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Live — Lightning Crashes
Album: Throwing Copper
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3058









Released: 1994
Length: 5:20
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Lightning crashes, a new mother cries
Her placenta falls to the floor
The angel opens her eyes
The confusion sets in
Before the doctor can even close the door

Lightning crashes, an old mother dies
Her intentions fall to the floor
The angel closes her eyes
The confusion that was hers
Belongs now to the baby down the hall

Oh, I feel it comin' back again
Like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from the centre of the Earth again
I can feel it

Lightning crashes, a new mother cries
This moment she's been waiting for
The angel opens her eyes (Her eyes, her eyes)
Pale blue coloured eyes,
Presents the circle
Puts the glory out to hide, hide

Oh, I feel it comin' back again
Like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from the centre of the Earth again
I can feel it, I can feel it

All right, all right, all right
I can feel it comin' back again
Like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from the centre of the Earth again
I can feel it
I can feel it comin' back again
Like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from the centre of the Earth again
I can feel it
I can feel it comin' back again (Back again)
Like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from the centre of the Earth again (Centre of the Earth)
I can feel it, I can feel it, I can feel it
Comments (334)add comment
 coyote620 wrote:

I can still listen to this entire album with complete enjoyment.  The other ones, not so much, but this one, they clicked into something really special all the way through.



I agree, only to add that I still think their first album [Mental Jewelry] is their finest overall.
William, your commentary between songs is amazing! The only song to use "placenta" in its lyrics - fantastic! :)
I can still listen to this entire album with complete enjoyment.  The other ones, not so much, but this one, they clicked into something really special all the way through.
Perhaps the best song ever written containing the word placenta.
I've always been fascinated by the album art, does anyone know the Artist?
 mylokline wrote:



Likewise, great album


LIVE is superb live!
 govna wrote:

my god...almost twenty years ago.  still love it.



Officially now 30.  Feeling old  
Several great tracks on their first, and best (IMHO) album; however none on the RP playlist? Encourage William to consider circling back to that classic debut album: "Mental Jewelry."
Saw them tour in 2022 Ed still had it!!!
Was a great ablum!
 ottoerago wrote:

Not a great name for a band - try googling them...

I used to really like a few tracks by a band called Download. Impossible to google. 

"Download Download"
"Band Live"
"Live band"
"Band Download"
"Download band"



LOL so true
 ottoerago wrote:

Not a great name for a band - try googling them...

I used to really like a few tracks by a band called Download. Impossible to google. 

"Download Download"
"Band Live"
"Live band"
"Band Download"
"Download band"


HaHa... Toad the Wet Sprocket doesn't seem such a mad-ass name now
 vandal wrote:


Almost 30 years ago and I still love it... 



Likewise, great album
 jkamm14 wrote:

I would also go with the band "!!!", which they say is pronounced "chk chk chk". They didn't think that one through.


The The is another Google-crippling one
I enjoy this song and the entire album is very good imo.  I've always been drawn to the cover art as well.  A striking image to me.  For anyone interested, it's an oil painting by Scottish artist Peter Howson titled Sisters of Mercy (which btw sold at a Christie's auction for $186,000 in 2005).

Came across this letter from the artist in the Scottish newspaper, The Herald.  I thought it provided some interesting context from the artist.  Here is his letter from 2005:

This painting was done at a time when I was walking on the road to self-destruction, so when I saw it reproduced in The Herald it brought back some poignant memories.
The man in the painting is blind, and he is troubled because there is no-one to guide him. He is clutching a red Bible, trying to find sanctuary in the cliff-edge church, but that is now derelict.

Finally, he will be led over the edge and fall to his doom. The girls do not care and it is all a bit of fun for them.

Obviously this is not my most optimistic creation, but I am glad when something moves people to question our existence.

Any song with "placenta" in the first two lines gets an automatic 8 from me.
i remember being so rocked by this when it came out. it was so intense. they're actually pretty great live, too. but, yeah, i guess a little underrated? 
 govna wrote:

my god...almost twenty years ago.  still love it.



