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The Church — Reptile
Album: Starfish
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4489









Released: 1988
Length: 4:48
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Too dangerous to keep.
Too feeble to let go.
And you want to bite the hand.
Should have stopped this long ago.

Go now, you've been set free.
Another month or so you'll be gorging on me ("poisoning me" on 2nd and 3rd times)
With your lovely smile.
I see you slither away with your skin and your tail,
Your flickering tongue and your rattling scales
Like a real reptile.

Had you coiled around my arm.
How could you ever know
How I loved your diamond eyes?
But that was long ago. (Chorus)

And I should have believed Eve.
She said we had to blow.
She was the apple of my eye.
It wasn't long ago. (Chorus)
Comments (298)add comment
Now where did I put my paisley shirt and pointy shoes?
Posted 3 months ago by NoisyMiner    [ Reply ]
Church is on tour this summer with Afghan Whigs!!! Got tickets for Portland show.       
Posted 8 months ago by TallCreative1    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Aw c'mon, teenagers aren't so dull.

#Grammar matters

Posted 10 months ago by doktorkev    [ Reply ]
I love this. That plucky intro. And then that despairing guitar lick. And THEN the drums kick in and its off to the races. Genius.
Posted 1 year ago by bialia    [ Reply ]
 rtrudeau wrote:

The segue from Vivaldi to this song gave me chills. 


Another great band from Down Under! 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Posted 1 year ago by IvanTheMediocre    [ Reply ]
 farakon wrote:
I found the church dull as a teenager...

Aw c'mon, teenagers aren't so dull.
Posted 1 year ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
The segue from Vivaldi to this song gave me chills. 
Posted 1 year ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
 itsme_bygolly wrote:

Dobrodošli iz najsjajnijeg grada na zemlji. Nadam se da su stvari dobro s vama.



Dobro Jutro!   Zivjel! (Good morning. cheers!)   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 milos_k wrote:


haha.Ja te razumem.Pozdrav iz Novog Sada.Dobra stvar al je bas pustaju puno.

Dobrodošli iz najsjajnijeg grada na zemlji. Nadam se da su stvari dobro s vama.
Posted 1 year ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
Original sound. Super song. Discovered on R.P. Thank you R.P.
Posted 1 year ago by flozer68    [ Reply ]
Saw Steve Kilbey perform the songs of the Church last night in Brunswick Heads NSW ,including Reptile!
It was a great gig- of music and mirthful tails
thanks RP


Posted 2 years ago by Antsonjahli    [ Reply ]
 BosniaMan wrote:

super stvar., pozdrav svima ako me ko razumije



haha.Ja te razumem.Pozdrav iz Novog Sada.Dobra stvar al je bas pustaju puno.
Posted 2 years ago by milos_k    [ Reply ]
Gosh, you don't want to be sat next to your back surround speakers for this one. More of an effects rack than a song.
Posted 2 years ago by MattRudely    [ Reply ]
 renata05 wrote:

make it stop this song is so annoying!



There's always the skip button. That's what it's there for. 

Sigh......
Posted 2 years ago by keenevision    [ Reply ]
A little concerned that even Bill can't resist the serpent in the garden telling him to make an awful "scaling musical heights" comment about this song.
Posted 2 years ago by ernieleaf    [ Reply ]
It's been said before but bears repeating...WHFS in the days of olde!!!

