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Complete Lyrics 1978-2007
The lyrics of Nick Cave are some of the most admired work in contemporary music. This book includes all the lyrics recorded with his two bands, The Birthday Party and The Bad Seeds, up to and including the new album released in April 2001.
342 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1997
7 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Nick Cave
97 books1,972 followersNicholas Edward Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his work in the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and his fascination with American music and its roots. He has a reputation, which he disowns, for singing dark, brooding songs which some listeners regard as depressing. His music is characterised by intensity, high energy and a wide variety of influences. He currently lives in Brighton & Hove in England.
Cave released his first book King Ink, in 1988. It is a collection of lyrics and plays, including collaborations with American enfant terrible Lydia Lunch.
While he was based in West Berlin, Cave started working on what was to become his debut novel, And the Ass Saw the Angel (1989). Significant crossover is evident between the themes in the book and the lyrics Cave wrote in the late stages of the Birthday Party and the early stage of his solo career. "Swampland", from Mutiny, in particular, uses the same linguistic stylings ('mah' for 'my', for instance) and some of the same themes (the narrator being haunted by the memory of a girl called Lucy, being hunted like an animal, approaching death and execution). A collectors' limited edition of the book appeared in 2007.
Cave wrote the foreword to a Canongate publication of the Gospel according to Mark, published in the UK in 1998. The American publication of the same book contains a foreword by a different author.
Cave released his first book King Ink, in 1988. It is a collection of lyrics and plays, including collaborations with American enfant terrible Lydia Lunch.
While he was based in West Berlin, Cave started working on what was to become his debut novel, And the Ass Saw the Angel (1989). Significant crossover is evident between the themes in the book and the lyrics Cave wrote in the late stages of the Birthday Party and the early stage of his solo career. "Swampland", from Mutiny, in particular, uses the same linguistic stylings ('mah' for 'my', for instance) and some of the same themes (the narrator being haunted by the memory of a girl called Lucy, being hunted like an animal, approaching death and execution). A collectors' limited edition of the book appeared in 2007.
Cave wrote the foreword to a Canongate publication of the Gospel according to Mark, published in the UK in 1998. The American publication of the same book contains a foreword by a different author.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 23, 2014
RELEVANCE WARNING
This is not a review of the book.
My comments specifically relate to the use of a Nick Cave song in a scene in and on the soundtrack to the first Deathly Hallows film.
SEXUALITY CONTENT WARNING
I originally posted a version of my comments in a GR discussion about sexuality and Harry Potter.
If you are the sort of reader who thinks these two issues should never be associated with each other, please do not read on. I don't want to spoil your world view.
Sexuality, Adolescence and Harry Potter
One of the funny things about the original discussion and the response to it is the lack of recognition of how important sexuality actually (and overtly) is to HP, especially later in the series.
It defies me how people expect someone to write about or think about or progress through adolescence without considering sex or sexuality.
Heartstring Wands and Love Triangles
For me, HP is a love triangle in which there is enormous sexual tension around who will end up with Hermione by the time they escape the chains of adolescence.
Obviously, JKR for her own reasons avoids the obvious temptation to let Harry end up with Hermione.
However, right up until the last moment, there is some doubt as to whether Ron will get the girl.
It's totally misguided to think that HP's adolescent audience isn't right on top of this issue.
In fact, they're probably way ahead of most adults in the audience (including me).
Let's Dance
In the first Deathly Hallows film, Harry and Hermione dance together, while Ron remains banished in the wild.
This was a tipping point in the story, when Hermione might possibly have reversed her sexual selection.
When I saw the film, a whole group of kids burst out laughing in this scene.
I still don't know whether I missed something (was it Harry's seriousness or clumsiness?), but I was too busy concentrating on the soundtrack and trying to work out its significance.
The Ship Song
The song was Nick Cave's "The Ship Song", which was the last thing I expected to hear in a HP film.
It's a great melody, but if you have a look at the lyrics, you have to wonder what was intended by the director, at least.
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/n/nickc...
Did Harry create a "little mystery" with Hermione?
Did Hermione loose her dogs on Harry? Or let her hair hang down?
Did Harry have to remove her wings, so that she could try to fly in her own right?
Did Hermione have to escape Harry's legendary pull, so she could find happiness?
I wish I could have asked those kids.
Post Script:
I just asked my 12 year old daughter why people laughed at that scene, and she said (in this order) "because they weren't together" (i.e., a recognised couple) and "because they were goofy".
This is not a review of the book.
