Sex & Death was in many ways a return to basics for us. We had finished building the studio that we’d begun during the recording of The War Against Sleep and were starting to get comfortable with working in a new way. Rodney had spent a quite a bit of time in America beforehand and put together a lot of the ideas when he was there; and he also bought our first Apple Macintosh at that time, which changed everything about the way we worked.
With Sex & Death we wanted to make a record without any subtlety whatsoever, an album that just got down to the most brutal and basic of human emotions – hence the title. We took as our motif the figure of the serial killer, and many of the songs are seen through the eyes of this protagonist. We were also heavily influenced by Bret Easton Ellis‘ brilliant novel American Psycho, which uses the story of a serial killer to create a fantastic critique of modern capitalist society and the alienation it creates.
Kneel (to the boss)
Kneel to the boss
Kneel at my feet
Kneel
Kneel
Let’s make a deal
Kneel
Kneel
Feel you bow beneath my heel
What can you do when you rule the world?
What can you do when you have it all?
What can you do when all you have are slaves?
Kneel
Kneel
Feel the pain you can’t conceal
Kneel
Kneel
Feel your blood upon the steel
Industry
Kneel
Kneel
Feel the joy you can’t conceal
Kneel
Kneel
Feel you bow beneath my heel
The slaves shall serve
So serve me now
Kneel…
Mouth of Heaven
I’m driving a car
With Jesus Christ beside me
Trapped in the mirror
He’s reaching for me
Run your fingers through my mind
And fill it with love
Run your fingers through my mind
And kill it with love
I touch Death
And I come
Into the mouth of Heaven
She kisses me
And I come
Into the mouth of Heaven
I feel the wings of destiny
Beat above my head
Death is my companion
Dressed in black and red
Reaching down between my legs
She brings me to the light
I’m coming, I’m coming
Into the darkest night
I touch Death
And I come
Into the mouth of Heaven
She kisses me
And I come
Into the mouth of Heaven
I touch Death
And I come
Into the mouth of Heaven
She kisses me
And I come
Into the mouth of Heaven
Drive my car
Let me come
Into the mouth of Heaven
Open the gates
Let me come
Into the mouth of Heaven
The War Against Sleep
It’s dark outside, the screen is lit
I’m sitting where I always sit
Knowing that I will submit
And once more play the hypocrite
I need this life, I’ll never quit
Though everything is counterfeit
I’ll grit my teeth and take the shit
I must admit I will submit
We’ll live & die, we’ll laugh & cry
We’ll never even wonder why
In the War Against Sleep (x2)
We’ll never do just what we please
We’ll live our life down on our knees
In the War Against Sleep (x2)
It’s doesn’t matter if you give me pain
I’ll sit here silent I won’t complain
I’ll stick the needle in my own vein
If you will keep me entertained
I don’t care if my life’s insane
As long as I can stay in chains
Learn to drink some more champagne
And say that it’s all just a game
We’ll live & die, we’ll laugh & cry
We’ll never even wonder why
In the War Against Sleep (x2)
We’ll never do just what we please
We’ll live our life down on our knees
In the War Against Sleep (x2)
Come Out
I’m gonna explode
I’m gonna explode
I’m standing on tiptoe
At the edge of the rainbow
Tie you up
Tie you up
Pretend that it’s real
Play with me
Come out, come out baby
Come out, come out tonight
Come out, come out baby
Come out, come out, come out
No matter where you are I will find you
Your breath and your skin and your hair
No matter where you are I will find you
I’m coming I’m coming right there
Satisfy Me
Give me hate, give me pain
Give me all that’s in my brain
Give me life, give me death
Make me come with every breath
I need the love that makes me full
I need the love that makes me cruel
When all is said and done
I need the love that makes me come
Satisfy me
Touch me
Hold me
Feel me
Lift me up and let me fly
Touch me
Hold me
Need me
Watch me die
Satisfy me
[Rpt. 1st verse]
Satisfy me
Crucify me
Deify me
Gratify me
Liquefy me
Magnify me
Modify me
Mortify me
Rectify me
Purify me
Sanctify me
Simplify me
Unify me
Give Me What I Need
The stars are circling round us, they lie beneath our feet
Space is where we’re going, the earth is obsolete
We are here to go from the ashes of defeat
We are here to go and we will be complete
Give me what I need
Here to go
Feel it getting nearer, the high frontier
Feel it getting nearer year by year
You Make Me Sick
I see you standing there
With your eyes so blue
You’ll never know how much
I can hate your guts
I’d like to cut you up
I’d like to cut you up
There’s nothing in your life
There’s nothing in your life
You make me sick
And your stupid girlfriend
I’d like to fuck her brains
Drive her half insane
When she feels the pain
I’d like to cut her up
Her and all friends
There’s nothing in her life
There’s nothing in her life
You make me sick
I will cleanse the world (rpt. for whole verse)
You make me sick
Voices
Voices
I can hear voices (x2)
Telling me to stop the pain
Telling me to stop
When you call I always listen
Tell me everything I’m missing
Tell me anything you will
Tell me who I have to kill
I have to kill you
Because I can hear voices swirling in the sand
Like a pillar of fire
Reaching up to Heaven
I can hear voices (x2)
When you call I always listen
Tell me everything I’m missing
Tell me anything you will
Tell me who I have to kill
Realm of the Senseless
Words hang still in the air
No god hears my prayer
All I can see is the inside of me
All I can do is play solitaire
Let me inside, you have too much pride
Let me inside
Let me inside, you know I’ll provide
Let me inside
I want to know how you feel
I want to know if it’s real
I’m losing my senses, I am losing control
I’m losing my senses, I can’t take any more
I’m losing control
My dead twin’s face hangs in this place
Hangs and swings on eagle’s wings
Blood drips on my head as I fall on the bed
And sleep where you bled
I want to know how you feel
I want to know if it’s real
I’m losing my senses, I am losing control
I’m losing my senses, I can’t take any more
I’m losing control
