Swans - Children Of God

[MissAutechre]

Love the intro to this song. Great song, great album, great band.

[YesMeistres]

Something of legend.

[redsuncartel]

Stop talking about god you silly willys and sing! SING WITH ALL YOUR HEART! WEEEEEEEE AREEEEEEEEE SPEEEEECIIIIIIIIIIALLLLLLLLLLL

[paschy]

Great thnx

[lexxorcist242]

Great song. Thanks.

[Inspectorreidy]

lets leave spiritulism out of it shall we.Spiritulism is on the outside of the circle of all the religions in the world and watches all the religions clash and fight while they forget that all there prayers go to god in the end.Imagine seeing a group of your friends shouting at each other and your there but not involved and you just watch and listen and dont get involved and follow your own truth and past,well this is a same situation spiritulists watch religions lash and fight.

[vergeltung8]

Strong shaman .... 

[Peststurmtief]

Hail Brenoritvrezorkre

[baltasvieta]

Swans is perfect, it was perfect. one of the most beautiful and hard bands I know. I don't mind if he is christian, I don't think so. I heard he is half jew, with some ancestor from east of Europe. He was in Israel when it was young.Any way I don't mind too. He is one of the biggest personalities in the alternative music scene in XX and XXI century, that's all. Love Gira,Love Jarboe

[EngineOfRuin]

Religion has nothing to do with Spirituality. Fact.

[truthemulator]

In a recent 2011 interview with the Village Voice, Michale Gira was asked if he was a religious man? His answer- "When I'm on stage making music, yes".

[carcrash73]

Gira if you ever really listened to him in interveiws is far from a christian (spiritual yes) but saying he is a chriistian is like saying Rozz Williams was a christian .....

[AerikVon]

Are you serious? This is the most hilarious thing I've ever heard...

[themythicalbeast]

song is too fucking perfect

[Oondronite]

Damn, its been a while since I've been this addicted to a song. This is my first time hearing Swans (though being a Jarboe fan, I've heard of them), and I must say this is some impressive stuff. Better late than never, I guess.

[asstrida]

performing this weekend :D

[blutkehlchen666]

Its not that hard to find some guideline in what jesus said or did according to the bible and even hate all kinds of organized religion and churches . I dont know if those church fanatics ever read in the new testament actualy , but most churches and dogmatisms have not much to do with what is mentioned there, in my opinion

[SouthernCross33]

@blutkehlchen666 get into jew tube username truthiracy3, get educated, wake up, you need educating

[Madmoizelsan]

Spirutuality.. jajaja MG is not an entity ! Swans....Jarboe? Look at what she did...good voice...MG : market men !

[millydom23]

why is there no SKIN on youtube?

[thx4thefish]

My opinion is that Michael Gira simply is interested in the force/power in religion and uses this to create such strong work. Great song, great album, great band.

[room1106]

@thx4thefish you are correct. i know this because i interviewed him for a horrible little shit low-rent fanzine i wrote for in the 80s and he answered this question almost word-for-word what you wrote! he added that people giving themselves over to religious mythology was fascinating to him.

[GRILLEDPILLOW]

@thx4thefish He simply isn't interested in religion...at all actually. It's meant for his music to be sacred and different to the ear. (He's my uncle)

[thegreatfriend]

@GRILLEDPILLOW Exactly! Spirituality is much more than praying or going to church...it's so much more...if Michael Gira sees it through music, there are others who see the intense, breathtaking cosmic unity in nature, in art...who hasn't cried over the sight of a painting, or a film? It's the way you see things, the way you interpret every sight of the world. Sorry for being lame, but this song is one of those things, the simple synthesizer progression throughout the song...it's just so gorgeous

[banksyknight]

I think this song is about a mass suicide in the name of God.

Great song anyway, it's the one that really got me into Swans.

[Traductus5972]

@banksyknight actually i think it's about the religious cult that is now known as TFI

[troumer]

@Traductus5972 It has nothing to do with that group--according to the man who wrote it, the singer, and one of the other musicians.

I'd love to know the origin of this rumor--it's fairly recent but sadly common. Was it one of those nutty, all-rock-is evil-and-satanic God botherers? Was it someone from within that cult trying for a little reflected credibility? Was it some angry at the band? We'll probably never know, but it's a shame it's happened to such a wonderful piece of art.

