On the shore of the lake
The old man sat and watched a woman bathing
With its golden touch, the light was such
That the moment was worth saving
And he sang the song of the lake
The song of the lake
And all the king's horses and
Oh, never mind, never mind
And he knew that he would dissolve
If he followed her into the lake
But he also knew that if he remained upon the shore
He would in time, evaporate
He sang the song of the lake
The song of the lake
And all the king's horses
Oh, never mind, never mind
And he knew that even though he had found heaven
Such as described in the ancient scrolls
Still he felt the drag of hell
Upon his old and mortal soul
And he sang the song of the lake
And all the king's horses
Oh Lord, never mind, never mind
For every evil under the sun
If there be one
Seek it till you find
For there's either a remedy or there is none
And if there is none
Never mind, never mind
Never mind, never mind
Nah, never mind
Never mind
Oh, never mind, never mind, never mind
'Cause all the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put us back together again
Oh, my darling, well, where will we go now?
Oh, my darling, where do we go?
Ah, never mind, never mind
And what do we do now?
Oh, never mind, never mind
Well, oh, my sweet darling, never mind
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Wild God Album Lyrics
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Wild God Lyrics
Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher
Wild God
Once upon a time a wild god zoomed
All through his memory, in which he was entombed
It was rape and pillage, in the retirement village
But in his mind, he was a man of great virtue and courage
And he flew out the window with his long trailing hair
And the smoke from the bodies went straight up in the air
He was a wild god searching, for what all wild god's are searching for
And he flew through the dying city like a prehistoric bird
He went searching for the girl
Down on a Jubilee Street
But she died in a bedsit in 1993
So he flew to the top of the world and looked around
And said, "Where are my people?"
Where are my people?
To bring your spirit down
A wild god searching for a far away girl
Who was basically a mirage, that nevertheless loomed a-large
She would hang under the rail as he blew around the room
And make love with a kind of efficient gloom
And the people on the ground cried "When does it start?"
And the wild god says "It starts with a heart"
With a heart, with a heart, with a heart
And the people on the ground cried "When does it end?"
And the wild god says "Well, it depends, but it mostly never ends"
'Cause I'm a wild god flying, and wild god a-swimming
And I'm old sick god dying, and crying
And singing
(Bring your spirit down)
Oh, wild god's begging, the wild god's
Yeah, bring your spirit down
Oh, well he's moving through the flames of anarchy
And he's moving through the winds of tyranny
And the sweet, sweet tears of liberty
And moving 'round the world
He's moving through your body like a prehistoric bird
He's moving 'round the world
Oh Lord
Well, if you're feeling lonely, and if you're feeling blue
And if you just don't know what to do
Bring your spirit down
Oh, we're wild god's baby, we're wild gods
I'm a wild god, baby, I'm a wild god
Oh, here we go
We're to the cradle of Africa
We're going to Russia
We're going to China
To the United States of America
Yeah, moving 'round the world
Yeah, moving like a great big beautiful bird
Moving 'round the world
Yeah, he-he's swimming to the end of a rotting pier
He swims to the end of his rotting ideas
Swim to the hymn, swim to the prayer
And bring your spirit down
I'm a wild god, baby, I'm a wild god
Well, here we go
Yeah, here we go
All through his memory, in which he was entombed
It was rape and pillage, in the retirement village
But in his mind, he was a man of great virtue and courage
And he flew out the window with his long trailing hair
And the smoke from the bodies went straight up in the air
He was a wild god searching, for what all wild god's are searching for
And he flew through the dying city like a prehistoric bird
He went searching for the girl
Down on a Jubilee Street
But she died in a bedsit in 1993
So he flew to the top of the world and looked around
And said, "Where are my people?"
Where are my people?
To bring your spirit down
A wild god searching for a far away girl
Who was basically a mirage, that nevertheless loomed a-large
She would hang under the rail as he blew around the room
And make love with a kind of efficient gloom
And the people on the ground cried "When does it start?"
