Under the Milky Way
The Church
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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
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Written by: Karin Gunilla Jansson, Steven John Kilbey
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
22 facts about this song
Release"Under the Milky Way" by The Church was released in February 1988 as the lead single from their fifth studio album "Starfish."
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Chart PerformanceThe song is by far the band's biggest hit. It peaked at #2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States, and reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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CreationThe band's lead singer, Steve Kilbey, wrote the song in collaboration with his then-girlfriend Karin Jansson. The song was supposedly written in just a few minutes and was inspired by their shared romantic moment under the Milky Way.
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AccoladeThe song was awarded "Single of the Year" at the 1989 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards.
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Cover VersionsNumerous artists have covered "Under the Milky Way," including Sia and Rick Springfield, showcasing the song's enduring popularity.
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Use in Popular CultureThe song has appeared in numerous television series and films, including an episode of the hit series "Miami Vice" and films like "Donnie Darko" and "The Dish."
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Recognizable FeatureOne distinct element in the song is the use of a bagpipe solo, a rare component in a rock song. However, what sounds like a bagpipe is actually a synthesizer programmed to mimic the instrument.
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Lyrics InterpretationMany have speculated about the song's meaning, given its cryptic lyrics. Although Kilbey has never directly explained the song's meaning, he has hinted that it's about the feeling of transcendence and the longing for something beyond human experience.
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Popularity LongevityDespite being over three decades old, "Under the Milky Way" continues to receive regular airplay on radio stations across the globe.
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Re-releaseIn 2010, a newly remastered version of "Under the Milky Way" was included in "Dead Man's Hand," the Church's 30th-anniversary album.
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InspirationSome fans believe that the song's title was inspired by an Amsterdam music and cultural venue called Melkweg (Milky Way in Dutch). However, Steve Kilbey has dismissed this theory.
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Release InformationReleased in February 1988, "Under the Milky Way" is a single by the Australian alternative rock band, The Church.
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Album InformationThe song is included in the band's fifth studio album 'Starfish' which was released by Arista Records.
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Chart PerformanceThe song peaked at No. 2 in the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, No. 24 on the United States' Billboard Hot 100, and No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart.
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Songwriter"Under The Milky Way" was written by band members, Steve Kilbey, and his then-girlfriend Karin Jansson.
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Meaning of the SongAlthough the song's specific meaning remains elusive, it has a dreamy, ethereal quality that matches its celestial title. Steve Kilbey has said that the song was about feeling lost and disconnected, but remains deliberately mysterious and unattached to any specific personal incidence.
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Instrumental DetailsThe song is known for its 'bagpipe-seque' solos that were actually generated by an electronic instrument called an 'E-bow'.
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AwardsIn 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) listed the track at number 21 in its top 30 Australian songs of all time.
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Cover VersionsSeveral artists have covered the song, including Sia, Grant Lee Phillips, Rick Springfield, and Jimmy Little.
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In MediaThe song has made several appearances in different forms of media, including films (like Donnie Darko), on TV Shows (like Miami Vice), plus in commercials and video games.
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Live PerformancesThe band often plays the song as part of their set during live performances, and it remains one of their most recognized songs.
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Alternative VersionsThere is a stripped-back, acoustic version of the song available on The Church's 2004 album 'El Momento Descuidado.'
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Citation
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