•
Rating:
I wonder what the fans of the Sisters of Mercy thought after the departure of two fundamental members such as the band's co-founder alongside Eldritch, Wayne Hussey, and bassist Graig Adams.
"First and Last and Always," the sisters' debut work, had indelibly marked the gothic music movement of the time with its load of deep and dark romanticism. An album that managed to unite the gloomy melody of the sound created by Hussey, Marx, and Adams with the anguished and captivating voice of the black angel. After the separation from the common mother and after losing a strenuous and fought legal dispute against the former friend Andrew over who would continue to use the name Sisters of Mercy, the two rebels had no choice but to form a new group in which to pour the load of inspiration that overflowed them and that was by no means exhausted after the release of "First and Last and Always."
The band took the name The Mission and released its debut album "Gods Own Medicine" in 1986. It was an immediate success, also riding the wave of performing as a support group on the tour following the release of “Love” by Astbury and Duffy's Cult. Needless to say, it is a stunning album with inevitable points of contact with "First and Last and Always," but also profound divergences.
Hussey's voice is harmonious and less cavernous than Eldritch's, and moreover, "Gods Own Medicine" stands out for a more positive sound compared to "First," much less claustrophobic, due to its less dark pop and rock influences. The heavy toll the band pays to the Sisters of their first opus can be noticed in the listening of the opener “Wasteland,” where the echoes of “Marian” (in my opinion, the unreachable peak of all gothic rock) are more than evident.
But, beyond this inevitable influence, "Gods Own Medicine" is a creature that shines with its own light and tracks like the instrumental and symphonic “Garden of Delight (hereafter),” the danceable gothic pop of the single “Stay With Me,” the death rock of “Blood Brother” (you and me, we are blood brothers...), the psychedelic charm of “Let Sleeping Dogs Die,” the decadent ballad “Dance on Glass,” the pop rock pomposity of “And the Dance Goes On” and “Severina,” the concluding romantic ritual of “Island in a Stream,” are songs of absolute musical value.
For all genre lovers, in conclusion, this work must not be missed for a band that marked the gothic rock of the eighties and had the merit, together obviously with the Sisters of Mercy of the incomparable Andrew Eldritch, of bringing darkwave out of the musical and image stereotypes that had previously been created and bringing it to commercial success.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Wasteland (05:40)
I still believe in God, but God no longer believes in me
There's a crystal view from my window
And I can see years to come
I live for the burn and the sting of pleasure
I live for the sword, the steel, and the gun
I can tear down the walls, storm them barricades
Run to the place where the frightened crawl
Desire lurks beyond good and evil
So dance on the graves where the hammer falls
Over this land
All over this wasteland
Over this land
All over this wasteland
You can touch, but please keep your distance
You're innocent and pure and with no shame
The spirit is willing, and the flesh is graved
Your teasing your torment with the pleasure of pain
Over this land
All over this wasteland
Over this land
All over this wasteland
Heaven and Hell, I know them well
But I haven't yet made my choice
My feelings dead 'cause I'm shouting loud
And no one can hear my voice
Walking the tightwire, can't look down
Strung out high, above you all
Faithful wind blows through this land
Howls my name, Hell is my fall
Over this land
All over this wasteland
Over this land
All over this wasteland
02 Bridges Burning (04:08)
Snow blind, dog tired
slow grind, and barbed wired
last chant of the jungle trance
and the fast step of the monkey dance craze
war paint, misty days and dizzy faint
keeping the faith, spinning and turning
watch the flames
of bridges burning
Turning colors and shedding skin
shining bright through thick and thin
mirror of Gods, legend and myth
the fatal charm of the treasured
gift wrapped and heaven sent
sun trapped on islands of intent
avenging angel of the wild and yearning
stoke the flames
of bridges burning
It's burning me over
bridges burning
Burning, drives me wild
yearning for the snow child
blind men cry but shed no tears
see no evil but speak in tongues
and hearsay all lovers leap
'cos there's no other way across waters deep
fuel the fire and the fool is learning
to run from the flames
of bridges burning.