[Traductus5972]

@troumer i just put two and two together since the TFI use to be called the children of God, that and i heard it was about a religious cult

[knariefantje]

I'm an atheist for me there is no spirituality other than made up by mankind, but to know what he really wanted to say when he made these lyrics ask MG himself ..

[rrippp]

@knariefantje You said for certain that it was a 'complain about religious sects' and then you tell me not to say what it's about and ask MG? Contradict much? In fact I did get my information from an MG source - I don't remember which.

[oktobox]

Dzieci Boga Są Samotne.

[dconflict]

They had a live album, which had this track on it which was INCREDIBLE. Had a friend that went to the show in Poland back in 1986 not knowing anything about them and said his jaw was dropped for the entire show.

[777v666]

To me, although thier may be an obvious meaning about the cult, This song to me sounds like a song very happily looking forward to death because of the lack of suffering afterwards. Such a powerful tune.

[msnikish]

is there a documentary mad on them yet???

[DavidWicked]

SWANS are boss

[mountainenergei1]

London 1987. Still the single greatest thing I ever saw. A girl I took said afterwards 'what the fuck was THAT?!'. I still don't really know.

I try not to be smug in life, but I allow myself that one. I saw swans at their utter peak. Yes, you fuckers, have that!

[msnikish]

@mountainenergei1 cool where??where did you see them play ?

[Screwface1875]

Personally as seeing the Swans play live in their pomp a couple of times in the late 80's I've thought the key driver as much as any pro / anti spiritual feeling was a inherent desire to play out as loud as humanily possible. Therefore distorting any context regarding any vocal message. Idiotic perhaps when looking back ,but they were presented with health warnings and gigs were stopped as ceilings then crumbled in their presence...children of god... of course..but with destruction at their core

[Screwface1875]

Personally ...as I actually got to see the Swans perform live I can be pretty confident that the subliminal messages ..pro or anti spiritual creativity, were always defered to the core Swans message,as being as loud as fucking possible.

Now I'm no professor but that always worked for me. Beautiful records with meaning ..yes..but monsterously loud..ALWAYS

[carolnance]

It's not really a "video" but the song is awesome! I can't wait to hear the new album.

[x83x]

personally, i've always thought of 'children of god' as brutally mocking the christian attitude, but i'm generally not really friendly towards christianity. if somebody thinks gira is fine with christian ideals (and that it's noticeable in this song), that's fine with me. i just think that artist's world-view is not really relevant to perception of his works.

[mebbmebbmibbmibb]

@x83x wow I totally agree with you. This is a rare case as far as You tube comments go.

[MultiKanut]

@x83x Look up 'Children of God' and 'David Berg' on wikipedia. The album is about that religious movement.

[x83x]

@MultiKanut Look up "Death of the Author" by Roland Barthes on wikipedia. The essay is about the commented issue.

[MultiKanut]

@x83x I know that art is open to interpretation, but the Swans album Children of God is about the pedo religion called Children of God.

[x83x]

@MultiKanut well, i really don't mind you believing it.

[MultiKanut]

@x83x I believe it because I have researched what the album is about and I have also researched the religious movement called Children of God.

[x83x]

@MultiKanut if you believe then it has an inherent and objective meaning and that this meaning may be intersubjectively communicated, state your arguments.

[MultiKanut]

@x83x "The sex in your soul will damn you to hell," "New Mind." He's ready to make us receive the new mind, be brainwashed, do whatever it takes in light of this damnation, and so the album coalesces in a series of never relenting haunts.

1/1/1990 | Alternative Press

Swans

From the 100 best records of the decade

SWANS Children Of God (1987)

By C. Elliot

[x83x]

@MultiKanut and it proves what exactly?

[msnikish]

@MultiKanut what was Children of God?? worth researching???

[MultiKanut]

@msnikish A group of hippies turned religious wackos that used God to rationalize pedophilia and have never been charged for their crimes, even thought those crimes are well documented. Look up David Berg on wikipedia. Someone told me that is what this album is about and when researched it the two seemed to fit but perhaps it isn't so and Gira really is quite a religious person.

[msnikish]

@MultiKanut oh i have a "Feel Good Now" are thos kids on the cover part of them???

