Under the Milky Way
(Jansson/Kilbey)
Originally recorded by: The Church

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty
The 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

(playing time 5:43)


Song Facts: This can be found on The Day After Yesterday.

For more check out the cover section.

Footnote- background picture was taken by Susan George in Red Wing, MN on 10/8/05

According to US 

Oh.....My......God.......
I could probably stop there and not say anything  else that is going to convey any better how I feel when I hear this song. 
So I'll say it again.....Oh....My....God.  

Rick's voice on this songs absolutely kills me  (in a good way, if you can die in a good way).  He says this song is in a  much lower key than what he is used to, like "Old Man River".....(if that's the case, I wish he would have covered that, too).  This song, more than any  other song I remember hearing has the effect on me that it just sounds so good I  can't even stand it.  If I was Catholic, I think I'd have the urge to go to confession.

Now, what's this song about - who the hell  knows, who the hell cares.  I usually do care, just don't on this one.  The Church is known for their abstract song writing, this one  actually seems to make more sense than most of theirs, to me.  I'm just  glad that Rick doesn't have the urge to copy the styles of some of the bands  that he likes so much, like The Church and Radiohead.  They don't seem to  believe in hooks, or being catchy, or making sense.  I kind of like those  traits in a song, so I'm so glad Rick's style is the way it is. -rlh

I think I've been listening to this song non-stop (or as close as I can get to that) for the past two days now.
I think it had something to do with what the previous review.... LOL Anyway -

I like this one better than INIL. Way better. It's still not my favorite on TDAY, but I don't skip this one. Truthfully, I'm too lazy to skip most of the album - I tend to just let it play while I drive. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes not. But, if I were in the mood for skipping a song, it wouldn't be this one. Did that make sense?

I kept thinking when I first heard this one (and being familiar with the original) that there was something that "bugged" me about it. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I realized what that was. Rick's voice on this one sounds like his speaking voice. I'm not sure if that statement makes sense either. I've always thought that Rick sounded a certain way when he sang, and then a certain way when he talked. They were both definitely different. (at least to my ears) This song is his speaking voice. So it's different for me, in a good way. Doesn't drive me wild like some people <wink> but it is appealing. Maybe I just need to have Rick talk to me some more. Can someone arrange that? Thanks. :-)

I don't see this as one Rick could've written either. I just don't hear it in the words as well as say, For No One. I know he's a big fan of The Church, so maybe that's why he likes it so. I was just happy it was a more familiar song to me than the first one (INIL). I'm not sure if that's what makes me like it a bit more or not, and at this point since I'm grabbing for straws on something nice to say - I'll leave it at that. - Michelle P.

I do believe this is my favorite cover off the CD! (don't anyone quote me on that....my Rick preferences can change weekly!) If I only have time to listen to a few quick songs off the CD, this is the first one that comes to mind. Possibly because of the ever-so-sexy way he sings it. (I just can't help it! His voice is unbelievable in this one) Every time I hear it I keep thinking of what I another fan said, which fits this song to a T. She said that "a whisper can be as powerful as a scream." That's for sure....because in some parts you can barely hear him. It's as if he's whispering in your ear, especially with the headphones on. I could go on forever about how amazing and sexy his voice is here, but I won't. I'll move on

I really liked this song back in the 80's whenever I heard it, but not nearly this much. Rick has given it new life for me. Lyrically the song is strange. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but I find myself drawn to weird songs like this one. The more bizarre the song, the quicker it gets my attention. With the acception of Rick's music.....no matter what, it gets my attention :-) The song draws pictures in my mind of lying in the grass with a lover & gazing at the stars. Maybe because stargazing is one of my favorite activities....or maybe not. I'm not real sure if the song is as literal lyrically as the title suggests. But that's certainly what comes to mind when I hear it. It reminds me of how insignificant we can feel while gazing into the endless night sky. How our daily frustrations & problems are so tiny in the spectrum of this huge universe.

I love the music for this song & what sounds like possibly a violin? I also like how he did that echo sounds towards the end. All in all, this is such an outstanding cover song, and I'm eternally grateful Rick chose to cover it. It gives me a great feeling when I hear it.....again, a certain nostalgia that I can't really describe. - Kelley Pearson

I wasn't aware that I'd heard this song before until I realized it was on one of my 80's compilations. Again this sounds very much like the original and I love love love Rick's breathy voice. But I give the original a slight edge just because the singers voice has a very unique sound/edge to it. - Jen H.

I've always liked this song. It's very mystical and dreamy. wistful. Seems to be told from the perspective of someone who's been there is talking to someone who's in the midst of a crisis.

I've never really known what it means, but i like that it makes me think. i've pulled the lines that are the most provoking. 

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty, the sound of their breath fades with the light
What place? Makes me think of a public place. a bar? a church? a bus station? 

lower the curtain down on Memphis
Memphis, Egypt? reference to the afterlife? To the "aliens" who (ahem) must have built the pyramids? Imagine people who lived 4000 years ago, looking at the same stars that we gaze upon today. (pause for thought)
Memphis Tenn? Elvis? The king is dead, long live the king. is rock dead? the day the music died...

loveless fascination
obsession? 
Rick would know about this. I'd imagine, as the object of obsession and the obsessed. (lust rears it's pretty head)

wish i knew what you were looking for, might have known what you would find
We know how Elvis ended. :( fame, tragedy. 
Rick hit bottom after being on top of the world. 

something shimmering and white
a phantom? a star? cocaine? love?
(also wondering if this could be semen, wouldn't be the first time that obsession/sex got someone into trouble)

leads you here, despite your destination
being lured away (towards death?) like sailors by the sirens
reminds me of Hotel California

instrumentation--violins, like celtic music
adds to the mysticism. someone who admires the eastern religions, might be interested in other world religions as well. reinforces the idea of life that has gone on for millennia. 

I really like this song. I really don't like his raspy voice, tho. At least in this song, the instrumentation mostly hides his voice, or at least helps thicken up the sound. - sgeorge