04 Stay With Me (04:37)
Books and covers and part time lovers
Spinning in rooms in cities of rust
I'm stranded, struck out on this line
There's smoke and fire and steel and wire
And glass and spire and dust
One to the floor at dawn with lips tied and drawn
Sleepless nights spent, with angels heaven sent
Stay with me, lay with me, lay down by my side
Stay with me, lay with me, take me deep inside
Lay with me, stay with me, lay with me
Stay, with me
Stay, with me
All of us lying there in the dreams
Speak of days and another place
I wander as the gypsy under a beckoning moon
Speak of time, and another face
They would in languid cry a fleeting furtive sigh
From the cradle to the grave love to desire and crave
Stay with me, lay with me, lay down by my side
Stay with me, lay with me, take me deep inside
Lay with me, stay with me, lay with me
Stay, with me
Stay, with me
I'll laugh for you, and I'll dance for you
But don't ask me to shed any tears when I have to go
You are a joy and a pleasure to love and to hold
Your promises, are as pure as the driven snow
Passing shapes in the night the touch distraut and light
As you brightly shine, your love tonight is mine
Stay with me, lay with me, lay down by my side
Stay with me, lay with me, take me deep inside
Lay with me, stay with me, lay with me
Stay, with me
Stay, with me
05 Blood Brother (05:15)
I gave you flowers and you gave me faith
We are minds and hearts that move as one
Chameleon, warrior, gypsy and brave
Turn our eyes to the heart of the rising sun
You and me, we are blood brothers
You and me, we are blood brothers
Blood brother, lay down your life for me
Lay down your love for me
Kiss by kiss, touch by touch
We talk of clouds that walked
You took my hand and walked me through the rain
An act of love, mission and tender mercy
We stood tall and proud together we can't get hurt again
You and me, we are blood brothers
You and me, we are blood brothers
Blood brother, lay down your life for me
Lay down your love for me
We pull your punch and we gave them hell
The feelings dry and the chains will tell
Manors and sand and seas and land and with the winds to come
And we rose again to win the war to rule and reign and harvest soil
Hands held high, stars in the sky and we kissed the ever faithful lome
I spray???, your love
Father, you're a good man and honest man, a saint not heard
Mother, I wish I could tell you I love you
Sister, you're a goddess and I want you to take me to Heaven
Blood brother, you're a hand in my heart and your innocents lay battered and bleeding
You and me, we are blood brothers
You and me, we are blood brothers
Blood brother, lay down your life for me
Blood brother, lay down your love for me
God, I feel so strong but I just want to break down and cry
God, I feel so strong but I just want to break down and cry
God, I feel so strong but I just want to break down and cry
God, I feel so strong but I just want to break down and cry
06 Let Sleeping Dogs Die (05:51)
There's the crime of passion
and the crime of revenge
but the worst crime of all
is the crime of regret
speak of the devil
and the devil may speak of you
why can't we
let sleeping dogs die
Deep, it cuts deep
and the affectionate prose
and heaven only knows
what your words are worth
and the giving birth
to the giving ground of judgement
and by fact of reason you accuse of treason
and claim betrayal to the Holy Ghost
of the sacred past
that's fading fast and forever
You took my hand
and turned it over
why can't we let sleeping dogs die
no devil so dark
as the devil I know
there's no love lost
and no reason why
Talk, of faith you talk
but you were the one intent on stun
you took my glory and pride
sanctity defied
and you never knew
what the gods could bring
and by playing the game
of whose to blame
it gets harder all the time
to put my trust in you
so reverence please
let sleeping dogs die
Let sleeping dogs die
Let sleeping dogs die.
07 Sacrilege (04:46)
Tarot strewn across the floor
Fate creeps under the creaking door
Say farewell to the salad days
Arms held out for the needle haze
Scars, scars start to show
But don't, don't despair for the shame I know
Bible for the love and damned
Religion for the pagan man
Faith and prayer for the chosen few
Mystic shades of violent hue
Blood, blood on my cheeks
And the taste
The taste of ash curls across my tongue
Sacrilege, burning on the funeral pyre
Sacrilege, toss and turn on the cross to burn
Rape and pillage the sacred word
Heart of darkness crowned and stirred
Rite of passage reckless whirl
Fruit forbidden ritual swirl
And you, what can you do?
And I, I say there's nothing you can do to stop this
Sacrilege, burning on the funeral pyre
Sacrilege, toss and turn on the cross to burn
Tarot strewn across the floor
Fate creeps under the creaking door
Say farewell to the salad days
Arms held out for the needle haze
Scars, scars start to show
But don't, don't despair for the shame I know
Sacrilege, burning on the funeral pyre
Sacrilege, toss and turn on the cross to burn.