And the wild god says "It starts with a heart"
With a heart, with a heart, with a heart
And the people on the ground cried "When does it end?"
And the wild god says "Well, it depends, but it mostly never ends"
'Cause I'm a wild god flying, and wild god a-swimming
And I'm old sick god dying, and crying
And singing
(Bring your spirit down)
Oh, wild god's begging, the wild god's
Yeah, bring your spirit down
Oh, well he's moving through the flames of anarchy
And he's moving through the winds of tyranny
And the sweet, sweet tears of liberty
And moving 'round the world
He's moving through your body like a prehistoric bird
He's moving 'round the world
Oh Lord
Well, if you're feeling lonely, and if you're feeling blue
And if you just don't know what to do
Bring your spirit down
Oh, we're wild god's baby, we're wild gods
I'm a wild god, baby, I'm a wild god
Oh, here we go
We're to the cradle of Africa
We're going to Russia
We're going to China
To the United States of America
Yeah, moving 'round the world
Yeah, moving like a great big beautiful bird
Moving 'round the world
Yeah, he-he's swimming to the end of a rotting pier
He swims to the end of his rotting ideas
Swim to the hymn, swim to the prayer
And bring your spirit down
I'm a wild god, baby, I'm a wild god
Well, here we go
Yeah, here we go
Writer: Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Frogs
Ushering in the week he knelt down
Crushed his brother's head in with a bone
It's my great privilege
Oh, babe, to walk you home
In the Sunday rain
Hop inside my coat
In the Sunday rain
The frogs are jumping in the gutters
Oh, leaping to God, amazed of love
And amazed of pain
Amazed to be back in the water again
In the Sunday rain
In the Sunday rain
Gets you right down to your soul
Oh Lord, oh Lord
The children in the heavens
Jumping for joy, jumping for love
And opening the sky above
So, take that gun out of your hand
'Cause, "All will be well," say the bells
It's Sunday morning and I'm holding your hand
Amazed of love and amazed of pain
Amazed to be back in the water
Back in the water again
Take that gun out of your hand
In the Sunday rain
Frogmarching you home, babe
Home to bed, yeah, in the Sunday rain
Take that gun out of your hand
Lord, kill me
In the Sunday rain
Kill me, kill me
In the Sunday rain
Hop inside my coat
It's Sunday morning and I'm holding your hand
Frogmarching us home to a bed made of tears
Kris Kristofferson walks by, kicking a can
In a shirt he hasn't washed for years
Hop inside my coat
Hop inside my coat
Crushed his brother's head in with a bone
It's my great privilege
Oh, babe, to walk you home
In the Sunday rain
Hop inside my coat
In the Sunday rain
The frogs are jumping in the gutters
Oh, leaping to God, amazed of love
And amazed of pain
Amazed to be back in the water again
In the Sunday rain
In the Sunday rain
Gets you right down to your soul
Oh Lord, oh Lord
The children in the heavens
Jumping for joy, jumping for love
And opening the sky above
So, take that gun out of your hand
'Cause, "All will be well," say the bells
It's Sunday morning and I'm holding your hand
Amazed of love and amazed of pain
Amazed to be back in the water
Back in the water again
Take that gun out of your hand
In the Sunday rain
Frogmarching you home, babe
Home to bed, yeah, in the Sunday rain
Take that gun out of your hand
Lord, kill me
In the Sunday rain
Kill me, kill me
In the Sunday rain
Hop inside my coat
It's Sunday morning and I'm holding your hand
Frogmarching us home to a bed made of tears
Kris Kristofferson walks by, kicking a can
In a shirt he hasn't washed for years
Hop inside my coat
Hop inside my coat
Writer: Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Copyright: Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Copyright: Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Joy
I woke up this morning with the blues all around my head
I woke up this morning with the blues all around my head
I felt like someone in my family was dead
I jumped up like a rabbit and fell down to my knees
I jumped up like a rabbit and fell down to my knees
Call out all around me, said, "Have mercy on me, please
Have mercy on me, please"
Then over by the window, the voice came low and hollow
Over by the window a voice came low and hollow
Spoke into my pain, into my yearning sorrow
Spoke into my pain
Who was it? I cried
What wild ghost has come in agitation?
