I've searched the holy books
I tried to unravel the mystery of Jesus Christ, the Savior
I've read the poets and the analysts
Searched through the books on human behavior
I traveled this world around
For an answer that refused to be found
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now

I loved her then and I guess I love her still
Hers is the face I see when a certain mood moves in
She lives in my blood and skin
Her wild feral stare, her dark hair
Her winter lips as cold as stone
Yeah, I was her man
But there are some things love won't allow
I held her hand but I don't hold it now
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now

This is her dress that I loved best
With the blue quilted violets across the breast
And these are my many letters
Torn to pieces by her long-fingered hand
I was her cruel-hearted man
And though I've tried to lay her ghost down
Well she's moving through me, even now
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now
She's nobody's baby now
Nobody's baby now
She's nobody's baby now


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Nobody's Baby Now Lyrics as written by Nicholas Cave

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Nobody's Baby Now song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    I don't think she's dead at all, after all, she ripped up his imploring letters with 'long fingered hands'.

    I think this is about the soul-searching, vacant grief, and longing that happens when a lover ends a relationship that had seemed to be working. The reference to laying her ghost down is an allegory of trying but failing to move on. She decided to become nobody's baby now; he travels the world and searches through the books on human behavior to try and understand why, still he does not know.

    coldmaxon September 22, 2008   Link

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