Almost 30 years ago and I still love it... 
Great band and a great tune!
Amazing tune. Their first album and this are my two favorites by far.
 firefly6 wrote:

Great song but the volume levels are messed up. ( I first noticed when I had the CD) It starts off a bit too low, then getting to the chorus the volume goes up considerably, then after the second chorus you can tell the volume knob is going back down. Deserves to get remastered.




Actually, a lot of music is overly compressed, and sounds loud all the time, making it boring, a fair bit of the time.
 ottoerago wrote:

Not a great name for a band - try googling them...

I used to really like a few tracks by a band called Download. Impossible to google. 

"Download Download"
"Band Live"
"Live band"
"Band Download"
"Download band"


I would also go with the band "!!!", which they say is pronounced "chk chk chk". They didn't think that one through.

Great song but the volume levels are messed up. ( I first noticed when I had the CD) It starts off a bit too low, then getting to the chorus the volume goes up considerably, then after the second chorus you can tell the volume knob is going back down. Deserves to get remastered.
 ottoerago wrote:

Not a great name for a band - try googling them...

I used to really like a few tracks by a band called Download. Impossible to google. 

"Download Download"
"Band Live"
"Live band"
"Band Download"
"Download band"


Yeah, same goes for 'James' !
Not a great name for a band - try googling them...

I used to really like a few tracks by a band called Download. Impossible to google. 

"Download Download"
"Band Live"
"Live band"
"Band Download"
"Download band"
This song remains to have a vibe that gives chills.
Incredible through head phones.
Amazing then, amazing now. Solid 10 all day...
 govna wrote:

my god...almost twenty years ago.  still love it.



almost thirty years ago now! 
Never heard this song until now on RP. Not too bad, but doesn't feel like it ever "gets there".
 kz1300a1 wrote:

Not a horrible song. Overplayed by terrestrial radio. I generally turn down the radio when it comes on. But, hey how many cool songs out there mention placenta. 



Yeah. I'm still stuck in "overplayed --> PSD" mode with this one...
 rlr511 wrote:
I hate that they played this song so much because it was quite good and still is.  They came to my college back in the day.  good but loud (even then it was loud for me, but now i'm old) .  
 If they played at your college post 1994, then you are definitely NOT OLD!!! 

First verse "The angel closes her aeiiiiiaaiiiiiiiiiiiiing".  Her what?  30 seconds later - ah!! Eyes
Classic college rock!
I hate that they played this song so much because it was quite good and still is.  They came to my college back in the day.  good but loud (even then it was loud for me, but now i'm old) .  
This song messes with my head because my son was born the day my grandfather died.  I called my family to pass on the good news and got the bad news. I left the hospital and went to a service for my grandfather and then returned the next day to pick up mom and  baby to go home for the first time.

The head nurse said she'd seen that happen inside the hospital, while one person was passing another member of the same family was being born on a different floor. 

Wild.
This is my absolute favorite song that uses the word "placenta". 
 Danimal174 wrote:
Live's first two albums were extremely good; they fell off a bit after that, in my opinion. Also, if you never saw their MTV Unplugged performance, I would highly recommend it. 
 
I don't know.  I really like Secret Samadhi.
There are surprisingly few songs that mention the placenta !   
Not a horrible song. Overplayed by terrestrial radio. I generally turn down the radio when it comes on. But, hey how many cool songs out there mention placenta. 
Are you kidding me? His voice is so sooo good. I forgot.
A powerfull live part do they have any bad song?
Best rock group ever from PA?

If not, certainly the best rock group ever from York, PA. I was always amazed that a local band, with such good frontman/singer-songwriter talent, managed to have such a great drummer, too.
First week of college, August 1995. We saw them in Columbus, OH. Takes me back.
 jahgirl8 wrote:
I love lightning. I love what the nativity story represents for billions who believe. Those who spurn should burn... well just a little, like on the hand or something, no accelerant involved. If there's a God, PLEASE take me out of this world with lightning!

