• Track: Under the Milky Way
• Artist: The Church
• Album: Starfish
• Year: 1988

Lyrics:

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 in Memphis
Lower the curtain down all right
I got no time for private consultation
Under the milky way tonight

I wish I knew what you were looking for
I might have known what you would find

And it’s something quite peculiar
Something that’s shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the milky way tonight
Under the milky way tonight

And it’s something quite peculiar
Something that’s shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the milky way tonight

I wish I knew what you were looking for
I might have known what you would find
I wish I knew what you were looking for
I might have known what you would find

Under the milky way tonight
Under the milky way tonight

I wish I knew what you were looking for
I might have known what you would find
I wish I knew what you were looking for
I might have known what you would find
(Milky way tonight)

Under the milky way tonight
Under the milky way tonight
Under the milky way tonight
Under the milky way tonight

In 1988, I was halfway through my college days and was beginning to really get into what many called new wave or modern rock. I was late to the party—my high school and early college days were dominated by hair metal and crunchy, power pop bands—but I had to drive back home to Sweetser, Indiana on most weekends to work at the Sweetser Supermarket, where I would sling cows, stock shelves, bag groceries, make deliveries, and clean until my eyes burned with the ammonia we used to sterilize the meat-cutting equipment. And going home meant seeing many of my high school friends and getting to watch MTV’s 120 Minutes (we didn’t have cable in the dorms at Ball State). That’s where my appreciation for new wave, British pop, modern rock, whatever you want to call it, began to take shape. Nearly 30 years later, I still love 80s new wave. I named one of my favorite iTunes playlists “Flock of Seagulls Hair.”

But, I digress.

The Church was formed in 1980 in Sydney, Australia. They enjoyed moderate success in Australia and the UK, but success in the states eluded them for the most part. Under the Milky Way was their only track to chart in the U.S., making it all the way to No. 2 on the Billboard Charts. Unknown to many—particularly in the U.S.—is that The Church is alive and well today, maintaining a cult following while releasing 24 studio albums, four EPs, one live album, and 12 compilation albums. They’ve dropped 24 singles during their 36-year tenure.

Don’t dismiss The Church as just another aging eighties band, They’ve continued to evolve their sound over the years while still maintaining their core identity. I own about half of The Church’s catalog, and a number of their tracks have remained in frequent rotation in many of my playlists.

Video:

Here is the official music video:

Perhaps my favorite of their tracks is Electric Lash from 1983’s Seance. 

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