[MultiKanut]

@msnikish Not that I known of. Joaquin Phoenix and his siblings grew up as children in that religious group so that gives you an idea of why he might be messed up. I once came across a video of a guy who was abused by them and the video was his last words and why he was doing as he did. The next day he went and killed one of the people responsible for his abuse then killed himself. The law gave him no justice so he got justice his own way.

[MultiKanut]

@MultiKanut I say not that I know of but it could be, Girta can tell you if you can find his contact address. The album is very dark and doesn't make sense that he was making a religious album. The fact it is called 'Children of God' still makes me think it is about the religious group of the same name. They have changed their name now due to bad publicity but they are still a practicing religious group.

[MultiKanut]

@MultiKanut Oh, yea, I just bought Swans new album today from eMusic. Haven't listened to it properly yet so can't give a review.

[msnikish]

@MultiKanut ya my girlfriend told me about the Phoenix's , interesting

[x83x]

well, i don't think it really matters what an artist says about his work. it's up to the listener to come with an interpretation. if one thinks it's an overt critique of christianity, he's right. if he thinks it's a christian song, he's just as right. there's no inherent meaning to any message we receive and we always have to come up with some meaning of our own. obviously the artist intended to communicate something, but it doesn't mean we can recognize what he/she wanted us to understand.

[sex6cult9revolution]

Michael has said himself that this song was not a statement in any way. It just came to him. I mean shit, just listen to it, that's just raw, unadulterated inspiration. Which is Michael Gira in a nutshell. Whether beautiful or brutal, he doesn't plan this shit out. It just comes through him.

[Pansza1]

greetings from Poland ,,, great band

[Pansza1]

greetings from Poland ,,, great band

[awellfedbottomfeeder]

we are the children of G-D. alles gute in that !!!!

[vrem]

hauntingly beautiful.

[SoulrapeR100]

Actually, Gira writes "God bless you" in some of his public messages. So ... I think he does infact fit in with the "Christian" ideals.

[CBB786]

@SoulrapeR100 believing in god isn't believing in Christ you dumb fuck

[rrippp]

what a sound!!! amazing

[ZLUGGO]

Now, is this about the Children of God as in the CULT (a k a The Family) or about God's children in general?

[troumer]

Ultimately, neither one. But closer to the latter.

I don't know where people are getting the idea that this has anything to do with ANY organized religious cult/group, but it doesn't. The ideas/philosophies developed on this album have their roots in MG's earlier music and writing. Not sure if MG ever goes into details about his beliefs, but they aren't something to be summed up in a pithy bumper-sticker sized saying. The album was dedicated to Jesus, but probably not as you understand him.

[ZLUGGO]

@troumer

Oh, well, please do proceed then. By all means.

[rrippp]

That's probably true. MG is probably religious, but in the direct, esoteric and spiritual way - not in the sense of merely following a group or a dogma. I share this ethos, and I understand why he would dedicate an album to Jesus. Most of Jesus' followers don't have a clue of what Jesus was talking about, because to understand it you have to have a direct taste of it for yourself, and set about making this taste a constant in 'your life'.

[ralphinio4]

You hit the nail on the head there mate.

[rrippp]

@ralphinio4 thanks ralph

[jesterheadflame666]

@rrippp the religion is a farce that lacks any genuine spirituality - Jesus, if he existed, may well have been a moral man who wanted to help others, but others clearly manipulated his teachings and exploited him after his death. And I read a Gira comment about this and he said it was not supposed to be a total satire or attack, but he is not religious either, just believes that there is something - apparently Jarboe is more interested in that sort of thing

[Jakeqc]

@jesterheadflame666 most righteous, very insightful

[jesterheadflame666]

@Jakeqc thanks! Though I am hardly a man of wisdom - after studying Socrates I am well aware of my ignorance

[markdksc]

@rrippp everyone's original position is a spiritual one. Our bodies are changing all the time but your name doesn't change....so that means your real identity is separate from the body. What is that self beyond the body? The living entity, the soul.

[TheJessYIsBest]

@markdksc name≠identity

[stiggyh]

@rrippp gira is god

[muqui]

@rrippp epic comment

[knariefantje]

@rrippp

it isnt a religious album .. the opposite really .. a direct complain against al kind of religious sect's

[rrippp]

@knariefantje Enjoy your certainty in your subjectivity... have you ever asked if there is a spirituality that transcends the ordinary rubbish of religion?