 
Oh, no! It's the Crooked Woman! (See "Raising Dion" on Netflix.)
"While the clip (music video) is shot in a home environment, I envisioned it taking place in a hospital, where all these simultaneous deaths and births are going on, one family mourning the loss of a woman while a screaming baby emerges from a young mother in another room. Nobody's dying in the act of childbirth, as some viewers think. What you're seeing is actually a happy ending based on a kind of transference of life."
I love lightning. I love what the nativity story represents for billions who believe. Those who spurn should burn... well just a little, like on the hand or something, no accelerant involved. If there's a God, PLEASE take me out of this world with lightning!

 kurtster wrote:
test
 
icle
 paulstrangeway wrote:
What can they feel? A stone in their shoes? Just shake the stone out?
 
Forces pulling from the center of the Earth again.  You know, gravity.  Can you feel it, too?
test
What can they feel? A stone in their shoes? Just shake the stone out?
 jcyr wrote:
Creepy and mesmerizing...
 

I lived in Oklahoma City during the time of the Oklahoma City bombing and this song was played constantly on the radio, almost like a theme song to the tragedy.  Although it's a good song,  I'd be happy never to hear it again.  
Great build up song.
 hedgie wrote:
Christian rock at its best.

 
Ouch! Brutal.
Kinda bad and oh so good.
and we go from Anna Ternheim singing about no subtle men to these guys. Coincidence?
I do like the song though.
Creepy and mesmerizing...
 Danimal174 wrote:
Live's first two albums were extremely good; they fell off a bit after that, in my opinion. Also, if you never saw their MTV Unplugged performance, I would highly recommend it. 

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p620iDmyXdo
The MTV Unplugged version is even better
Klol Houston would play "Splat!" Sound effects When the placenta falls to the floor. Great lyrics.
I remember sitting around *****'s living room with all my freshman friends during the first semester of college, as we drank cinnamon Schnapps and belted out the words to this song as it played turned up louder than the cheap stereo should have gone. {#Drunk}
Christian rock at its best.
This song reaches into the soul and gives it a twist.Pretty good musicianship (instruments and vocal).
 Proclivities wrote:

Just a semantic note here: In general, "conspiracy theorists" are not people who "want to find the answers to questionable occurrences", they are people who theorize their own answers and conspiracies.  Questioning the "official narrative" is not exactly the same as devising one's own narrative(s).  Anyhow, I sympathize with your frustrations about how people who question the official narratives are often ridiculed, or at least marginalized.


 

Image result for x-files

doo-do doo-dooooooo  : )
Live? Only in the sense that zombies are live. A narcoleptic snoozefest {#Sleep}
Live's first two albums were extremely good; they fell off a bit after that, in my opinion. Also, if you never saw their MTV Unplugged performance, I would highly recommend it. 
 DaidyBoy wrote:
Great track.  Sorry for the ignorance but are these guys pronounced "live" as in "alive" or "live" as in "liver"?  Thanks in advance.

 
It's Live as in Alive.
Love the group.  Love the album.  Hate this song.
Great track.  Sorry for the ignorance but are these guys pronounced "live" as in "alive" or "live" as in "liver"?  Thanks in advance.
                     Moms the word,   first comes a rollin' thunder.
  Seconds necessities mother of  all inventions, and  starts a light show
song is a guilty pleasure.  could lose the overwrought refrain/outro, though.
Guilty pleasure, kick-ass rocker.
i always liked this cut
lots of beer that summer 
The song is somewhat cheesy, kitschy and totaly over it. But hell, I Love it. Heard it the first time 1995 as an exchange student in the USA and somehow it became part of the soundtrack oft my life.
 ajlept wrote:

I will never understand why when people want to find the answers to questionable occurrences, they are ridiculed and called conspiracy nuts. The uninformed masses need to take their meds and go back to sleep. The term "conspiracy theory" was coined by the CIA in the 60's to deflect attention away from all of the high profile assassinations that many believe they had a hand in. Conspiracy is an idea or action that involves two or more people and we all know what a theory is. Many academics have evolved a theory into a certainty. We don't call them derogatory names, as we shouldn't when law enforcement investigates cases (well, on second thought.....).

