XTC -Easter Theatre

"Easter Theatre" is a song by Andy Partridge. It appeared on and was released as a single for the 1999 album Apple Venus Volume 1.

[@benprice62]

Learned about this gem on strong songs podcast. Thanks Kirk!

[@Maglude]

Ah, I see it's also stuck in your head after that episode!

[@lunekitten]

happy easter theatre day everyone

[@daveoh13]

people who don't know about xtc really don't know what they are missing!

[@richwake8647]

Breathtaking.

[@thekingsservant1793]

One of the greatest all time bands....what a catalog of songs and albums....breathtaking. Been listening since Drums and Wires and have loved everything so much.....probably my favorite band of all time. You can put their music up against anything it's so good and for so many albums and songs. I'm not sure if I've mentioned how much I love this band...... since 1979....now I am 500 years old but I still love this band today. Most music falls away. Not this....and I STILL can't believe they were not so much huger than they were, with all this talent and all these incredible songs. They should be billionaires. Gold to me.....

[@absolutelypositively]

Well said King’s Servant! Well said indeed! 👏🏻

[@andr333s]

⁰ppppppppppppp00

[@andr333s]

⁰ppp

[@tamerry1]

Ditto!! (The Kings Servant) just what you said!!

[@no_talking]

I think they were too far ahead of their time

[@kevinmccabe8313]

Breathtakingly beautiful and sacred song, my favourite XTC song....

[@jasonwest2297]

In my thirty five years on this Earth, i've come across two songs that I consider perfect. Acadian Driftwood by The Band, and this one. Absolutely enchanting.

[@richdelgado3405]

"Buds will laugh and burst, racing to be first." Freaking genius.

[@MythosTheGreat]

Have you got any idea what this song is about?

[@richdelgado3405]

@@MythosTheGreat I believe so. It's basically a song about how the earth "rebirths" each spring. Every line is a reference to springtime: critters frolicking, animals gamboling, new growth emerging from the earth. It's a paean to springtime.

[@MythosTheGreat]

@@richdelgado3405 yeah I thought it was along the lines of that.. its a really great song

[@waterloo13]

@@MythosTheGreat Actually I did not have a real clue until I stumbled on this, where Andy explains it all. Fascinaring stuff! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jma0d51tor6GgsU

[@KingMob.]

Great lyrics... about Spring.

[@gardenvariety9957]

Gives me chills every time

[@aa-leagueadmin5744]

Same here. This is pretty much the pinnacle of music for me.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Came to grab this for a Facebook-share , Easter 2022. It’s still brilliant. ☮️

[@resistor27]

Ditto.

[@tinniswood2577]

One of my "must hear" Easter songs.

[@g_ggle-sect.]

I'd love to hear some of your other "must-hear" Easter songs.

[@shane-porter]

I’m here in 2020 to post a critically acclaimed comment. And it is (with great musical insight that I say that this song is) fucking brilliant.

[@davidguilfoyle]

That comment made me laugh, but it is entirely accurate!

[@stevenfullman5646]

I’m here in 24 to confirm your insight: this song is indeed fucking brilliant.

[@amandalust2221]

One thing I really love about XTC is their journey and how it shows through their music. Their whole lives are put before us and the variants of genre and era are like chapters in a book-I love them so much. I’ve learned a lot from them. This song really reminds me of that, it’s so sensitive and beautiful but it’s still XTC-Even if things change around us, we must not lose the sense of self and sometimes we gotta let things change us too. It’s really such an amazing and complex thing❤️❤️❤️

[@gatasucia5973]

beautiful...sublime...breathtaking

[@RaysTrack]

Country lanes, red phone boxes, dodgy cars - you couldn't get more British than this. Exceptional.

[@andrewrosen6508]

One amazing song, a watershed finish. Precious.

[@ianmcardle8519]

Mr Partridge never ceases to amaze me. Just as I thought I'd heard XTC's best, I heard this.

[@Xldldoom0]

@GxV great reason to. They’re all fantastic. Personally, my fav is Black Sea. But this and Skylarking are joint second, with a very close third being Nonsuch.

[@aa-leagueadmin5744]

They never went bad. They just kept getting better. Bloody awesome. Don't know if any other artists reached these heights...

[@davidrose1986]

I was 13 when my mum got this album from Andy's Records in 1999. Absolutely love this track, so many happy memories.

[@andyisdead]

Gold sun rolls around Chocolate nipple brown Tumble from your arms Like the ground your breasts swell Land awake from sleep Hares will kick and leap Flowers climb erect Smiling from the moist kiss of her rainbow mouth Stage left Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk Stage right Now the son has died, the father can be born Stand up If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke New life, we'd applaud her new life Odin mounts the tree Bleeds for you and me Splashing on the lamb Gamboling with spring step Buds will laugh and burst Racing to be first Turning all the soil As the prompter's fingers through her spinning script Stage left Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk Stage right Now the son has died, the father can be born Stand up If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke New life, we'd applaud her new life Easter... in her bonnet Easter... in her hair Easter... are the ribbons She ties everywhere Stage left Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk Stage right Now the son has died, the father can be born Stand up If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke In her bonnet Easter... everywhere Easter...

