improvements to earth.
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer
The writer doesn't want insignificant changes, but rather significant ones.
But all the people that you made in your image
The people on earth are reminders of God's creation.
See them starving on their feet
The writer is pained by the sight of people suffering from hunger.
'Cause they don't get enough to eat from God
The writer points out that people are not receiving adequate support from God.
Can't believe in you
The writer is struggling to believe in God due to the suffering they see on earth.
Dear God, sorry to disturb you but
The writer apologizes for possibly bothering God.
I feel that I should be heard loud and clear
Writer feels compelled to speak up and make their voice heard.
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears
The writer hopes for a reduction in the amount of suffering experienced by humans.
And all the people that you made in your image
Continued allusions to God's creation.
See them fighting in the street
Reference to the conflicts and struggles faced by people on earth.
'Cause they can't make opinions meet about God
The writer is frustrated that disagreements about God's existence and nature lead to conflict.
I can't believe in you
The writer continues to express disbelief in God due to the suffering and conflict experienced on earth.
Did you make disease and the diamond blue?
The writer poses a series of questions to God, asking why certain negative things exist in the world.
Did you make mankind after we made you?
The writer challenges the notion that God created mankind and questions humanity's relationship with God.
And the Devil too
The writer questions the existence of the Devil and other religious concepts.
Dear God, don't know if you've noticed but
The writer brings up God's seeming detachment from the world.
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book
The writer points out the widespread references to God in religious texts and quotes.
And us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look
The writer suggests that humans created religious texts, and God should scrutinize them accordingly.
Still believing that junk is true
The writer expresses disdain for the beliefs of religious people.
Well I know it ain't, and so do you
The writer asserts that they and God both reject the notion of certain religious beliefs being true.
I won't believe in heaven, hell
The writer rejects the concepts of heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners, no devil as well
The writer rejects a number of other religious concepts.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown
The writer rejects imagery often associated with religious beliefs.
You're always letting us humans down
The writer is disillusioned with God's handling of earthly affairs.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown
The writer is specifically upset about the suffering caused by war and innocent people dying.
Those lost at sea and never found
The writer laments the fact that many people who are lost or missing are never found.
And it's the same the whole world 'round
The writer is frustrated that suffering and hardship are universal experiences.
The hurt I see helps to compound
Watching people suffer compounds the writer's own distress and pain.
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Allusions to the Holy Trinity in Christianity.
Is just somebody's unholy hoax
The writer completely rejects the idea of the Holy Trinity and sees it as an evil invention.
And if you're up there you'd perceive
The writer acknowledges that if God exists, they would know the writer's heart and thoughts.
That my heart's here upon my sleeve
The writer is open and honest about their doubts and feelings.
If there's one thing I don't believe in
The writer firmly rejects the idea of God's existence and any associated religious beliefs.
It's you
The writer explicitly states that they don't believe in God.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andy Partridge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edwardgiovannelli5191
I was also 16 when this came out, one of a small handful of kids into indie/college radio music in a high school of 2200... 2197 of which never heard of XTC and hated kids they called 'punk rockers'
My dad passed away the previous December of '85, and I never got along well with my mom or older brother.
I dove deeply into my music and my friends, and while perhaps religion might have helped at the time, I rejected that too. My dad was a mildly religious person, and my best friend, and I just couldn't see the point of following the path that he had chosen after walking out of his funeral before I was even old enough to drive.
This song really hit a chord with me, when it was released early that summer, and still to this day. I don't listen to it often, I don't want recent memories and associations to replace the ones from that summer: Hearing it the first time on WTSR ( Trenton State's radio station)... listening to it with a girl I had a huge crush on, laying under a tree in her back yard while everyone else at the party was in the house... playing it a thousand times in my friends' cars - which they eventually got pretty sick of, to be fair... listening to Skylarking in my room while trying to pretend the other two people in my house weren't right down stairs.
I never questioned my atheism, and until 2016 I never questioned people who chose to believe in god. I respected their right to make up their own minds just as I thought they should do for me.
Anyway, hang in there man, I hope life got better for you. Sorry to hear about your Dad.