 
Just a semantic note here: In general, "conspiracy theorists" are not people who "want to find the answers to questionable occurrences", they are people who theorize their own answers and conspiracies.  Questioning the "official narrative" is not exactly the same as devising one's own narrative(s).  Anyhow, I sympathize with your frustrations about how people who question the official narratives are often ridiculed, or at least marginalized.
 kingart wrote:
kingart wrote:
First time I've heard this on RP. 
In my mind, it is the unofficial theme music (as it unreeled in NYC at least) to the sad news of the dastardly but exceedingly strange Oklahoma City bombing.  This played over and over on several city stations as that episode was reported and examined endlessly by the media and conspiracy vultures. 
 

  
I will never understand why when people want to find the answers to questionable occurrences, they are ridiculed and called conspiracy nuts. The uninformed masses need to take their meds and go back to sleep. The term "conspiracy theory" was coined by the CIA in the 60's to deflect attention away from all of the high profile assassinations that many believe they had a hand in. Conspiracy is an idea or action that involves two or more people and we all know what a theory is. Many academics have evolved a theory into a certainty. We don't call them derogatory names, as we shouldn't when law enforcement investigates cases (well, on second thought.....).
______________

Your point being exactly what...? 

Yes, a conspiracy is an idea, action or collusion that involves two or more people. 
Yes, the CIA likely had a many in high profile assassinations, domestic and foreign. ... But proof that meets the definition of such is hard to come by, because a conspiracy by definition not only plans the event itself but goes to great pains to cleanse every trace of the plan. 
The Oklahoma City blast WAS exceedingly strange and quite a few circumstantial cases have been made that the event, as reported, was a mass fraud. ...  But proof that meets the definition of such is hard to come by, because a conspiracy by definition not only plans the event itself but goes to great pains to cleanse every trace of the plan. 

I've read many reports of conspiracies. Some were compiled by intelligent forensic investigators and logically grounded academics. One tends to believe in the events and players they examine, and grow depressed and infuriated in equal measure. Others, though, were as if the proponents took hits of acid and riffed on every whacko kernel of inconsistency to spin elaborate pseudo-hypotheses that are half fantasies based on an assumption of facts. 
So what is your point? Is it about the former smart examiners, or the latter nut jobs?  
 

 
Just noticed this reply. Well, the point of my rant was that there is some middle ground between the "official" narrative and those who question it in an extremely speculative unsubstantiated way (the nut jobs). I do agree that there is a difference between "conspiracy theorist" and "conspiracy vulture" and the former should not be a derogatory label. We (Humans) tend to see only the black or white of things and not the "half-tones." Are we a "lithographic" culture that is unwilling (or too lazy) to see the mix that forms the many shades of gray?

I like this song, too.
kingart wrote:
First time I've heard this on RP. 
In my mind, it is the unofficial theme music (as it unreeled in NYC at least) to the sad news of the dastardly but exceedingly strange Oklahoma City bombing.  This played over and over on several city stations as that episode was reported and examined endlessly by the media and conspiracy vultures. 
 

  
I will never understand why when people want to find the answers to questionable occurrences, they are ridiculed and called conspiracy nuts. The uninformed masses need to take their meds and go back to sleep. The term "conspiracy theory" was coined by the CIA in the 60's to deflect attention away from all of the high profile assassinations that many believe they had a hand in. Conspiracy is an idea or action that involves two or more people and we all know what a theory is. Many academics have evolved a theory into a certainty. We don't call them derogatory names, as we shouldn't when law enforcement investigates cases (well, on second thought.....).
______________

Your point being exactly what...? 

Yes, a conspiracy is an idea, action or collusion that involves two or more people. 
Yes, the CIA likely had a many in high profile assassinations, domestic and foreign. ... But proof that meets the definition of such is hard to come by, because a conspiracy by definition not only plans the event itself but goes to great pains to cleanse every trace of the plan. 
The Oklahoma City blast WAS exceedingly strange and quite a few circumstantial cases have been made that the event, as reported, was a mass fraud. ...  But proof that meets the definition of such is hard to come by, because a conspiracy by definition not only plans the event itself but goes to great pains to cleanse every trace of the plan. 