09 And the Dance Goes On (04:09)
It's no shot in the dark
And no trick of the lights
You tease me, adore me
Talking dirty, sitting pretty
Lay me down and anoint my wounds
Dust up, bust up, let's get down to the nitty-gritty
You call on favours promised and sworn
Changing names and changing places
The blade digs deep
And the cut begins to sting
There's more to this than reason
Or the old familiar rhythm and rhyme
Take me shake me lead me
To the floor and hey let's swing
And the dance goes on
And the dance goes on and on
And the dance goes on
And the dance goes on and on and on and on
We're going up in flames
We're burning up in a blaze of glory
Don't put fire into the hands
Of the weak and faint, the weak and frail
Tripping the light fantastic
Let's celebrate our great escape
For goodness sake, it's all the same
The sinner and saint, heaven and hell
And the dance goes on
And the dance goes on and on
And the dance goes on
And the dance goes on and on and on and on
We're going up in flames
We're burning up in a blaze of glory
Don't put fire into the hands
Of the weak and faint, the weak and frail
Tripping the light fantastic
Let's celebrate our great escape
For goodness sake, it's all the same
The sinner and saint, heaven and hell
And the dance goes on
And the dance goes on and on
And the dance goes on
And the dance goes on and on and on and on
10 Severina (04:22)
She's got her head in the clouds
She's got the stars in her eyes
And she's dancing with a dream in her heart
She's got the wind in her hair
Moonchild shining bright
And she's dancing, with a dream in her heart
Severina, severina
She believes in angels
She believes in the will of the gods
And she's dancing amongst the magic dust
She believes in the midnight trance
She believes in 'love is the law'
And she's dancing amongst the magic dust
Severina, severina
Star child
Baby born of heaven
Severina, SEVE, SEVE, severina
She's got a heart full of promise
She's got her hand on her heart
And she's dancing by the light of the moon
She's got a head full of secrets
Sworn to the faith of 'love under will'
And she's dancing by the light of the moon
Severina, severina
She's a gift from the gods and she's dancing
Severina, severina
Severina
11 Love Me to Death (04:40)
Let me come inside your ivory tower
Let me come inside your hallowed walls
God, it's heaven in here
Fix me with your hand of praise
Fix me with your touch of precious thrills
Your fingers dance across my skin
Reaching out for the pride of man
Hand in hand, flesh in flesh
We're walking through the fire of love
Breath by breath, and flame by flame
We burn till the sun rises and shines hot
Love comes gushing, love runs free
My love comes all over you
My love comes for you
Love me to death, my flower
Run bare fur through my hair
Naked on my lips
Love me to death, my precious
Smother me with kisses
Drown me in your waves of falling sweetness
Hold me dear, bury me deep
Bless me with your word of savage honour
We love more by fate than design
So give me your hand and I'll gladly give you my life
A flower, that sways in the breeze
You must be stronger than the winds that blow you away
Blow you away
Love me to death, my precious
Run bare fur through my hair
Dance wild on my lips
Love me to death, my flower
Lay me down on your bed of petals
Cover me with your honey, my blossom
Love me to death
Love me to death
Love me to death, my flower
Love me to death, my treasure
Run bare fur through my hair
Dance wild on my heart
Love me to death, my precious
Love me to death, my love
Tarnish, taint and punish me softly
Softly love me to death
Love me to death
12 Island in a Stream (05:25)
The silver moon and a singing breeze
I?m walking out under the stars
Light a cigarette, and watch the smoke
As it chases my dreams away
I turn and gaze out to the sea
And watch as the waves come tumbling in
Off in the distance an angel cries
As the ship of the line comes into bay
I?m just an island in a stream
I?m all at sea, come rescue me
I?m just an island in a stream
I?m all at sea, come rescue me
Building castles, and flying flags
And my lips begin to sting
I feel the sand, beneath my feet
And my hallowing heart begins to sing
The flashing light warns of danger here
But the ship come on, sailing in
I run for the shores, and away to hide
I need a time and a place to think
I?m just an island in a stream
I?m all at sea, come rescue me
I?m just an island in a stream
I?m all at sea, come rescue me
I look around to find a friend for life
Seeking refuge in your arms
Splinters of ice, thin, sharp, and cold
Pierce my freezing skin
I was scared of your embrace
You show me a grave new world
And against the tide and dashed on the rocks
The ship of the line comes on in
I?m just an island in a stream
I?m all at sea, come rescue me
I?m just an island in a stream
I?m all at sea, come rescue me
I?m just an island in a stream
I?m all at sea, come rescue me
I?m just an island in a stream
I?m all at sea, come rescue me
Loading comments slowly
