Song of the Day: The Church “Under The Milky Way”

A radio chart curiosity in its day, The Church‘s “Underneath the Milky Way” is a beautiful yet elegiac minor key anthem that is somehow both about human significance and lack thereof at the same time. Then again, many things about The Church defy commonality. The strangely named Australian alternative rockers have functioned continuously since their founding in 1980, regularly releasing warmly received albums and touring while many of their peers have broken-up, evaporated or self-destructed. Indeed, the group have gone through a few line-up changes, but the core members of the band have always seemed to have a more harmonious relationship than many of the push and pull relationships that dotted the post-punk and alternative scenes. The band’s blend of new wave and neo-psychedelica immediately places them in the company of groups like Echo & The Bunnymen, though despite the ethereal qualities of a lot of their music, there was always something no-nonsense about The Church.

Appearing on their 1988 album, Starfish, The Church‘s first record to appear on a major label, the band did not really commercialize their sound, despite “Under The Milky Way” becoming their first and really only, Top 40 chart hit. The song is oddly moving with its minor key piano chords and strings while singer Steve Kilbey pours out his hear about looking up at the night sky and finding reassurance as he searches for meaning amid the vastness of the universe above him.

Kilbey was also a published poet outside of his work with The Church at the construction of the his lyrics make his poetic talents clear:

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty
Sound of their breath fades with the light
I think about the loveless fascination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Lower the curtain down on Memphis
Lower the curtain down all right
I got no time for private consultation
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
And it’s something quite peculiar
Something shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
And it’s something quite peculiar
Something shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the Milky Way tonight