@johnplaysgames3120
I would say it's more than okay to question our beliefs and thoughts. In fact, if you're interested in seeking truth, it's essential. Otherwise, you just end up in a dogmatic loop where you and your fellowship are just reinforcing the same beliefs and ideas - which may end up being completely wrong - within an echo chamber and blocking yourself from discovering whatever actual truth may (or may not) be out there. If you never seek, you can't possibly find.
When I was a teen, I began studying various religions and philosophies in a search of common threads and anything that felt like it transcended local cultures and traditions to become a more "universal truth." My VERY Christian aunt freaked out (of course) because I was daring to explore other ideas rather than accepting everything some random pastor was saying as 100% truth and putting all my faith into that. I tried to explain to her that, if there's a God, then that God should appreciate the predicament we're in (and which, theoretically, that God put us in): We live in a world where every religion claims to be the "one true" religion, every religious person believes their book, their version of God, and their cultural traditions are "the right way" and everyone else's is wrong. And there's literally no evidence for ANY of it, so all we have to go on is the fervent claims of humans who don't have any more evidence than we do and for whom "the one true religion" just coincidentally happens to be the one they grew up with and which is predominant in their homeland. Well, that and "what feels right" inside of ourselves, which may or may not mean anything.
So, what's a truth-seeker to do? I explained to my aunt that if there's an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God then it would understand that I'm not interested in worshipping human tradition, I'm interested in finding whatever truth is behind it all, and would appreciate the fact that I was on an honest, open-minded spiritual journey of investigation and discovery to find it and not just repeating traditions because I selfishly desired the carrot (Heaven) and feared the stick (Hell). And if there's not a God... well, then it doesn't matter.
To me, that's the only reasonable approach but my aunt, of course, believes with all her heart that this means I "have a demon" in me and am going to Hell. I've told her repeatedly that if seeking the truth of God rather than just mindlessly repeating cultural customs and ceremonies is a "sin" that causes God to condemn me to burn for eternity, then (1) God is less compassionate and intelligent than I, a mere human, am and I would find it difficult to respect that (as it would essentially just be a superpowered but childish alien rather than some greater, wiser being); and (2) I'm absolutely comfortable with my intentions and my decision to take a step away from tradition and look deeper. And if God is what she and others claim it is, then it would be comfortable with those intentions and that decision too. She, of course, just looks horrified and tells me that she'll be praying for me to find God (meaning HER version of God) and I, in turn, infuriate her by telling her I'll be doing the same for her (though I don't really pray, per se, so I'm just winding her up a little).
Whatever the truth, I treat people with respect and compassion, work hard, play fair, and would never stab anyone in the back to get ahead. And I don't do this because I want the reward of Heaven or fear the punishment of Hell (I'm pretty much agnostic at this point in my life, so neither Heaven nor Hell enter any of my equations); I do it because it's the right thing to do, it's the way I'd want to be treated, and, imo, the only way a society functions without tearing itself apart.
My aunt, on the other hand, has claimed to be a Christian for 30+ years. She goes to church multiple times a week, prays constantly, doesn't watch, listen to, or read anything other than spiritual material given to her by her pastor or which has been recommended by her fellow church-goers (and ONLY religious stuff, nothing like GASP "Harry Potter" or any of that secular stuff which, in her mind, is all "satanic"). And if anyone wonders aloud about something religious that goes against anything her pastor has ever said, she visibly pales and starts talking about demons and how that person is going to Hell. Meanwhile, everything about her is the exact opposite of the example of Christ that she claims to follow. She's extremely racist, obsessed with her appearance, obsessed with money, is disgusted by poor people and homeless people, and although she prays constantly, what she mostly prays for is for God to give her money, bring her a rich husband, help her lose weight, etc. When she got sick last year and ended up in the hospital for months and months, my mom drove an hour and a half to the hospital every day to visit and take care of her. My mom's husband died in an accident earlier that year and my mom - who's retired, on a very small fixed income, and living in a small apartment - burned through most of her husband's life insurance payout by paying my aunt's mortgage while she was in the hospital, buying all her groceries, taking care of her dog, and once my aunt finally went home, driving out to her house and cooking for her to make sure she ate. When it was all over, how did my aunt thank her? She invited my mom to her church. When my mom said she wasn't really interested, my aunt told my mom that she obviously had a demon in her because demons can't hear the word of God, then proceeded to argue and insult my mom so badly that my mom left and didn't go back for a couple of months.