[93riven]

@rrippp Jesus Christ as a person has nothing to do with Jesus Christ the dogma, in fact I am 100% sure that he would crucify himself out of sorrow if he realized what happened afterward (and let's say everything written in the new testament is true)

[rrippp]

@93riven I agree. I don't know if he'd crucify himself though, because its PEOPLE that have distorted, perverted and inverted his teaching. He probably presented his teaching clearly and directly, and intended it for a small handful of willing, transparent people. I don't think it was meant for mass consumption. I often say that the men running the Vatican have more in common with those cowardly hypocrites that conspired to murder and silence Christ that those that followed his example.

[zippywaite]

@rrippp

Though you can dedicate an album to Jesus and not be religious.

Who knows it might of been sarcasm.

I think he really enjoys the topic of God. As do I because it's such a powerful topic and such a big part of society that it's hard not to write about it. 

Either way It doesn't matter, faith in god, faith in nothing...the music sounds amazing.

[PigLover69]

@rrippp

I love it how people make their own elaborate interpretations on things unknown to them, much like the topic of religion perhaps? Gira made it because he was impressed with televangelists at the time.

[blueguitarist]

@rrippp That's because Christianity is the most esoteric and difficult religion to understand. Christ wrote it for a cult of 12 people, which extended to be an organization of gnostics until about 200 CE, when gnosticism was deemed heretical and the good ol christianity we know was instilled by Constantine. If anyone is interested in religion, start with Hinduism, Qabballah,Taoism, throw in some Buddhism and then go back and try to understand the teachings of the Bible

[rrippp]

@blueguitarist Yeah, I agree... There was maybe some hardcore shamanic/alchemical work going on with Jesus & co... There's a hidden meaning in a lot of Gospels - ie in the last supper, some have suggested he *literally* gave the 12 some of his blood, to establish a genetic/kundalini (micro/macrocosmic) link to them that would transcend his physical death... Others say it involved psychedelics...Who knows? I work in EJ Golds' work circle... He's a great teacher. Also, I really dig Ken Wilber...

[zgates]

@blueguitarist Your thesis falls apart because Christ didn't "write" anything. You have to start with Paul for the actual beginnings of Christianity, and then realize that the notion of Christ the man didn't show up for another 50 years or so.

[AStableReference]

@rrippp Michael Gira has stated that he is not religious in numerous interviews and this album is not dedicated to Jesus; just because there is a cross on the cover does not mean it is about Jesus specifically, the concept isn't that simple. If you would like more insight in to Michael Gira's beliefs, go read some interviews and his views become pretty clear.

[BirsaGomorraBeach]

@rrippp this album was not dedicated to Jesus and Michael is not religious, not in a conventional way, at least. he stated in many interviews that with this record was interested in exploring what religion can do to people. The intercourses between faith and power. Just read the fucking lyrics. As for Michael Gira's own spirituality, well, he seems to believe in some sort of cosmic unity that transcends the individual and seeks for it through extremely intense musical experiences.

[GRILLEDPILLOW]

@BirsaGomorraBeach Thank you.

[Jakeqc]

This is wicked. wow. total noob to Swans. Wonderful

[Luconosa]

Music of my youth,

Great upload mate, 5stars from me.

[SkeeterNYC]

One of the greatest, most underrated bands ever.

[altebaran]

@SkeeterNYC this kind of bands are meant to be underrated

[moni5194]

@SkeeterNYC you are so right!

[anderzom]

@SkeeterNYC I ALWAYS THINK THE SAME!!!!! IM A DEVOTED FAN OF SWANS

[jesterheadflame666]

This sounds like it could be from a film - an opening or closing theme tune or something, especially the first minute

[hynesa02]

reminds me out of something from Dawn of the Dead

[jesterheadflame666]

really - that's what the music is like? Wow, all the more reason to see it - I really want to get more classic horror - I personally prefer atmospheric, psychological and gothic ones, but I guess some of the seemingly more simplistic classics are worth getting.

