Body Electric

The Sisters of Mercy's song 'Body Electric' delves into a dystopian vision of modern society, where technology and human disconnection intertwine. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a world dominated by impersonal communication and a sense of entrapment. The repeated lines 'Through the cables and the underground now / The faceless breathless calls' evoke a sense of anonymity and isolation, suggesting a society where human interactions are mediated through technology, stripping away personal connections and emotions.

The reference to 'babel, Sensurround' alludes to a chaotic and overwhelming environment, reminiscent of the biblical Tower of Babel, where language and communication break down. This metaphor highlights the confusion and disarray in a world where technology has taken over, creating a sensory overload that numbs the individuals within it. The phrase 'This place is death with walls' further emphasizes the suffocating and lifeless nature of this environment, where physical and emotional walls trap the inhabitants.

The imagery of 'acid on the floor so she walk on the ceiling' and 'the body electric flashes on the bathroom wall' introduces a surreal and disorienting element to the song. These lines suggest a distorted reality where normalcy is upended, and the boundaries between the physical and the digital blur. The 'idiot children' calling from the corners symbolize the lost and disconnected youth, further emphasizing the theme of alienation. The closing lines, 'You reap what you sow / Put your face to the ground / Here come the marching men / Your colours wrapped around,' hint at a sense of inevitability and consequence, as well as a call to face the reality of the world they have created.