This is where three decades of NOT questioning her church or pastor's interpretation of things and only living inside her church's echo chamber has landed her. She's a horrible, selfish person who only follows the religious rules to get a reward/avoid a punishment, but still looks down on everyone around her for not being as "holy" as she is. It's legit delusional.
@blackenedtilldeath
Lyrics:
Dear God, hope you get the letter and
I pray you can make it better down here
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer
But all the people that you made in your image
See them starving on their feet
Cause they don't get enough to eat from God
I can't believe in you
Dear God, sorry to disturb you but
I feel that I should be heard loud and clear
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears
And all the people that you made in your image
See them fighting in the street
Cause they can't make opinions meet about God
They can't believe in you
Did you make disease and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the devil too!
Dear God, don't know if you noticed but
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book
And us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look
And all the people that you made in your image
Still believing that junk is true
Well I know it ain't, so do you
Dear God
I can't believe in...
I don't believe in...
I won't believe in heaven and hell
No saints, no sinners, no devil as well
The pearly gates, no thorny crown
You're always letting us humans down
The wars you bring, the babes you drown
Those lost at sea and never found
And it's the same the whole world round
The hurt I see helps to compound
The Father, Son, and holy ghost
Is just somebody's unholy hoax
And if you're up there you'll perceive
That my heart's here upon my sleeve
If there's one thing I don't believe in
It's you
Dear God
@randypobstofficial
I have found the replies very interesting. It certainly incites strong feelings, mine too. I was raised in evangelistic and Pentecostal churches (healings, speaking in tongues). Lots of talk of God’s love and threats of hell. God’s glory and perfection. Then I look out the window and the world seems quite imperfect. We make our own choices, they said; free will. Except that if you do not walk their fine line, you shall burn in hell forever. That, friends, is not free choice.
It’s a great question: Where did the Universe come from? Religions are man’s attempt to explain that, and comfort us for lost loved ones, and to control others and gain power. No human has the right to speak for god, whatever that might be. All of this Universe had to come from somewhere.
I applaud XTC for bravely creating and releasing this song. I feel that same resentment, having been indoctrinated as an innocent child. The Bible is absolute truth written and translated by god working through inspired humans? No. It’s a story. With a moral. And everywhere, I find that each individual has their own different ideas: Christian(even in the same church pew), Humanist, tribal, Islamic, etc., on and on.
One cannot claim a god is omniscient, all powerful, and then give that god credit for all the good things, and let him/her off the hook for all the bad things. Oh, yes, the bad things are the fault of humans. No. The world is best described by the Yin/Yang circle of black and white, with a little black in the white and white in the black. Just rolling along to where? We just don’t know.
Treat others as you’d have them treat you. Thank you XTC for the great music!
@scottburns6610
Almost 40 years ago.
No progress in the hypocrisy of man.
Great song by an even greater band.
Message spot on.
@dmac8949
As an old Atheist, and an even older XTC fan I always loved this. Way back in the day when nobody had the balls to admit to being an unabashed Atheist, XTC were a rare honest voice we Atheists needed.
@bobstump7440
If you're still listening to this song from 1986....you have great taste in music and we can be friends.
@erikswanson5753
Watching this in 2024. I remember when this song came out and some radio stations in the States refused to play it. Land of God, glory, country, all that BS. I used to hear it late at night on the Canadian radio stations. I had not yet even heard of Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins, but I was already leaning in that direction. It just all seemed like so much nonsense.
@cinziaBRIT404
Amazing
@danielhewson2557
Hadn't thought about this song in years. So powerful and always pertinent unfortunately😢
@Cyberzombie23
We have great taste in music and we hate the nonexistent God
@KellieLeigh48
@Cyberzombie23 I'm a Christian and I love this song.
@Saintnick90
Agree or disagree with the message, it's hard to deny that this is an immaculately constructed song: the way it's bookended by the kid singing, the way Andy Partridge goes from quietly inquisitive to angry about man's ills and organized religion, that violin solo, the way the music gets chaotic as Partridge goes into full denouement mode...it's all perfect.
@DougH1995
As a 16 year old listening to it for the first time in 1986 it scared me because I felt this very same way. I lost my father 4 yrs prior and I was lost. I'm 53 years old now and it still resonates with me now. It's okay to question our beliefs our thoughts. Think about this for a second. What