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

Had to come here today.

[@nowisnownowismark8901]

So rarely is beautiful melody matched by beautiful poetry

[@itchyego]

Andy... for the Peace on Earth... Please make more music.... it's the Band Aid to our little Human bruises! :)

[@tinfoilhatter]

there's-no-other-way, haha, the blur is arguably pretty frickin' awesome, i must say!

[@warmswarm]

@@tinfoilhatter - What are you blabbering on about?

[@tinfoilhatter]

@@warmswarm the blur, mate! ''.. yer takin'-the-fun, out-of-ev'rything,,''

[@spillledcarryout]

I just really hope they continue. XTC is too valuable. This song is brave, full bodied, and elegant. It pulls at your soul and, for me at least, reminds of me of who is important in my life.

[@absolutelypositively]

As always, a cacophony of lovely harmonies, melodies, instruments and interpretations to dwell on. A fine album to close out the 20th century.

[@ArbeiterInnenlieder]

And still not surpassed after 24 years.

[@rundoetx]

Awesome. I love ths band and have forever.

[@rundoetx]

The Apple Venus ablums are my fav XTC and thats saying a lot!!!

[@elysi2]

Epic poetry! Just beautiful.

[@hedgefundshyster..3241]

XTC should be on the school curriculum....

[@tinfoilhatter]

they put the class back in class, and added others as well! and they're still doin' that! they reinvented new-shaped-wheels of perpetual-motion that'll never stop! outrageous! that's puttin' it mildly, mate!

[@fractuss]

Damn I love this.

[@whatsername1229]

this is so pretty 🥺 i hear heavy beach boys influence here

[@samhollingsworth8812]

My favourite song ever...

[@philipmurphy2]

A good song for Easter.

[@joeleigh-corrigan7762]

Andy Partridge is a flippant genius.

[@rachelmalmin8007]

If anyone is here today.... happy Easter :-)

[@cherilyntucker6508]

Beautiful song!!!! ♥️

[@pattardn]

Beautiful is all I can say!

[@laomcaelus]

the grip that this song has on me is perpetual

[@michaelbrace8220]

get chills every time

[@absolving]

bass at 3:25 always gets me

[@secallen]

Ditto. His bass and vocals are beautiful on this track.

[@tinfoilhatter]

@Eric Menig heck, colin's the best , alright, along with his mates that is! only he could've did what he done, and i still am diggin' that in the third decade after the turn of the frickin' century, that's no accident, mate!

[@no_talking]

This is a damn good song

[@BlueRidgeParkway]

amazing every time I listen to it! Thanks for posting :-)

[@soph1e]

Evil begets evil. It grows. It transmutes, so that sometimes you cannot see that the evil in the world began as the evil in your own home

[@SlowVillageBand]

this band could have been the biggest act on earth

[@jamesw158]

Partridge had stage fright

[@SlowVillageBand]

@@jamesw158 i know, that's why i'm sayin

[@user-nn3ou3sq1k]

great song!

[@Dedage]

WOW!!!

[@Jonnysonone]

Greatest thing they ever recorded. Everything is ok when I listen tot his.

[@tinfoilhatter]

no frickin' way, mate! they did so many! fruit nut is right up there with dear god and 'bungalow'! hahaha.. and too many others to blame!! humble daisy was the weirdest thing i'd ever heard, and it was so bold, at the time, i mean it's still frickin' hard to comprehend, the sheer novelty of this crap!! remarkable, to put it very politely! their body of work is growing and breathing still, unlike that of any other so-called act! they added more than a few classes to the idea of class!

[@cleverbobby]

Strongly disagree. The greatest thing ANYONE ever recorded.

[@somethingnice7426]

Amazing.

[@anikaesque5494]

New favorite song!!!

[@he962]

It's so orchestral, pagan, introspective, uplifting. Is it the best XTC track?

[@christopher9152]

It's in the top three or four for me for sure

[@clarkem4119]

If you like this one, check out Chalkhills & Children.

[@markcorey7917]

@@clarkem4119 "You're never too far..."

[@jayruby3645]

Whenever I listen to it, yes.

[@hecubot]

Andy has implied as much.

[@sung-ryulkim6590]

such an underrated song...

[@Ursulauu]

Listening to 'Easter Theatre' on a White Easter Monday.

[@martincarns2952]

F....k what's up .where did this emerge.

[@dftdty]

Welcome to XTC. I'm new too!

[@dynamicdragoness]

masterpiece

[@cosmicdrifter287]

xtc gold.

[@michaelbrace8220]

also a good song

[@HHocker]

At least it's upbeat. At least. Always is every time. Always a Good song.

[@AgentHetfield]

Happy Easter! Enjoy the bonfires, make love, have a great time!

[@charlottevincent4096]

best album ever

[@tinfoilhatter]

where the heck did this come from! and what the heck-is-it! i like it, whatever it is, i always did, since over twenty years already, and it still sounds weird and new to me now, quite a long departure, so to speak! and i hope he's happy now! where do you go, what do you do when you've already proved yer the greatest songwriter, recording artist, band-leader and iconoclast, for too many decades already... ugh... buy his merch! buy me some, too! sabbadini can tell ya where and how, right-right? respecto!!