A little background...back in the 70's/80's like any big city the rock airwaves of Washington DC suffered from commercial radio playlists dishing out the same ol' same ol' over and over again and for that sort of stuff there was DC101. Ugh! However at that time DC was also served by two non-mainstream / alternative radio stations that presented anything from everywhere except mainstream commercial. Independent radio station WHFS and Georgetown University's WGTB dished up musical flavors from every corner of the globe and international visitors and students from abroad or even from NYC, Pittsburgh or Hattiesburg helped by bringing in vinyl to these stations from their home locations. The original Nightclub 9:30 on F Street and DC Space a few blocks away showcased so many performers from everywhere except the top 40 kind. Local University of DC WDCU played great jazz. Between WHFS, WGTB and WDCU you didn't have to suffer "strictly from commercial" at all. DC is/was the Bluegrass capital of the US and there is/was American University's WAMU for that on weekends. Those Fleshtones weekends at 9:30 or Bad Brains or Razz or Danny Gatton or Henry Rollins in his tighty whiteys or Fugazi at any local club. That's all gone to the history books today but we remember while today we turn to streaming Radioparadise.
Thank you Bill and Rebecca! 
Posted 2 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
For me, this song, by this mad, talented group, lays down some of the tastiest guitar and vocal stylings on the planet! I love the perfectly timed, chiming CRANKED lead, the cross-cutting, screaming second guitar that weaves in and out, the frenetic drumming, and -- I love this song. It's a distinctive, iconic masterpiece! I worship The Church.
Posted 2 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 Lessard0570 wrote:

La perfection caractérise parfois une chanson idéale, c'est-à-dire un moment musical qui réunit toutes les qualités et n'a pas de défaut.




Absolument d'accord!!
Posted 3 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
I have to check out their newer stuff since this is so good.
Posted 3 years ago by Ralf    [ Reply ]
Not a huge fan of The Church but have to say there really is nothing to dislike here have 2  of their albums and  enjoy them on the rare occasion I get to spin any of them
Posted 3 years ago by ratbbb2    [ Reply ]
Anyone else hear the similarity to Blue Oyster Cult?  I love the music of both groups
Posted 3 years ago by dandueck07    [ Reply ]
i just realized this is just another version of What I Like About You
Posted 3 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Had there not been The Church and their records on our record players in the early 80s, we'd have been in grave danger of not being the coolest people in the room. Yuge influence, style-wise too. 
Posted 3 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
remember partying, having oyster shooters down at Awful Arthur's and Mexicano's Nags Head during my college daze to music like this., circa 1989.
Posted 3 years ago by hddixon3    [ Reply ]
You’ve been playing this a lot lately, I really like it I’ve never listen to them before they’re really pretty good
Posted 4 years ago by Oxen1morale    [ Reply ]
The riff alone makes it.
Posted 4 years ago by acolt    [ Reply ]
Another Brilliant track from another great Aussie band ... 10/10 every time. Awesome 👏 album too
Posted 4 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
 poetdancer wrote:
Love, love, love this song.  My favorite Church song. Especially the opening notes... Just saw them in Berkeley (opening for the Psychedelic Furs) and they were fantastic. 
 

»(opening for the Psychedelic Furs)«

It should have been the other way round!   PS. lucky you…
Posted 4 years ago by h2chris    [ Reply ]
Among the best of alternative/underground radio. Starfish is a “top-shelf” album. 
Posted 4 years ago by rbigelo    [ Reply ]
Stellar groove on the heels of Vivaldi-Summer, Cracker -Sunshine in the land of Milk & Honey😆
Posted 4 years ago by SteveInVa    [ Reply ]
A great song from an enduring and excellent band.
Posted 4 years ago by tomperth1    [ Reply ]
An 8-9 for the riff and backing music, a 5-6 for the vocals. 7 seems reasonable.
Posted 4 years ago by acolt    [ Reply ]
A good song from a great album. Some others like Hotel Womb, Lost and UTMW rise above, but Reptile is no doubt a good one!
Posted 4 years ago by jimlandwehr2582    [ Reply ]
 BosniaMan wrote:
super stvar., pozdrav svima ako me ko razumije
 Naravno rođak :)

Posted 4 years ago by jasko    [ Reply ]
super stvar., pozdrav svima ako me ko razumije
Posted 5 years ago by BosniaMan    [ Reply ]
Memories.... 80's : The Church performing in Paradiso Amsterdam (former Church-building) Fantastic Performance
Posted 5 years ago by walter_sintenie    [ Reply ]
Love this track...the bass runs are too cool and that riff
Posted 5 years ago by chuck.b.meyers    [ Reply ]
A very cool band from down under
Posted 5 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
Love this one!
Posted 5 years ago by Ralf    [ Reply ]
make it stop this song is so annoying!
Posted 5 years ago by renata05    [ Reply ]
Always waiting for a second coming of bands sporting the jangling guitar sound.
Posted 5 years ago by TotalHip    [ Reply ]
Since The Church, I found Interpol and Beach Fossils to feed my beast.
Posted 5 years ago by Lessard0570    [ Reply ]
I was hoping to find a new group as I was running out of options.
Posted 6 years ago by cosmicjoe54    [ Reply ]
 MilesW wrote:

This song always reminds me of WHFS in Baltimore, back in the 80s, before they got bought by a big conglomerate and changed forever...
 
" changed forever... "

Interpretation. =Ruined.
There were great times though......

Its a great connection actually. Not unlike RP, that was a source for hearing new music I would never have heard elsewhere. 

Good memories. Going way back. King Biscuit. Dr. Demento. 
Posted 6 years ago by Clyde_Bedow    [ Reply ]
 IndyDoug wrote:
I miss the late 80's early 90's college radio alternative music. Very tasteful.

 
This song always reminds me of WHFS in Baltimore, back in the 80s, before they got bought by a big conglomerate and changed forever...
Posted 6 years ago by MilesW    [ Reply ]
 George_Tirebiter wrote:
I liked them better when they were called Blue Oyster Cult.  {#Roflol}

 
This made me laugh. {#Roflol}
Posted 6 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 mandolin wrote:


 
hah, maybe i'm not the only one who intentionally sings along the incorrect lyrics: "like a real Reptar"! {#High-five}
Posted 6 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]

https://thechurchband.net/

Posted 6 years ago by Jannne    [ Reply ]
I liked them better when they were called Blue Oyster Cult.  {#Roflol}
Posted 7 years ago by George_Tirebiter    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}{#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 7 years ago by epiclectic    [ Reply ]
 DocStrangelove wrote:
our reptile god!

 

At your service!  Oh...wait...you said God...I'm only royalty...close enough, eh?  {#Cheesygrin}


Posted 7 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Adam, Eve and Reptile
Posted 7 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
 IndyDoug wrote:
I miss the late 80's early 90's college radio alternative music. Very tasteful.

 
Agreed. More Connells and Ocean Blue, please.
Posted 7 years ago by FatPants    [ Reply ]
that banana guy is freaking me tha hell out.
 


Posted 7 years ago by nick.pylypiw524    [ Reply ]
I've upped this to a 9.
Posted 7 years ago by Oldfastbowler    [ Reply ]
our reptile god! {#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 7 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]
I keep thinking I am listening to Midnight Oil. Happy either way...{#Yes}
Posted 7 years ago by forthbrdge    [ Reply ]
I miss the late 80's early 90's college radio alternative music. Very tasteful.
Posted 7 years ago by IndyDoug    [ Reply ]
The guitar intro put in loop became my cellphone's ringtone.
Posted 8 years ago by CoYoT51    [ Reply ]
Love, love, love this song.  My favorite Church song. Especially the opening notes... Just saw them in Berkeley (opening for the Psychedelic Furs) and they were fantastic. 
Posted 8 years ago by poetdancer    [ Reply ]
Still touring, still making great music, Marty is on his own; The Church—-most underrated long-standing band in history; rock on mates!
Posted 8 years ago by hakuindude    [ Reply ]
Of the probably hundreds of times I've heard this song, I've never paid close attention to the lyrics.  Wow.  Love it even more.
Posted 8 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
Digan lo que digan, los pelos del culo abrigan. 
Godlike 
Posted 8 years ago by CHuLoYo    [ Reply ]
Such a great song from a great album.
Posted 8 years ago by FatPants    [ Reply ]
Still love it
Posted 8 years ago by JoeHaarlemNL    [ Reply ]
Shame the drummer didn't make an effort. . . 
Posted 8 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
Doesn't get old.  Love this one— makes me wanna dance! {#Bananasplit}
Posted 8 years ago by jameyp    [ Reply ]
                                
                                                          If you come to Tschurtschenthaler
                                                    Come, toure over !  here's our local church
                                                           Bring some flower to Miss Spring
                                                                  Summer Autumn wint'r
                                                      And when arsh kalt wird be her grecious.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
Happy new year!
 
Posted 8 years ago by maurizius    [ Reply ]
La perfection caractérise parfois une chanson idéale, c'est-à-dire un moment musical qui réunit toutes les qualités et n'a pas de défaut.
Posted 8 years ago by Lessard0570    [ Reply ]
Good enough to hear twice in a row {#Music}
Posted 9 years ago by OceanBlue    [ Reply ]
I am a reborn church fan... Man am I getting old.
Posted 9 years ago by Bert7    [ Reply ]
Great Aussie atmosphere.More Church please
Posted 9 years ago by taswegian    [ Reply ]
...Oh oh oh we are on a RP roll.....{#Music}
Posted 9 years ago by Jannne    [ Reply ]
Wow so lucky....walking with my daughter and discussing the lyrics...

 merrysea wrote:
The Church will be playing for free a block from my house during South by Southwest! 
 
 

Posted 9 years ago by hempmandan    [ Reply ]
The Church will be playing for free a block from my house during South by Southwest! 
 
Posted 9 years ago by merrysea    [ Reply ]
One of the best of the 80's!!!
 
Posted 9 years ago by hempmandan    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

This was before Smashing Pumpkins.

 
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 9 years ago by eykel    [ Reply ]
Always bring me back to my CFNY days back in Toronto  :-)
Posted 9 years ago by pontfarrer    [ Reply ]
-
Posted 9 years ago by blotto    [ Reply ]
THE REPTILE AND I....
Posted 9 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
People like it - I do not!
Posted 9 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
has a slight Smashing Pumpkins sound to it
Posted 9 years ago by jocelynsart    [ Reply ]
...their new album was just released last week!..
Posted 10 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
 Vero_Luxemburg wrote:
I am a "child" of the 80s. The church are good, but they will never have the same intensity as other underground bands of that time, like the fields of the nephilim, the sisters of mercy etc. And they sound old nowadays anyway, just like the others :-)
 
...and yet they still continue to play and record, must've not burned out because of their lack of intensity.
Posted 10 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 horstman wrote:

Said the amphibian.
 
{#Lol}
Posted 10 years ago by Xstar    [ Reply ]
I have this cassingle. That is all.
Posted 10 years ago by jkamm14    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
Have I got newts for you - reptiles are cool. Literally :)

 
Said the amphibian.
Posted 10 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
I am a "child" of the 80s. The church are good, but they will never have the same intensity as other underground bands of that time, like the fields of the nephilim, the sisters of mercy etc. And they sound old nowadays anyway, just like the others :-)
Posted 10 years ago by Vero_Luxemburg    [ Reply ]
THIS SONG SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HIT!
Posted 10 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
Have I got newts for you - reptiles are cool. Literally :)
Posted 10 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 tutakea wrote:
perfect example of a song where all the worst things of the 80s come together. absolutely horrible!

 
And you picked THIS song as an example? You don't sound like much fun...take me back, time machine, take me back.....
Posted 10 years ago by EarthMama    [ Reply ]
forgive me for calling you Bob in my post about supreme beings of leisure, bill! :-) hope 2014 is treating you well so far. Truly, as someone who loves music and spent 5 years managing a music store at cetera et cetera you really are a fantastic DJ. Thank you!
Posted 10 years ago by RoxyRoo    [ Reply ]
 prairiedogj wrote:
8 >>> 9
I love it when songs do that. 

 
........... me to 8 >>>> 9
Posted 10 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
 melzabutch wrote:
Bill is it possible to get the Church cover of the Triffids "Wide Open Road" in the rotation.  The Church, or lead singer performed with the Triffids remaining members a few years back when they were inducted into Australian Music hall of Fame.  The original Triffids version is also AWESOME. 

                       

 
Amen
Posted 10 years ago by janac13    [ Reply ]
Very nice classic, and a great exception to the general "late '80s music sucked" rule.
Posted 11 years ago by jbunniii    [ Reply ]
Bill is it possible to get the Church cover of the Triffids "Wide Open Road" in the rotation.  The Church, or lead singer performed with the Triffids remaining members a few years back when they were inducted into Australian Music hall of Fame.  The original Triffids version is also AWESOME. 

                       
Posted 11 years ago by melzabutch    [ Reply ]
Very cool ! ..
Posted 11 years ago by musman    [ Reply ]
25 years later...still ROCKS!
Posted 11 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
perfect example of a song where all the worst things of the 80s come together. absolutely horrible!
Posted 11 years ago by tutakea    [ Reply ]
 lkovathana wrote:
... made for stylishly strutting around in leg warmers, and giant, fried perms.
 
Well done for getting and words stylishly, leg warmers and fried perms in the same sentence. 
Posted 11 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
 pontfarrer wrote:
This song definitely takes me back to my CFNY days .... very cool  :-)

 
True that
 
Posted 11 years ago by slaskey    [ Reply ]
This song definitely takes me back to my CFNY days .... very cool  :-)
Posted 11 years ago by pontfarrer    [ Reply ]
...there's a really silly acoustic swing rendition of this song on el momento seguiente...
Posted 11 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
 lkovathana wrote:
... made for stylishly strutting around in leg warmers, and giant, fried perms.
 
Was that you?
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
takes me back. but not their best!
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
my best group !!!! great!!!
Posted 12 years ago by piripimpo    [ Reply ]
... made for stylishly strutting around in leg warmers, and giant, fried perms.
Posted 12 years ago by lkovathana    [ Reply ]
Really nice flow-song.
Posted 12 years ago by AlexPyattaev    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:

{#Clap} Yep, reptiles are cool. Literally.

 
Yes, "THE REPTILES AND YOU"
Posted 12 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]

ESPRIT MISSING!

No catchy melody!


Posted 12 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
It sure is nice to hear something from these guys besides Under the Milky Way  {#Angel}
Posted 12 years ago by drsteevo    [ Reply ]
 vit wrote:
After hanging out with reptiles for awhile now I can say that this song's name should be changed to "Human."
 
The Lizard Community—again paying its respects to the late, lamented Lizard King—agrees. And thanks for dropping by. We should hang more.
Posted 12 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
8 >>> 9
I love it when songs do that. 
Posted 12 years ago by prairiedogj    [ Reply ]
Solid 10.
Posted 12 years ago by jkhandy    [ Reply ]
Awesome! 10.
Posted 12 years ago by micki    [ Reply ]
This track is at least a 9. One of the least "forced" sounding albums of the time. Laid back but not sloppy. One of my top ten albums of all time!
Posted 12 years ago by dave3ld    [ Reply ]
 nicknt wrote:
The comparison between The Church and INXS is ridiculous. The Church are the masters of Aussie psychedelia, with dozens of beautifully crafted songs. Starfish is one of the best alternative records ever.
 
And though this person was kind enough not to mention INXS INXSUCKED!
Posted 12 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
The comparison between The Church and INXS is ridiculous. The Church are the masters of Aussie psychedelia, with dozens of beautifully crafted songs. Starfish is one of the best alternative records ever.
Posted 12 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]