Who is it? I cried
What wild ghost has come in agitation?
It's half past midnight
Oh, why you disturb me so late?
Then I saw a movement
Then I saw a movement around
Then I saw a movement around my narrow bed
I saw a movement around my narrow bed
Oh, a ghost in giant sneakers, laughing stars around his head
Have mercy on me
Sat on a narrow bed, this flaming boy
Who sat on a narrow bed, this flaming boy
Said, "We've all had too much sorrow
Now is the time for joy"
And all across the world they shout bad words
They shout angry words
All across the world they shout out their angry words
About the end of love
Yet the stars stand above the earth
Bright, triumphant metaphors of love
Bright, triumphant metaphors of love
Blind us all who care to stand and look beyond it
Care to stand and look beyond, above
And I jumped up like a rabbit and fell down to my knees
I jumped up like a rabbit and fell down to my knees
I called all around me, said, "Have mercy on me, please"
Have mercy on me, please
Have mercy on me, please
God have mercy on me, please
For joy, for joy, for joy, for joy
For joy, for joy, joy, joy
For joy, for joy, for joy
For joy, for joy, for joy
Oh, for joy
Oh, have mercy on me, please
Oh, joy
Oh, joy
Oh, joy
I woke up this morning with the blues all around my head
I felt like someone in my family was dead
I jumped up like a rabbit and fell down to my knees
I jumped up like a rabbit and fell down to my knees
Call out all around me, said, "Have mercy on me, please
Have mercy on me, please"
Then over by the window, the voice came low and hollow
Over by the window a voice came low and hollow
Spoke into my pain, into my yearning sorrow
Spoke into my pain
Who was it? I cried
What wild ghost has come in agitation?
Who is it? I cried
What wild ghost has come in agitation?
It's half past midnight
Oh, why you disturb me so late?
Then I saw a movement
Then I saw a movement around
Then I saw a movement around my narrow bed
I saw a movement around my narrow bed
Oh, a ghost in giant sneakers, laughing stars around his head
Have mercy on me
Sat on a narrow bed, this flaming boy
Who sat on a narrow bed, this flaming boy
Said, "We've all had too much sorrow
Now is the time for joy"
And all across the world they shout bad words
They shout angry words
All across the world they shout out their angry words
About the end of love
Yet the stars stand above the earth
Bright, triumphant metaphors of love
Bright, triumphant metaphors of love
Blind us all who care to stand and look beyond it
Care to stand and look beyond, above
And I jumped up like a rabbit and fell down to my knees
I jumped up like a rabbit and fell down to my knees
I called all around me, said, "Have mercy on me, please"
Have mercy on me, please
Have mercy on me, please
God have mercy on me, please
For joy, for joy, for joy, for joy
For joy, for joy, joy, joy
For joy, for joy, for joy
For joy, for joy, for joy
Oh, for joy
Oh, have mercy on me, please
Oh, joy
Oh, joy
Oh, joy
Writer: Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Final Rescue Attempt
The last time you came around here
It was to rescue me
You arrived just in time with your customary flair
You'd rode through the rain all the way from Castellain
With the wind and the wind, oh, the wind, oh, the wind in your hair
After that, nothing ever really hurt again
Nothing ever really hurt
Not even ordinary pain
As we'd sit, you and me, by the great aching sea
In the rain, in the rain and the rain, oh, the rain, oh, the rain
And I will always love you
With the wind, with the wind, with the wind, oh, the wind in your hair
Oh, who are these gods that you now defend?
And what purpose do they serve now at the end of time?
