Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
I went out walking the other day
The heat hung wet around my neck
My head it rung with screams and groans
From the night I spent amongst her bones
And I passed beside the mission house
Where that mad old buzzard, the reverend
Shrieked and flapped about life after you're dead
Well, I thought about my friend, Michel
How they rolled him in linoleum
And they shot him in the neck
A bloody halo, like a think-bubble
Circling his head
And I bellowed at the firmament
Looks like the rains are hear to stay
And the rain pissed down upon me
And washed me all away
Saying
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Well, the road is long
And the road is hard
And many fall by the side
But Papa won't leave you, Henry
So there ain't no need to cry
And I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Oh yeah, I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Well, the moon it looked exhausted
Like something you should pity
Spent an age-spotted
Above the sizzling wires of the city
Well, it reminded me of her face
Her bleached and hungry eyes
Her hair was like a curtain
Falling open with the laughter
And closing with the lies
And the ghost of her still lingers on
Though she's passed through me
And is gone
Well the slum dogs, they are barking
The rain children on the streets
And the tears that we will weep today
Will all be washed away
By the tears that we will weep
Will weep again tomorrow
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
For the road is long
And the road is hard
And many fall by the side
Well, Papa won't leave you, Henry
So there ain't no need to cry
And I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Oh yeah, I went on down the road
He went on down the road
And I came upon a little house
A little house upon a hill
And I entered through, and the curtain hissed
Into the house with its blood-red bowels
Where wet-lipped women with greasy fists
Crawled the ceilings and the walls
They filled me full of drink
And they led me round the rooms
Naked and cold and grinning
Until everything went black
And I came down spinning
I awoke so drunk and full of rage
That I could hardly speak
A fag in a whale-bone corset
Draping his dick across my cheek
Well its into the shame
And its into the guilt
And its into the fucking fray
And the walls ran red around me
A warm arterial spray
Saying
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Well, the night is dark
And the night is deep
And its jaws are open wide
Yeah, well Papa won't leave you, Henry
So there ain't no need to cry
And I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Oh yeah, I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Yeah, woah, woah
It's the rainy season where I'm living
Death comes leaping out of every doorway
Wasting you for money, for your clothes
And for your nothing
Entire towns being washed away
Favelas exploding on inflammable spillways
Lynch-mobs, death squads, babies being born without brains
The mad heat and the relentless rains
Well if you stick your arm into that hole
It comes out shit up to the bone
And with her kisses bubbling on my lips
I swiped the rain and nearly missed
And then I went on down the road
He went on down that road
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Well, the road is long
And the road is hard
And many fall by the side
Well, Papa won't leave you, Henry
So there ain't no need to cry
And I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Oh yeah, I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Bent beneath my heavy load
Under his heavy load
Yeah, I went on down that road
Yeah, he went on down the road
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
And I went on down that road
The heat hung wet around my neck
My head it rung with screams and groans
From the night I spent amongst her bones
And I passed beside the mission house
Where that mad old buzzard, the reverend
Shrieked and flapped about life after you're dead
Well, I thought about my friend, Michel
How they rolled him in linoleum
And they shot him in the neck
A bloody halo, like a think-bubble
Circling his head
And I bellowed at the firmament
Looks like the rains are hear to stay
And the rain pissed down upon me
And washed me all away
Saying
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Well, the road is long
And the road is hard
And many fall by the side
But Papa won't leave you, Henry
So there ain't no need to cry
And I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Oh yeah, I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Well, the moon it looked exhausted
Like something you should pity
Spent an age-spotted
Above the sizzling wires of the city
Well, it reminded me of her face
Her bleached and hungry eyes
Her hair was like a curtain
Falling open with the laughter
And closing with the lies
And the ghost of her still lingers on
Though she's passed through me
And is gone
Well the slum dogs, they are barking
The rain children on the streets
And the tears that we will weep today
Will all be washed away
By the tears that we will weep
Will weep again tomorrow
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
For the road is long
And the road is hard
And many fall by the side
Well, Papa won't leave you, Henry
So there ain't no need to cry
And I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Oh yeah, I went on down the road
