‘She Sells Sanctuary’ is a song by British rock band the Cult. It is from their second studio album, Love (1985), and was released as a single on 13 May 1985, peaking at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart in July of the same year. In July 2020, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded the song a gold certification for sales and streams of over 400,000. In January 1993, the song was re-released as "Sanctuary MCMXCIII" and experienced chart success once more, matching its original peak on the UK Singles Chart and entering the top 10 in New Zealand.
One of the earliest songs written for what would become the Love album, ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ was first performed during the Dreamtime tour in the fall of 1984, and would become the last song to be recorded with the Cult's longtime drummer, Nigel Preston, who was fired from the band shortly after its release. According to Cult guitarist Billy Duffy, the iconic introduction effects were the result of all the guitar effects pedals being on at the same time.
In an interview, Ian Astbury, front-man of The Cult said, "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." After its release in 1985, the single reached number 36 during a six-week run on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart in early 1986.
Label – Beggars BanquetSongwriters – Ian Astbury, Billy Duffy
Producer – Steve Brown
SONG LYRICS
[Instrumental Intro][Verse 1]
Oh, the heads that turn
Make my back burn
And those heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn
[Verse 2]
The sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive
And the sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive, keeps me alive
[Chorus]
The world
And the world turns around
The world and the world, yeah
The world drags me down
[Verse 3]
Oh, the heads that turn
Make my back burn
And those heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn, yeah
[Interlude]
Yeah-hey-hey-hey-hey
Yeah-hey-hey-hey
[Verse 4]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Bridge]
Ahhhh...
Yeah-hey-hey-hey
Yeah-hey-hey-hey
[Chorus]
And the world (Yeah-hey-hey-hey)
The world turns around (Yeah-hey-hey-hey)
And the world and the world (Yeah-hey-hey-hey)
The world drags me down (Yeah-hey-hey-hey)
And the world (Yeah-hey-hey-hey)
Yeah, the world turns around (Yeah-hey-hey-hey)
And the world and the world (Yeah-hey-hey-hey)
The world drags me down (Yeah-hey-hey-hey)
[Outro]
Yeah-hey-hey-hey
Yeah-hey-hey-hey
Sanctuary, hey
Sanctuary, hey