That we lay on our beds, with the rain on our heads
And my hand searching for your hand
Searching for my hand
Searching for your hand
Searching for mine
And I will always love you
And I will always, oh, love you
And I will always, I will always love you
And I will always love you
It was to rescue me
You arrived just in time with your customary flair
You'd rode through the rain all the way from Castellain
With the wind and the wind, oh, the wind, oh, the wind in your hair
After that, nothing ever really hurt again
Nothing ever really hurt
Not even ordinary pain
As we'd sit, you and me, by the great aching sea
In the rain, in the rain and the rain, oh, the rain, oh, the rain
And I will always love you
With the wind, with the wind, with the wind, oh, the wind in your hair
Oh, who are these gods that you now defend?
And what purpose do they serve now at the end of time?
That we lay on our beds, with the rain on our heads
And my hand searching for your hand
Searching for my hand
Searching for your hand
Searching for mine
And I will always love you
And I will always, oh, love you
And I will always, I will always love you
And I will always love you
Writer: Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Conversion
There was a little place in a pretty row
Where we mostly did not go
And next to the place, in a field of trees
Were stones stacked on stones for ten centuries
At one time in the field in the middle of the night
An old god shambled beneath the sodium light
The whole town gathered at the fence
With looks on their faces worse than grief itself
Now then, a girl across the street with long dark hair
Knelt among the stones and the mystical flare
And the old god drew her into him like a flame
I've never seen you so beautiful as that again
Oh, you're touched by the spirit, touched by the flame, oh
Oh, touched by the spirit, touched by the flame, oh
(Touch my spirit, touch my spirit, my spirit, touch my spirit)
Oh, touched by the spirit, touched by the flame, oh
I never really ever saw you so beautiful as that again
I was touched by the spirit and touched by the flame
I never, ever really ever saw you so beautiful again
Well, not again, oh, not again
And these voices, they never ever stopped again
They never stopped again
Oh, when touched by the flame
Yeah, I never really ever hurt again
Oh, hurt again, not even ordinary pain
Not even ordinary pain
Oh, I never ever really ever, ever, ever hurt again
No, not hurt again
Oh, not hurt again
Oh, you're beautiful
You're beautiful again
You're beautiful, you're beautiful
You're beautiful, you're beautiful
Stop, stop, stop, stop
You're beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful again, again
Oh, touched by the flame
Where we mostly did not go
And next to the place, in a field of trees
Were stones stacked on stones for ten centuries
At one time in the field in the middle of the night
An old god shambled beneath the sodium light
The whole town gathered at the fence
With looks on their faces worse than grief itself
Now then, a girl across the street with long dark hair
Knelt among the stones and the mystical flare
And the old god drew her into him like a flame
I've never seen you so beautiful as that again
Oh, you're touched by the spirit, touched by the flame, oh
Oh, touched by the spirit, touched by the flame, oh
(Touch my spirit, touch my spirit, my spirit, touch my spirit)
Oh, touched by the spirit, touched by the flame, oh
I never really ever saw you so beautiful as that again
I was touched by the spirit and touched by the flame
I never, ever really ever saw you so beautiful again
Well, not again, oh, not again
And these voices, they never ever stopped again
They never stopped again
Oh, when touched by the flame
Yeah, I never really ever hurt again
Oh, hurt again, not even ordinary pain
Not even ordinary pain
Oh, I never ever really ever, ever, ever hurt again
No, not hurt again
Oh, not hurt again
Oh, you're beautiful
You're beautiful again
You're beautiful, you're beautiful
You're beautiful, you're beautiful
Stop, stop, stop, stop
You're beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful again, again
Oh, touched by the flame
Writer: Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Cinnamon Horses
I told my friends that life was sweet
I told my friends that life was very sweet
And the cinnamon horses in the turpentine trees
I told my friends some things were good
That love would endure if it could
And the cinnamon horses stroll through the castle ruins
I said we can't love someone
Without hurting someone
And a dozen white vampires
Under a strawberry moon