He went on down the road
And I came upon a little house
A little house upon a hill
And I entered through, and the curtain hissed
Into the house with its blood-red bowels
Where wet-lipped women with greasy fists
Crawled the ceilings and the walls
They filled me full of drink
And they led me round the rooms
Naked and cold and grinning
Until everything went black
And I came down spinning
I awoke so drunk and full of rage
That I could hardly speak
A fag in a whale-bone corset
Draping his dick across my cheek
Well its into the shame
And its into the guilt
And its into the fucking fray
And the walls ran red around me
A warm arterial spray
Saying
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Well, the night is dark
And the night is deep
And its jaws are open wide
Yeah, well Papa won't leave you, Henry
So there ain't no need to cry
And I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Oh yeah, I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Yeah, woah, woah
It's the rainy season where I'm living
Death comes leaping out of every doorway
Wasting you for money, for your clothes
And for your nothing
Entire towns being washed away
Favelas exploding on inflammable spillways
Lynch-mobs, death squads, babies being born without brains
The mad heat and the relentless rains
Well if you stick your arm into that hole
It comes out shit up to the bone
And with her kisses bubbling on my lips
I swiped the rain and nearly missed
And then I went on down the road
He went on down that road
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Papa won't leave you, Henry
Papa won't leave you, Boy
Well, the road is long
And the road is hard
And many fall by the side
Well, Papa won't leave you, Henry
So there ain't no need to cry
And I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Oh yeah, I went on down the road
He went on down the road
Bent beneath my heavy load
Under his heavy load
Yeah, I went on down that road
Yeah, he went on down the road
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
And I went on down that road
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
I awoke so drunk and full of rage That I could hardly speak A fag in a whale-bone corset Draping his dick across my cheek
One of Nick's best lines, but then, he's written so damn many!
@wickie2109 during a recent concert in sydney he preceded these lines with "this actually happened.. " (it's on youtube).
This definately has ties to his book, "And The Ass Saw The Angel". Really good. Full of bleakly disturbing images, yet with subtle and sometimes overwhelming beauty. The "mad old buzzard, the reverend" must be Abie Poe, from the book. And "The night I spent amongst her bones" sounds lke when he finds the remains of Cosey Mo, but this seems less logical. Also, in the book children born during the three years of rain are called "Rain Children". I don't imagine this is directly related to the novel, but they definately share inspiration.
I would argue that this might, lyrically, be Nick finest song - which is a statement considering this is one of his best lyrical albums.
As for what it's all about - i think there's a lot of room for interpretation here - to me it sounds like the whole thing is about Brazil and this is a exaggerated amalgamation of the sights and sounds he experienced while living there - with possibly some dream imagery thrown in for good measure. Might not be specifically about Nick personally, but maybe the persona of a haunted man attempting to escape the world in south america and finding it just as bad there, if not worse. But then again, couldn't that be Nick personally?
Who is Henry?
Henry was at one point to become the name of Nick's son... so basically it's a song about never to bleep giving up despite hardships.
favourite song of the album if not one my fav cave songs ever.... the live verison on Live Seeds is incredible aswell (if not better) and to answer ya question i was told the whole line of "papa wont leave you henry" was a nusery rhyme that he use to sing 2 his son (who isnt named) henry, but ye he use to sing this to him or so i heard
Nick Cave's most underappreciated and overlooked song. I love how visual the music is. It's almost like it creates its own western.
I think Stickity is right. The references to babies born without brains, favelas and death squads definitely point to that country. The "fag" reference might in reality be about trannies: a lot of transexual people come from Brazil (of course, it's not like there aren't any in other countries, quite the opposite)
This song was my introduction to Nick and I never tire of listening to it. Agree with all posts heretofore. There's definitely remnants of 'The Ass Saw the Angel' in there - just the word 'Papa' conjures up all that Deep South related imagery. 'Babies born without brains' is a clear nod to the Brazilian thalidomide scandal. Incredible song - it really was a watermark in Nick's REAL crossover from the expressionist to the storyteller.
Well, it reminded me of her face Her bleached and hungry eyes Her hair was like a curtain Falling open with the laughter And closing with the lies But the ghost of her still lingers on Though she's passed through me And is gone
'She' was Anita Lane!
Spent an age-"spotted" Above the sizzling wires of the city....
Nick was heavy on the brown in Sao Paulo.