Stigmata

Ministry

About Stigmata

"Stigmata" is a song by American industrial metal band Ministry. Written by Al Jourgensen, it is the opening track and the only single released from their third studio album, 1988's The Land of Rape and Honey. The song features distorted vocals, guitars and compressed drum machine loops. The song was an underground hit. The music video—which was said to get a regular airing on MTV—features gritty black and white machinery, gears, symbols, the band playing live, Paul Barker on a motorcycle, strobe-like montages of eyes (which are the only elements presented in color), and what appear to be neo-Nazi skinheads. The song was said to be Ministry's "finest moment until 1992". The track was later featured in the 1990 science fiction horror movie Hardware and the 1995 Hong Kong action comedy film Rumble in the Bronx. The 2017 action movie Atomic Blonde (taking place in 1989) features a cover of the song by Marilyn Manson. The 12-inch single remix of the song was featured in the 2006 video game, Tony Hawk's Project 8. In August 2010, the song became available for download in the Rock Band series of games. In his 2013 autobiography, Ministry: The Lost Gospels..., Jourgensen writes that although "Stigmata" is one of Ministry's most popular songs, he hates it for being "too simplistic" and for its use of sampled rather than actual guitars. He wrote "Stigmata" at the last minute after realising he needed another song to complete the album. 


Year:
2004
5:44
33 
#2

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Stronger than reason
Stronger than lies
The only truth I know
Is the look in your eyes
The look in your eyes!

Just like a car crash
Just like a knife
My favourite weapon
Is the look in your eyes
You've run out of lies!

You've run out of lies!
You've run out of lies!
You've run out of lies!
You've run out of lies!
You've run out of lies!
You've run out of lies!
There's a ton locked in your empty eyes
Get out of my life!

I'm chewing on glass
And eating my fingers
I'm not the one
Who's run out of lies
Lies!

You've run out of lies!
You've run out of lies!
You've run out of lies!
You've run out of lies!
You've run out of time!

Cutting my face
And walking on splinters
I lost my soul
To the look in your eyes
Your eyes!

You ran out of lies!
You ran out of lies!
You ran out of lies!
You ran out of time!

Stigmata!

O, you have empty eyes!...
They tell me nothing, nothing but lies

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Ministry

Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a new wave - synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs (1992) and touring as part of the Lollapalooza festival. more »

5 fans

Written by: AL JOURGENSEN

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Details
"Stigmata" is a song by the American industrial metal band Ministry, from their second studio album, "The Land of Rape and Honey," released in 1988.
Chart Performance
Even though it didn't chart at the time of its initial release, "Stigmata" has since become one of Ministry's most popular and recognized songs, often referred to as the band's signature song.
Track Characteristics
The song features heavy guitar riffs, electronic beats and samples, along with aggressive, shouted vocals, which became characteristic of the band's sound in their following releases.
Music Video
The music video for "Stigmata" made it into regular rotation on MTV, when the channel was still playing mainly rock and metal music. It features shots of the band performing the song interspersed with various visual effects and imagery.
Lyrics Meaning
Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen has never revealed the exact meaning behind the lyrics of "Stigmata," leading many fans to speculate about their meaning.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by a number of other bands, including KMFDM, Sepultura, and Prong. It was also remixed by The Prodigy for inclusion on their album, "The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One."
Influence
"Stigmata" is often cited as an influential track in the industrial metal genre and has been praised for its ability to combine elements of heavy metal with industrial music.
Movie Appearance
The song appears during a key scene in the 1990 film "Hardware," introducing many new listeners to the band.
Live Performances
"Stigmata" has been a staple of Ministry's live shows since its release, often being used as the closing song.
No Traditional Chorus
Interestingly, the song doesn't have a conventional chorus, instead using a punishing industrial beat and chant-like verses to drive the track forward.

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