[donnybrooklads]

One of the few decent US bands of that genre / era although I preferred Pere Ubu

[codeaires]

Children of God are a religious cult that molests children. I think that's where the inspiration for this album came from.

[adamndirtyshame]

swans were inspired by a cult that molests children??? thats not good.... i've been letting this album babysit my kids for weeks..

[audrywolters]

Well they're being satirical. They're not saying The Children of God are good, they're bringing that sort of stuff up in an ugly straightfoward ironic way. Swans are all about purging ugliness and pain. I don't know if they are particularly good for kids though... Unless you are being satrical??

[adamndirtyshame]

i dont know if kids get satire... i do this hilarious shtick with them where i spoof what a really, really horrible parent would be like, and they just cry. everyones a critic!

[jubjub2112]

@adamndirtyshame HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! This is an ongoing experiment right? You are in year 9 or 10 by now I suspect . . . Stick to your guns! Science will thank you!

[ZLUGGO]

@audrywolters

I am a child of God. Born again Christian. All people are not children of God. We become children of God by choice. We weren' t born that way by our mothers.

[Timmybear]

From the little I know of Christian myth, I thought that the whole virgin birth/Jesus thing was to eliminate original sin, so that children WERE born in God.

[ZLUGGO]

@Timmybear

That's what the reconciliation and the cross was all about. But I was a child of Satan before I was born again back in 1984. So we have to make a conscious decision.

[malkooth]

Apparently Swans ceased touring when the singer beat the bass player to death with a Casio keyboard.

[Xigbar13]

Where did you hear this?

[zackjmack]

I have every Swans on vinyl including World of Skin stuff and Gira/Jarboe solo stuff. Anyone else have the World of Skin 'Ten Songs from Another World," see thru gold album? I'm just wondering how rare it is.

[leperlord]

I have Ten Songs from Another World, only ever seen three copies of it back when it was new.

[andinoble]

The local record show still has it new for $25. It is in Vienna, Austria. Tthey also have a few Jarboe/swans stuff on vinyll and a nice collection of their available CDs

[ZLUGGO]

@andinoble

I think this music is pointless and boring.

[andinoble]

@ZLUGGO

Thanks for the tip.

[ZLUGGO]

@andinoble

By all means.

[flabbyhabbybabby1]

We think likewise of you.

[ZLUGGO]

@flabbyhabbybabby1

And love, love will tear us apart...again...

Sighs...

[sethpajak]

this is jam

[oODOVETAILOo]

Anyone got NEW MIND 12" please downLoad . it was the first Swans i ever heard aged 15 . still with me all this time later . wonderful

[ChordsFromTheVoid]

this was written the year I was born...

[Alphabex8]

so, searched for the pixies and this was a related video. Who the fuck is this, sorry to sound stupid. But I'd like to know more about them.

[RubenvonZwack]

They are an influential US post punk (or whatever you'd like to call it ;)) band of the 80s and 90s.

[wordupassholes]

An underground band who actually sounded alot more sludgier than this.

Their early era's trademark was extreme volume at concerts. It is said that one could vomit at their shows, and the cops often stopped the shows. They have toured with Sonic Youth aswell.

[lilcoffey13]

pretty close to lyrical perfection

[dmg83]

A great song. I do prefer "Sex God Sex", but that may be my error. Anyone like "White Light From the Mouth of Infinity"?

[JG111088]

That's actually my favourite Swans album.

[ToolSoldier462]

intense i love swans

[JuanNoise74]

Amazing song...I got into a point that I listened to this record every fucking day for almost 1 or 2 years even though I`ve listened other types of extreme music. A true MASTERPIECE. Always a SWANS fan! Greetings to all Swans followers from Lima, Peru.

[SpookyArt]

Ala que fan, pero sí, está muy buena la canción. =) Saludos!

[p97154]

OK, I'm still pissed from last night, but I just need to vent my spleen while annoying the guy downstairs cos he's a total dick.. Swans = Fuck Yea.

[LordRockfish]

Makes me feel kind of warm inside.

[dakaranandayo]

this must be their finest moment

[p97154]

Disagree - a Swans fan

[wdamian]

I disagree. An even bigger Swans fan.

[codeaires]

Such an amazing song.

[Putyourknifinme]

one of my favorite swans songs

[Crimsonphilosophy]

i love their minimalism!