On Tuesday, I featured my enthusiastic review of Florence + The Machine‘s Lungs, which has been playing from my iPod close to non-stop, with only an occasional break. That same day, it was announced that Lungs was one of 12 albums nominated for the 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize, affirmation that other musicheads have been similarly moved.

Among the album’s 13 tracks is a single cover. Florence Welch sets her sights on “You Got The Love,” a UK top 10 hit for The Source featuring Candi Staton. Since its original release in 1991, the inspirational tune has found success several more times, with new club mixes released in 1997 and 2006, plus prominent placement in the final episode of Sex And The City in 2004.

Lucky for us, we don’t have to guess why Welch chose to close her debut with “You Got The Love,” as she’s done the homework for us on her site (though she doesn’t address the switch from “You” to “You’ve”):

“As a kid, going to clubs and raves, this song made me feel love. At Bestival last year we were top of the bill on that stage, so we were thinking of an amazing cover we could do, and I thought of Candi Staton. Even in rehearsals, playing it was just the most euphoric feeling. Then playing it live and seeing everyone’s arms in the air, and the faces — it was the best feeling ever! I was dressed as a genie sea-monster, and I remember looking at my guitarist as we played the first chords, and then there was the reaction and it was like tearing ourselves open and just exploding on the crowd, and then they all did it back. It’s a feeling you couldn’t express. I’m really excited that now in our live shows, I’m going to be playing one of my favorite songs ever, loads.”

The Now Voyager mix of Candi Staton’s “You Got The Love” is one of my very favorites. And yes, following yesterday’s Saturdance theme, if you listen closely to the lyrics, there’s no doubt that this track should also be filed under Gospel House. Fittingly, Florence reaches for the heavens in her cover version, but also take note of how prominently the harp is featured, an angelic touch as the song builds and builds. Hear here:

Purchase Florence + The Machine – “You’ve Got The Love” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.