I've read many reports of conspiracies. Some were compiled by intelligent forensic investigators and logically grounded academics. One tends to believe in the events and players they examine, and grow depressed and infuriated in equal measure. Others, though, were as if the proponents took hits of acid and riffed on every whacko kernel of inconsistency to spin elaborate pseudo-hypotheses that are half fantasies based on an assumption of facts. 
So what is your point? Is it about the former smart examiners, or the latter nut jobs?  
 
love this album!
such a cool song!!
 kingart wrote:
First time I've heard this on RP. 
In my mind, it is the unofficial theme music (as it unreeled in NYC at least) to the sad news of the dastardly but exceedingly strange Oklahoma City bombing.  This played over and over on several city stations as that episode was reported and examined endlessly by the media and conspiracy vultures. 
 

 
I will never understand why when people want to find the answers to questionable occurrences, they are ridiculed and called conspiracy nuts. The uninformed masses need to take their meds and go back to sleep. The term "conspiracy theory" was coined by the CIA in the 60's to deflect attention away from all of the high profile assassinations that many believe they had a hand in. Conspiracy is an idea or action that involves two or more people and we all know what a theory is. Many academics have evolved a theory into a certainty. We don't call them derogatory names, as we shouldn't when law enforcement investigates cases (well, on second thought.....).
First time I've heard this on RP. 
In my mind, it is the unofficial theme music (as it unreeled in NYC at least) to the sad news of the dastardly but exceedingly strange Oklahoma City bombing.  This played over and over on several city stations as that episode was reported and examined endlessly by the media and conspiracy vultures. 
 
A 9, largely for nostalgia. This one of those songs that were the soundtrack to certain period of life, and every time I hear it I can't help but think about those good times.
Great use of this song:

"Strange Luck"

Forces moving from the center of the Earth again?  You mean like gravity?  Yeah, I can feel that, too.  Don't see any reason to get so worked up about it.
Absolutely love this song - always puts me in a good move and love to crank it!!!

 
I liked Live's first album Mental Jewerly when Eddie had long hair --->


 ptooey wrote:
It hardly ever gets mentioned for some reason, but this dude can really pound the skins. 

 
Absolutely - very important point! Often under appreciated, and a key reason they are so powerful.
Amazing tune and band.  They are (were?) incredible...well....live!  Their first album is still my favorite by far - "Mental Jewelry", with this one a not too distant second.
I agree, this makes me so wish to be right in front of Live during an outstanding performance of this one! 10 cause its strong
(oh, I didn't know they split from the lead singer years ago…anyhow cool tune)
Godlike. 
 sbegf wrote:
I am in no way a musician...I listen...but really...placenta?  Is it really called that? 
 
Yeah, it is.  

Don't be confused; it's the straight-up Webster definition of placenta.  (Click on the "Lyrics" and see how the song lays out several tragedies.)
 wow! I didn't even realize that. I see now it came out the year I had my son.


govna wrote:
my god...almost twenty years ago.  still love it.

 


my god...almost twenty years ago.  still love it.
 cosmiclint wrote:
This is a great song to strum late at night in people's living rooms. And the placenta line sure gets their attention if they haven't heard it before :)
 
I am in no way a musician...I listen...but really...placenta?  Is it really called that? 

Like a rolling thunder chasing the wind...
Like a rock song cliche' comin' again... 
This is a great song to strum late at night in people's living rooms. And the placenta line sure gets their attention if they haven't heard it before :)
great driving song, I crank it way upp
Thanks!! 
Always loved the production on this one.
One of my most favourite songs - I tend to love moody or dramatic music
 Proclivities wrote:

"Art" is not "by definition, artifice".  The former word is not derived from the latter; the Latin word "ars" (skill) is the source for both words.  Pretentiousness is certainly a valid (albeit over-used) criticism for creative endeavors since art is not intrinsically pretentious.

pretentious:
1. Claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified.
2. Making or marked by an extravagant outward show; ostentatious.