My comments specifically relate to the use of a Nick Cave song in a scene in and on the soundtrack to the first Deathly Hallows film.
SEXUALITY CONTENT WARNING
I originally posted a version of my comments in a GR discussion about sexuality and Harry Potter.
If you are the sort of reader who thinks these two issues should never be associated with each other, please do not read on. I don't want to spoil your world view.
Sexuality, Adolescence and Harry Potter
One of the funny things about the original discussion and the response to it is the lack of recognition of how important sexuality actually (and overtly) is to HP, especially later in the series.
It defies me how people expect someone to write about or think about or progress through adolescence without considering sex or sexuality.
Heartstring Wands and Love Triangles
For me, HP is a love triangle in which there is enormous sexual tension around who will end up with Hermione by the time they escape the chains of adolescence.
Obviously, JKR for her own reasons avoids the obvious temptation to let Harry end up with Hermione.
However, right up until the last moment, there is some doubt as to whether Ron will get the girl.
It's totally misguided to think that HP's adolescent audience isn't right on top of this issue.
In fact, they're probably way ahead of most adults in the audience (including me).
Let's Dance
In the first Deathly Hallows film, Harry and Hermione dance together, while Ron remains banished in the wild.
This was a tipping point in the story, when Hermione might possibly have reversed her sexual selection.
When I saw the film, a whole group of kids burst out laughing in this scene.
I still don't know whether I missed something (was it Harry's seriousness or clumsiness?), but I was too busy concentrating on the soundtrack and trying to work out its significance.
The Ship Song
The song was Nick Cave's "The Ship Song", which was the last thing I expected to hear in a HP film.
It's a great melody, but if you have a look at the lyrics, you have to wonder what was intended by the director, at least.
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/n/nickc...
Did Harry create a "little mystery" with Hermione?
Did Hermione loose her dogs on Harry? Or let her hair hang down?
Did Harry have to remove her wings, so that she could try to fly in her own right?
Did Hermione have to escape Harry's legendary pull, so she could find happiness?
I wish I could have asked those kids.
Post Script:
I just asked my 12 year old daughter why people laughed at that scene, and she said (in this order) "because they weren't together" (i.e., a recognised couple) and "because they were goofy".
August 23, 2016
Good to read over this stuff again I guess - the early years are a bit embarrassing and silly; certainly don't mean anything at all on the page. But when this gets good the writing is often very good.
August 3, 2016
Really interesting lyrics, and very poetic.
October 2, 2012
I started this in July 2009...and I read a lot. I feel bad giving this a two as some of the lyrics within this book are the most beautiful I've ever read, but as a whole I found it hard to read and couldn't grasp what the hell Nick was going on about at times. I think this would have been a lot easier if I was more familiar with his work, rather than knowing the basics. My favourites, which I would gladly read over and over are: Far From Me, Faraway So Close!, Where the Wild Roses Grow and Into My Arms.
"And the world will turn without you
And history will soon forget you
But the heavens they will reward you
So faraway, so faraway and yet so close"
"And the world will turn without you
And history will soon forget you
But the heavens they will reward you
So faraway, so faraway and yet so close"
October 29, 2010
Nick Cave is a fantastic lyricist, and this book is a great one for reading as you listen to his songs. For me at least, reading the words as he croons them take his lyrics to a whole new level, and made me appreciate them a lot more. The only reason this is missing a star is because the Bad Seeds' latest album, Dig Lazarus Dig, isn't included. Look out for a new edition sometime in the future though!
August 12, 2011
What could be better? - It's got all the lyrics from 'Prayers on Fire' to the first Grinderman album, plus Cave's lecture on 'The Secret Life of the Love Song', and has an introduction by Will Self. Buy this now.
July 17, 2014
An amazing book for any Nick Cave fan. I had the updated copy with over 500 pages but couldn't see it on Goodreads. The rhythm of musical lyrics and the intricate beauty of poetry. A love song as a message to God. I'll dip back into this for years to come.
September 19, 2018
Yes, it's just a collection of song lyrics. But what songs....
December 25, 2019
It does exactly what it says: complete lyrics.
I wish there was a book with a little bit of explanation of those lyrics.
I wish there was a book with a little bit of explanation of those lyrics.
October 7, 2020
Nick Cave rocks. His lyricism is simultaneously beautiful and horrible, and it translated into poetry so well you could pick this book up and enjoy it even if you aren’t a fan. That being said, if you‘re a fan of his music its worth picking up.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews