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The Cult — She Sells Sanctuary
Album: Love
Avg rating:
7.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 5660









Released: 1985
Length: 4:11
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Oh the heads that turn
Make my back burn
Oh the heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn

The sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive
And the sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive, keeps a man alive

And the world, and the world
And the world turns around
The world, and the world, yeah
The world drags me down

Well the heads that turn
Make my back burn
And the heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn, yeah
Yeah-ah-ah-ah
Yeah-ah-ah-ah

The fire in your eyes
Keeps me alive
And the fire in your eyes
Keeps me alive

I'm sure in her you'll find
The sanctuary
I'm sure in her you'll find
The sanctuary

And the world
The world turns around
And the world, and the world
The world drags me down

And the world, and the world, and the world
The world turns around
And the world, and the world, and the world, and the world
The world drags me down

Hey-yeah-ah-ah
Hey-yeah-ah-ah

And the world
And the world turns around
And the world, and the world
Yeah, the world drags me down

And the world
Yeah, the world turns around
And the world, and the world
The world drags me down

Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Comments (861)add comment
If I could be 80s front man it would be Ian.
Posted 1 month ago by jeffwyoung1982    [ Reply ]
This was once a clue in a pub quiz I was at.  The whole pub insisted they stop the quiz and play this all the way through and then restart the quiz.   
Posted 3 months ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
That. One. Downbeat. ❤️
Posted 4 months ago by rockdock    [ Reply ]
My first 10 ! this song reminds me so much...thanks RP !
Posted 4 months ago by kalopin    [ Reply ]
 kennymac wrote:

What a great retelling of the Olt Testament real life story of Hosea and his unfaithful wife.


I've always thought the lyrics were pretty meaningless so had to google if there was more to it, doesn't seem so.


Ian Astbury, frontman of The Cult: "What's the song about? Sex. Plain and simple, it's about sex. I've had sex and I'm very proud of that fact."
Posted 5 months ago by SuperWeh    [ Reply ]
 xerces wrote:

One of those songs you HAVE to crank up... 


YES!!  ...to ELEVEN!!  
Posted 5 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
One of those songs you HAVE to crank up... 
Posted 6 months ago by xerces    [ Reply ]
Just the perfect alt rock song. Power, control, just gets the adrenaline going 
Posted 7 months ago by Timmer7    [ Reply ]
Everything about this classic is gold: the opening guitar riff, the pounding drums, the chiming punctuations, the impassioned vocals, the minimal lyrics, and of course the video. To echo pretty much every other poster: can't not crank this to 11. 
Posted 8 months ago by siqbal    [ Reply ]
 Harry_Tuttle_99 wrote:
No Way this is from 1985!!! 

When did I get so old?!?  




By adding the intervening 39 years (at the current count, 2024) to your (and mine) ages!
Went quick, didn't it!
.
Still rocking? Yea, me too, and gonna keep on rocking, till i can't. Then i'll be getting one of those chairs made for doing it sitting down...!
Posted 8 months ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
 KPC1 wrote:

Shit - I'm @ work and can;t blast it!!!!



Oh No!  You can't listen to this and NOT blast - I'll do it for you.. side order of bleeding ears?
Posted 8 months ago by hellsgardener    [ Reply ]
Shit - I'm @ work and can;t blast it!!!!
Posted 8 months ago by KPC1    [ Reply ]
about as 10sey as 10s get
Posted 8 months ago by salice    [ Reply ]
What a great retelling of the Olt Testament real life story of Hosea and his unfaithful wife.
Posted 11 months ago by kennymac    [ Reply ]
 moocray wrote:

Just saw The Cult at Palms in Vegas last month. Ian Astbury voice was as amazing as ever. Had opportunity to meet him after the show and I appreciated his humble demeanor: very open, appreciative of his fans, and inspirational. Asked him the backstory for "She Sells Sanctuary" and he said "that it's better to keep it as a secret to maintain the allure." Totally agree with him .



You lucky ducky..!!
Posted 11 months ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
Just saw The Cult at Palms in Vegas last month. Ian Astbury voice was as amazing as ever. Had opportunity to meet him after the show and I appreciated his humble demeanor: very open, appreciative of his fans, and inspirational. Asked him the backstory for "She Sells Sanctuary" and he said "that it's better to keep it as a secret to maintain the allure." Totally agree with him .
Posted 11 months ago by moocray    [ Reply ]
This is one of those that just has to be played LOUD!!!!
Posted 11 months ago by daveysprocket    [ Reply ]
Best guitar opening ever
Posted 11 months ago by MrDill    [ Reply ]
Because of this I bought the vinyl, and became disapointed.
Posted 11 months ago by Pitjes    [ Reply ]
All time banger. 💯
Posted 1 year ago by Marlowe    [ Reply ]
Always liked the guitar sound on this track, especially the opening riff. Remember hearing this one on the little radio I had at the time.
Posted 1 year ago by bowerp64    [ Reply ]
Perfect song for a beautiful, summer afternoon on a Friday.  Turn it up!
Posted 1 year ago by Jayesea    [ Reply ]
This is one of those fantastic albums. Exceptional production
Posted 1 year ago by tm    [ Reply ]
 melzabutch wrote:




Dudes dancing made this video. Those boots!
Posted 1 year ago by igotitmade2k    [ Reply ]
crazy intro! love it!!
Posted 1 year ago by carmelmik    [ Reply ]
Please play more of The Cult👌
Posted 1 year ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
i will always love ian's voice. love removal machine is probably my fav, but this is great, too!

i saw the cult live around 1989/1990 opened up for metallica. the crowd was so pumped for metallica that they boo'ed the cult off the stage. i was pissed. i was there 3rd row to see the cult and got to see/hear about 3 songs before the band gave up. never saw anything like it.  
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 aspicer wrote:

As much a "10" as any great rock song I do believe! On a bad day maybe a "9"




I Agree!  Thanx RP!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
As much a "10" as any great rock song I do believe! On a bad day maybe a "9"
Posted 1 year ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Super song. Many thanks RP.
Posted 1 year ago by flozer68    [ Reply ]
 S-curvy wrote:

Just need to get the dial…up…to….11




Posted 1 year ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
tight drumming, tight production, tight rock - love it. absolutely class when in the car and windows down (or no windows!)
Posted 1 year ago by jkforde    [ Reply ]
Classic 80s rock!!! 
Posted 1 year ago by mgkiwi    [ Reply ]
Saw them live, opening for The Cure in San Francisco many years ago. Their stage attitude just felt cocky to me and they smashed up their instruments , Who-style, at the end of their set. Always left a  bad taste in my mouth for this band.
Posted 2 years ago by TallCreative1    [ Reply ]
 easmann wrote:

Distill desolation, despair, defiance, hope, and joy, into a few lean lines. Express it all with riotous abandon. Infuse it with infectious passion and inflect it with a hint of beauty. 
That’s what they achieved with this magnificent song. 



You're a gifted writer. It takes talent to do proper justice to translate one medium to another medium - in this case music to text. Well done. I agree.
Posted 2 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]


Posted 2 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
Posted 2 years ago by nelamvr6    [ Reply ]
 Silvervanman wrote:


I get tired of it pretty quickly, this is twice in one day


exactly, this is still a staple of "classic rock radio" and overplayed
Posted 2 years ago by richgoose    [ Reply ]
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

Unless you never liked it from the beginning.


minority opinion, but yea.
Posted 2 years ago by richgoose    [ Reply ]
one hit - overplayed
Posted 2 years ago by richgoose    [ Reply ]
BHTM's "Broken Hearted Savior" > The Cult's "She Sells Sanctuary", just now.  Best segue ever!
Posted 2 years ago by HowieRoll    [ Reply ]
 burnin up. 
Posted 2 years ago by aneal300    [ Reply ]
 jimlandwehr2582 wrote:

Always a turner-upper.



And again and again and again...!!!
Posted 2 years ago by johnfiva    [ Reply ]
 bdwhitepm wrote:

Dig deeper in to this album!  This is the "Stairway to Heaven" track, but this album is the best thing this group ever put out.  I still love it for a long drive!  I think they switched producers after this album and became more "metal" and less "alt." which lost some fans but this is tops!



Downhill after Love. This album is a story, must listen to it all in order, in one go.

A masterpiece :-)
Posted 2 years ago by Timmer7    [ Reply ]
 dalida wrote:

i realy love this song. it's one of those songs you never get tired off.


Unless you never liked it from the beginning.
Posted 2 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
No Way this is from 1985!!! 

When did I get so old?!?  

Posted 2 years ago by Harry_Tuttle_99    [ Reply ]

In Solihull you'll find sanctuary
Posted 2 years ago by Jim.reespotter    [ Reply ]
Always liked this one.  Never really noticed how repetitive the lyrics were...

Still like it.   
Posted 2 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
 TonyFoxcranham wrote:

Who ?



No, The Cult..... [snicker]
Posted 2 years ago by nottheusual1    [ Reply ]
9 >> 10. Who am I gaming? It really is a "10!"   
Posted 2 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Who ?
Posted 2 years ago by TonyFoxcranham    [ Reply ]
VERY 80'S
  
Posted 2 years ago by bennie482    [ Reply ]
Posted 2 years ago by Luumu    [ Reply ]
I saw The Cult live. They were AWESOME. Just awesome. Not sure if it would be the same 35 years later.
Posted 2 years ago by Flying_Donut    [ Reply ]
Excellent!   Even better NOW in FLAC w/ great studio phones, amp & DAC!  Thanx RP!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Just need to get the dial…up…to….11
Posted 2 years ago by S-curvy    [ Reply ]
I love this tune!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 dalida wrote:

i realy love this song. it's one of those songs you never get tired off.



I get tired of it pretty quickly, this is twice in one day
Posted 2 years ago by Silvervanman    [ Reply ]
Absolute Banger
Posted 3 years ago by JEC1982    [ Reply ]
 joanferva wrote:

Grew up in the 80s disliking the sound of this band and Ian's voice, just to rediscover them 30 years later. I feel bad for the time I wasted while they were already making history...



Nice. That happens to me a lot on this channel. I'm trying to stay particularly open to it now.  
Posted 3 years ago by AndyR    [ Reply ]
One of the Great voices of Rock...
Posted 3 years ago by jcbenten994    [ Reply ]
This was "our song", and we requested it one night at a country bar in a rural area.  And...they played it !! (but the dance floor got a lot quieter...just the two of us)
Posted 3 years ago by xray38    [ Reply ]
Sorry mate, what?
Posted 3 years ago by MattRudely    [ Reply ]
Dig deeper in to this album!  This is the "Stairway to Heaven" track, but this album is the best thing this group ever put out.  I still love it for a long drive!  I think they switched producers after this album and became more "metal" and less "alt." which lost some fans but this is tops!
Posted 3 years ago by bdwhitepm    [ Reply ]
 CoYoT51 wrote:

As boring as Tom Petty.




Totally agree - i.e. not at all boring.
7, bordering on 8 here, just like much of Petty.
Posted 3 years ago by IvanTheMediocre    [ Reply ]
I can think of  many descriptions of this awesome piece of work but never boring! This is in my all time top 10 songs ever
Posted 3 years ago by Johnw1    [ Reply ]
 CoYoT51 wrote:

As boring as Tom Petty.



Agreed - Yawn.
Posted 3 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
Another band straight outta Bratfud, from my time there in the 80s. Others were NMA and The Sisters of Mercy. I wish I'd realised at the time how lucky I was to have such great bands around.
Posted 3 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
An all time fav straight up, no BS, rock song.
Posted 3 years ago by DigitalJer    [ Reply ]
As boring as Tom Petty.
Posted 3 years ago by CoYoT51    [ Reply ]
Strange confession. Moved to the suburbs where they have block parties. I have a recurring dream where I am on a makeshift stage mid-block with a mic on a stand in my hand and an acoustic guitar, belting out the lyrics to this glorious song and power-strumming just that one chord every once in a while (you know, for street cred) and the moms and kids (and begrudgingly dads) are going crazy. Then I wake up.
Posted 3 years ago by jwolf8609    [ Reply ]
 DanielHLloyd wrote:

I hear the influence but I think The Cult were way more edgy.
 

Even though I like The Killers, I totally agree with your comment. The Cult were edgy and more raw.
Posted 3 years ago by maboleth    [ Reply ]
 dalida wrote:
i realy love this song. it's one of those songs you never get tired off.
 
Representing 999 other people I can only agree totally, it's like no memory effect every time!
Posted 3 years ago by whatsupdude    [ Reply ]
 geonuine wrote:
  It's The Killers from another decade 
 
I hear the influence but I think The Cult were way more edgy.
Posted 3 years ago by DanielHLloyd    [ Reply ]
  It's The Killers from another decade 
Posted 3 years ago by geonuine    [ Reply ]
Grew up in the 80s disliking the sound of this band and Ian's voice, just to rediscover them 30 years later. I feel bad for the time I wasted while they were already making history...
Posted 3 years ago by joanferva    [ Reply ]
Always amazes me how he makes these essentially meaningless lyrics sound so badass and meaningful. 
Posted 3 years ago by SuperWeh    [ Reply ]
My favourite!!!!
A  great blend of different eras in rock music!
Posted 3 years ago by salupi    [ Reply ]
Pure Rocks!
Posted 3 years ago by Internazionale    [ Reply ]
Always a turner-upper.
Posted 3 years ago by jimlandwehr2582    [ Reply ]
 cmagri1 wrote:
My favourite from The Cult! Danced to it very hard in the 80s
 
Boppin' in 2020
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
Mis-heard lyrics. I always thought it was something about losing a "paperback". 
Posted 3 years ago by ri_shelton    [ Reply ]
In the 80s Rock and Roll was a joke; all hair bands and bs........until this album dropped. 
Posted 3 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 bdwhitepm wrote:
Bill:  Please dig DEEEPER in to this release.  I still bust this CD out for road trips.  This song has become so overplayed (for me at least) and there is so much more to this album.  

For me, The Cult never eclipsed this album.  This is thier masterwork.
 
Disagree - it's good but I could listen to Electric every day! 
Posted 3 years ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
A solid rockin 10 plus from the open highway bikers
Posted 3 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
 Svetty wrote:
Yawn
 

Stop it! You're making me yawn.
Posted 4 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
 bdwhitepm wrote:


Oh now I have to find it!
 

The video is late-80s OTT but it's fun. This song is permanently epic. 
Posted 4 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Bill:  Please dig DEEEPER in to this release.  I still bust this CD out for road trips.  This song has become so overplayed (for me at least) and there is so much more to this album.  

For me, The Cult never eclipsed this album.  This is thier masterwork.
Posted 4 years ago by bdwhitepm    [ Reply ]
 Grayson wrote:
OMG. Just watched the video for this for the first time (I'm totally 80s/Walkman-only gen). Really wish I'd never done that. Liked the song looong time, but yeah, once you see you can't un-see.

 
 

Oh now I have to find it!
Posted 4 years ago by bdwhitepm    [ Reply ]
OMG. Just watched the video for this for the first time (I'm totally 80s/Walkman-only gen). Really wish I'd never done that. Liked the song looong time, but yeah, once you see you can't un-see.

 
Posted 4 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
YES
Posted 4 years ago by Flying_Donut    [ Reply ]
Uprating everything today, not sure what that's about! music keeps me alive 
Posted 4 years ago by mmartinwhite1938    [ Reply ]
One for the ages !!
Posted 4 years ago by johnnycache    [ Reply ]
It always reminds me of U2 and how in my humble opinion these guys are better.
Posted 4 years ago by Motolorax    [ Reply ]
 Svetty wrote:
Yawn
 

Your loss
Posted 4 years ago by NoisyMiner    [ Reply ]
Yawn
Posted 4 years ago by Svetty    [ Reply ]
Sing it Ian👍
Posted 4 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
reminds me of Big Country.  
Posted 4 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
I've never understood all the comparisons to Jim Morrison's vocal stylings.
Posted 4 years ago by marcet    [ Reply ]
Oh yeah....
Posted 4 years ago by newbolddrive    [ Reply ]
“Distill desolation and despair, defiance, hope and joy, into a few lean lines. Express it all with riotous abandon. Infuse it with infectious passion and inflect it with a hint of beauty. That’s what they achieved with this magnificent song. “ 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻this!👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻
Posted 4 years ago by keenevision    [ Reply ]
 jp33442 wrote:
Another overplayed song NEXT
 
Two times in thirty days is overplayed?  SHEESH!  I'd hate to think what the frequency for "just right" would be...
Posted 4 years ago by SpencerAR    [ Reply ]
Another overplayed song NEXT
Posted 4 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
Just the best....
Posted 4 years ago by Timmer7    [ Reply ]
Bloody amazing band and lots of happy memories.
Posted 5 years ago by ukrainian    [ Reply ]
She sells (no) deep philosophy.
Posted 5 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
When this came out I'd always make it out on to the dance floor. And I really don't dance. But just had to move to this one
Posted 5 years ago by ToddyWoddy    [ Reply ]
Distill desolation, despair, defiance, hope, and joy, into a few lean lines.
Express it all with riotous abandon. 
Infuse it with infectious passion and inflect it with a hint of beauty. 
That’s what they achieved with this magnificent song. 
Posted 5 years ago by easmann    [ Reply ]
Opening of Layer Cake!
Posted 5 years ago by ai63    [ Reply ]
10^(infinity)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just saw them a couple months ago, still kicking azz!
Posted 5 years ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
NFS
Posted 5 years ago by minscboo    [ Reply ]
Play "Fire Woman", Bill!           
Posted 5 years ago by M209T    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
So many years I did not hear this one. Nice one!
Posted 5 years ago by iespiau    [ Reply ]
 cmagri1 wrote:
My favourite from The Cult! Danced to it very hard in the 80s
 

Ah yes, so very hard. And we even requested it at a country bar..and they even played it, so we danced like maniacs, and everyone looked on with a "what the....?" expression.
Posted 5 years ago by xray38    [ Reply ]
Ahhh, this was 'our song' during our early days and engagement. (it really was) Soft, melodic, soothing.  But a telling sign of things to come.
Posted 5 years ago by xray38    [ Reply ]
I LOVE how they use that acoustic guitar as a lead.  What other rock band does that?
Posted 6 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
 melzabutch wrote:

gif of The Cult's singer dancing
 




gif of professional wrestler Randy 'Macho Man' Savage saying "Oooh Yeah!"

Posted 6 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Ah, the Cult. Thanks, RP!
Posted 6 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
One of the most underrated bands EVER, and this is one of their best.  Thanks Bill!
Posted 6 years ago by balinor    [ Reply ]