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
The strawberry moon
'Cause love asks for nothing
But love costs everything
And the cinnamon horses dance beneath a strawberry moon
And I said we should not hurt one another
Still we hurt one another
And a dozen white vampires
Sun themselves in the castle ruins
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
I told my friends that life was sweet
I told my friends life was very sweet
You said that, you said that
In the castle ruins
I told my friends that life was good
That love would endure if it could
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
I told my friends that life was very sweet
And the cinnamon horses in the turpentine trees
I told my friends some things were good
That love would endure if it could
And the cinnamon horses stroll through the castle ruins
I said we can't love someone
Without hurting someone
And a dozen white vampires
Under a strawberry moon
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
The strawberry moon
'Cause love asks for nothing
But love costs everything
And the cinnamon horses dance beneath a strawberry moon
And I said we should not hurt one another
Still we hurt one another
And a dozen white vampires
Sun themselves in the castle ruins
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
I told my friends that life was sweet
I told my friends life was very sweet
You said that, you said that
In the castle ruins
I told my friends that life was good
That love would endure if it could
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
You said that, you said that
You said that, oh
Writer: Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Long Dark Night
I was long inside a dream, I could not get loose
I will tell you of it, although there is little use
To tell a dream, when dreaming is all you ever do
But things were not so good, I can't make light of it
My poor soul, it was having a dark night of it
It was a long night, a week, maybe a year
Maybe a long dark night is coming down
Maybe a long dark night is coming down
Through the door of my dream burst
No zombie, no ogre, no devil there
But a flying man with long trailing hair
Who perched upon the iron rail of my bed
Oh Lord, combing his long white hair and saying my name
How could he know, when I did not even know my name
Maybe a long dark night is coming down
Maybe a long dark night, my precious one
Maybe a long dark night is rolling around my eyes
Oh Lord
The man who took me to be from elsewhere
When I too inhabited the earthly sphere lent down and struck me
With his long trailing hair
Maybe a long dark night is coming down
Maybe a long dark night, my precious one
Maybe a long dark night is rolling around my head
Oh Lord
I will tell you of it, although there is little use
To tell a dream, when dreaming is all you ever do
But things were not so good, I can't make light of it
My poor soul, it was having a dark night of it
It was a long night, a week, maybe a year
Maybe a long dark night is coming down
Maybe a long dark night is coming down
Through the door of my dream burst
No zombie, no ogre, no devil there
But a flying man with long trailing hair
Who perched upon the iron rail of my bed
Oh Lord, combing his long white hair and saying my name
How could he know, when I did not even know my name
Maybe a long dark night is coming down
Maybe a long dark night, my precious one
Maybe a long dark night is rolling around my eyes
Oh Lord
The man who took me to be from elsewhere
When I too inhabited the earthly sphere lent down and struck me
With his long trailing hair
Maybe a long dark night is coming down
Maybe a long dark night, my precious one
Maybe a long dark night is rolling around my head
Oh Lord
Writer: Nick Cave, Warren Ellis
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)
She rises in advance of her panties
I can confirm that god actually exists
She turns and smiles but never ever scantily
Oh, wow, oh, wow, how wonderful she is
Well, the horses, they have kicked down the stable
And the rabbits have put carrots in their ears
And her colored crayons dance upon the table
Oh, wow, oh, wow, how wonderful she feels
The country doctor whistles across the meadow
And the schoolboy, he hops up and says, gee whiz
The dogs, they are all barking at their shadows
Oh, wow, oh, wow, how wonderful she is
Oh, wow, oh, wow, well, nothing could compare
Her friends, now dead, their spectral chins all nod
And they braid a band of violets through her hair
Oh, wow, oh, wow, how wonderful she was
How wonderful she is
Do you remember we used to really, really have fun?