[@tbwatch88]

I think the change at round 2:20 and ON is one of the most beautiful musical passages ever recorded. is that hyperbolic? no. don't think so. hahaha. xtc and on and on.

[@soph1e]

I keep rewinding to hear Andy’s “hey”

[@DanielColageo]

Soooooo. Good. Eeeeaaaaasteeerrrrrr :)

[@thepyschedelicproject3033]

Happy Easter

[@tiriri64]

I love it. It sounds like Martha my dear.

[@user-gi9rs1mu2i]

ロックバンドの到達点の曲だと　思う　　良すぎる

[@bonzodog6872]

This is inspired

[@bunnyfish714]

happy easter 2017 everyone

[@hervemertes2524]

Le grand Andy Partridge, dépositaire avec qqs autres de la pop anglaise...A quand un retour d'XTC ?....

[@markushofer4874]

I have this Cd. Love it! Gtx Markus

[@jonathanhall9478]

Like a slightly more subversive Paul McCartney

[@tinfoilhatter]

like a wannabe ringo-starr-type character, you mean! ha ha ha!!

[@warmswarm]

@@tinfoilhatter - No, I'm sure he doesn't mean that. Ha ha ha!! Is there something wrong with you?

[@tinfoilhatter]

@@warmswarm yeah, i lost too many xtc cd's, mate!

[@deirdradepalma6922]

Maybe

[@garycostello2949]

Paul has never really been subversive except in the Beatles. XTC were huge Beatles fans so there's that. It's funny as Paul in turn was influenced by XTC as My Brave Face sounds like XTC

[@coopercooper9062]

Epic

[@bradhunter7131]

Will Easter Theatre be available on Spotify. Such an epic track needs to be out there for the generations.

[@uii_uii]

できないみたいです😢

[@andrewg984]

: Will there be a 2nd-Coming ? With what we know today in 2019!?-

[@cosmicdrifter287]

may i be so bold and ask if this is possibly the best xtc tune of them all?

[@ArbeiterInnenlieder]

One of them certainly.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

@@ArbeiterInnenlieder Good timing as well.

[@resistor27]

There’s too many.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

@@resistor27 You"re right,i give up the rankings.

[@j.prt.979]

It is

[@hidetanaka1116]

α-STATIONの、NICE POP RADIOから来ました〜〜！

[@MythosTheGreat]

Why does this song give me a weird feeling

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

It makes me feel like I’m winter and I’m being attacked and overcome by the onslaught of new plant growth that comes with spring. In the best, most transcendent way possible.

[@g_ggle-sect.]

The feeling you get is of ascension.

[@ladycplum]

Maybe it's because there was such a roaring trade in the Apple Venus demos in the years before it was finally released, but I actually prefer the demo version to the album one.

[@spillledcarryout]

Here is where XTC outgrows Beatles😊

[@colinwilkes8957]

Brilliant song ,has a wicker man soundtrack feel to it (and that was brilliant too ).rip Paul Giovanni.

[@puntagordy]

XTC fans. XTC ten feet tall group on facebook. Join.

[@gregbors8364]

You can hear the Beatles influence, particularly Sgt. Pepper

[@zTokiz]

Lyrics: Copied from Genius.com Gold sun rolls around Chocolate nipple brown Tumble from your arms Like the ground, your breasts swell Land awake from sleep Hares will kick and leap Flowers climb erect Smiling from the moist kiss of her rainbow mouth Stage left (Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk) Stage right (Now the son has died, the father can be born) Stand up (If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke) New life (We'd applaud a new life) Odin mounts the tree Bleeds for you and me Splashing on the lamb Gamboling with spring's step Buds will laugh and burst Racing to be first Turning all the soil As the promptress' fingers through her spinning script Stage left (Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk) Stage right (Now the son has died, the father can be born) Stand up (If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke) New life (We'd applaud a new life) Easter in her bonnet Easter in her hair Easter are the ribbons She tied everywhere Stage left (Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk) Stage right (Now the son has died, the father can be born) Stand up (If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke) New life (Hey) Stage left (Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk) Stage right (Now the son has died, the father can be born) Stand up (If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke) In her bonnet (Easter ) Everywhere Easter Easter Easter Easter

[@vitor20249]

i read, aclaimed for the critics, think, another shit.. was right

[@debralarue2596]

What a song. The Beatles could never write this.

[@MissAstorDancer]

That's hilarious! This could not be any more derivative of The Beatles!!

[@garycostello2949]

@@MissAstorDancer Andy would laugh himself silly at that comment. The Beatles are his idols

[@MissAstorDancer]

@@garycostello2949 - NO! Really? smh

[@spillledcarryout]

This is much less egotistical than the Beat us.

[@samjones3175]

@@MissAstorDancerIt’s heavily influenced by them, yeah. But for my money as a song this towers over anything The Beatles ever wrote. It’s like they took the source material and perfected it.