When a critic calls a performer pretentious, I think they mean the performer has "artistic pretentions", mainly.  Artisans, the forerunners of artists, worked with their hands, and that is where the modern word art comes from. Pretension had nothing especially to do with it. But now the word art certainly has the connotation of pretentiousness. Take the plastic arts (sculpture, painting, etc..), or what we usually mean when we use the word "art" by itself. Contemporary plastic art is intrinsically and self-consciously pretentious. Go to any museum of contemporary art, you'll see what I mean (I am not talking about the many lesser-known artists who are not a part of all that). Poetry has become the same. All this is because there is no longer the “vulgar” public “consuming” those art forms. This “vulgar” public, thank god, is  still the final arbiter of music, film, and fiction - the three creative art forms that are actually still alive. I kinda like the term "Art Rock" (often intended as a diss) because it means the performer is primarily concerned with the music, as opposed to the life-style aspects of Rock. I, for one, want Radiohead and similar performers to be appreciated by all and sundry (i.e., the “masses”). I think if they all just pay a little more attention, they’ll see what I do in their music. It’s not for everyone of course. I want good performers to be recognized as true artists, but yes, without the pretense.
Brilliant song never thought I would hear it on RP thank you Bill.
Good album as well.
Outstanding!
 chitown wrote:
Quite possibly the worst song I've heard on RP.  Don't get it.
 
They've got to let you out of that cage once in a while.  Bill - you got any Lionel Richie to cheer this guy up?
Quite possibly the worst song I've heard on RP.  Don't get it.
They KICK ASS live (no pun intended really!).  By far their best album was their first - I highly recommend you pick it up if you like them at all...called "Mental Jewlery" - incredible record!
Just the song title make's this a nine !
Oh yes... back in the hazy days of High School.  Staying the night with my friend, a little {#Devil_pimp}, talking about girls, and jamming out to some Live (and many other great 90's bands)...  I miss those days sometimes. 

 htowncoog wrote:
Say what you will, but these guys are great "live." 

Amen, brother.  Seen them twice, so I get to say it twice: they were great in person, on stage.
At least on some radio stations here in NYC, this seemed to have been deemed the unofficial 'theme song' of the Oklahoma City bombing. I kind of like the song—a dirge, kind of ominous though hopeful—but in my mind it is linked strongly to that low moment in American history. 
 teadye wrote:
I'm LMAO... just thought about the lyrics in another way: "rolling thunder chasing the wind. I can feel it!" Morning after the big bowl of chili.... 8^)
 
Wow, just what are you birthing there? {#Roflol}
This song still rocks! {#Dancingbanana_2}
My first 3 rating goes to this song. I have disliked this band since first hearing—and especially disliked this song. It's a visceral reaction that's hard to articulate, but here goes. It just seems one of the worst examples of 90's self-important "alt-rock" that wasn't raw or interesting enough to be alternative or robust enough to be rock—or fun enough to be either. "Neither fish nor fowl nor good red herring" — Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

Mostly, it just bores me.
My little sister used to sing, "like a roller wonder juicing the wind" when this came on the radio (she was 6 when this song released).  I can't listen to this tune without hearing her!
haven't heard this song in a long long time... but i still call it the song that converted me into a listener with good tast... {#Smile} This album is - from my point of view - one of the best ever made. nothing compared to all the shit they released later on... these were the good old live-days!!! brilliant! simply brilliant!

Interesting CD cover, shame about the dull song. Sort of like Pearl Jam, but less interesting. Inoffensive and unnoticeable, other than when he goes into an anguished I'm-trying-to-squeeze-a-log-out scream. Next song, please.


{#Roflol}{#Ass}{#Beat}

teadye wrote:
I'm LMAO... just thought about the lyrics in another way: "rolling thunder chasing the wind. I can feel it!" Morning after the big bowl of chili.... 8^)
 


I'm LMAO... just thought about the lyrics in another way: "rolling thunder chasing the wind. I can feel it!" Morning after the big bowl of chili.... 8^)
This takes me back a loooong way!
Say what you will, but these guys are great "live." 

And it's an 8+
Wow, that takes me back a few years. Can't decide if I like it now though.