We'd be just by ourselves, mucking around
Really relaxed, not under pressure
I guess that's how we make up songs
I, I remember we were in bed and then we imagined somebody upstairs
I don't even know if we heard footsteps
Or imagined footsteps and then imagined the story
That was in that little place opposite Brixton Prison
I didn't even realize that everyone wasn't like that
We tried to write a contract of love
But we only got as far as doing the border
There was never any words in it
Which I thought said a lot more than anything else
I can confirm that god actually exists
She turns and smiles but never ever scantily
Oh, wow, oh, wow, how wonderful she is
Well, the horses, they have kicked down the stable
And the rabbits have put carrots in their ears
And her colored crayons dance upon the table
Oh, wow, oh, wow, how wonderful she feels
The country doctor whistles across the meadow
And the schoolboy, he hops up and says, gee whiz
The dogs, they are all barking at their shadows
Oh, wow, oh, wow, how wonderful she is
Oh, wow, oh, wow, well, nothing could compare
Her friends, now dead, their spectral chins all nod
And they braid a band of violets through her hair
Oh, wow, oh, wow, how wonderful she was
How wonderful she is
Do you remember we used to really, really have fun?
We'd be just by ourselves, mucking around
Really relaxed, not under pressure
I guess that's how we make up songs
I, I remember we were in bed and then we imagined somebody upstairs
I don't even know if we heard footsteps
Or imagined footsteps and then imagined the story
That was in that little place opposite Brixton Prison
I didn't even realize that everyone wasn't like that
We tried to write a contract of love
But we only got as far as doing the border
There was never any words in it
Which I thought said a lot more than anything else
Writer: Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
As the Waters Cover the Sea
She sits at the window
Her hands folded in her sleeping lap
As He steps from the tomb
In His rags and His wounds
Into the yellow light that streams
Through the window, He brings
Peace and good tidings to the land
Peace and good tidings to the land
And as the waters cover the sea
And as You wake and turn to me
Peace and good tidings He will bring
Good tidings to all things
Her hands folded in her sleeping lap
As He steps from the tomb
In His rags and His wounds
Into the yellow light that streams
Through the window, He brings
Peace and good tidings to the land
Peace and good tidings to the land
And as the waters cover the sea
And as You wake and turn to me
Peace and good tidings He will bring
Good tidings to all things
Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher
Wild God is the 18th studio album by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 30 August 2024 through PIAS.
It marks their first studio album in five years, following Ghosteen (2019).
Nick Cave said:
Wild God... there's no f*cking around with this record. When it hits, it hits. It lifts you. It moves you. I love that about it.
Cave began writing the album on New Year's Day 2023. Recording took place at Miraval Studios, Provence and Soundtree in London. Cave produced the album alongside Warren Ellis, while mixing was handled by David Fridmann. Additional performers include Colin Greenwood of Radiohead and Luis Almau. Wild God sees the band exploring themes of "convention and experimentation" that are set to enhance "rich imagery and emotive narratives".
In a statement, Cave hopes the album has the "effect on listeners" that it had on him. He describes it as a "complicated record" but simultaneously "deeply and joyously infectious". As their records reflect the band's "emotional state", Cave shared the impression that they are "happy" this time around.
Performed By:
Nick Cave & the Bad SeedsIt marks their first studio album in five years, following Ghosteen (2019).
Nick Cave said:
Wild God... there's no f*cking around with this record. When it hits, it hits. It lifts you. It moves you. I love that about it.
Cave began writing the album on New Year's Day 2023. Recording took place at Miraval Studios, Provence and Soundtree in London. Cave produced the album alongside Warren Ellis, while mixing was handled by David Fridmann. Additional performers include Colin Greenwood of Radiohead and Luis Almau. Wild God sees the band exploring themes of "convention and experimentation" that are set to enhance "rich imagery and emotive narratives".
In a statement, Cave hopes the album has the "effect on listeners" that it had on him. He describes it as a "complicated record" but simultaneously "deeply and joyously infectious". As their records reflect the band's "emotional state", Cave shared the impression that they are "happy" this time around.
Producer(s): Nick Cave, Warren Ellis
Length: 44:21
Released: August 30th, 2024
Year: 2024