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When I First Came to Town Lyrics
When I first came to town
All the people gathered round
They bought me drinks
Lord, how they quickly changed their tune
When I first came to town
People took me round from end to end
Like someone may take round a friend
O how quickly they changed their tune
Suspicion and dark murmurs surround me
Everywhere I go they confound me
As though the blood on my hands
Is there for every citizen to see
O sweet Jesus
There is no turning back
There is always one more town
A little further down the track
And from my window, across the tracks
I watch the juicers burn their fires
And in that light
Their faces leer at me
How I wish they'd just let me be
When I first came to town
Their favours were for free
Now even the doors of the whores of this town
Are closed to me
I search the mirror
And I try to see
Why the people of this town
Have washed their hands of me
O sweet Jesus
There is no turning back
There is always one more town
A little further down the track
O lord, every god-damn turn I take
I fear the noose, I fear the stake
For there is no bone
They did not break
In all the towns I've been before
Well those that sin against me are snuffed out
I know from every day that I live
God-damn the day that I was born
The knife that forced me from the womb
And god-damn this town
For I am leaving now
But one day I will return
And the people of this town will surely see
Just how quickly the tables turn
O sweet Jesus
This really is the end
There is always one more town
A little further round the end
All the people gathered round
They bought me drinks
Lord, how they quickly changed their tune
People took me round from end to end
Like someone may take round a friend
O how quickly they changed their tune
Everywhere I go they confound me
As though the blood on my hands
Is there for every citizen to see
There is no turning back
There is always one more town
A little further down the track
I watch the juicers burn their fires
And in that light
Their faces leer at me
How I wish they'd just let me be
Their favours were for free
Now even the doors of the whores of this town
Are closed to me
And I try to see
Why the people of this town
Have washed their hands of me
There is no turning back
There is always one more town
A little further down the track
I fear the noose, I fear the stake
For there is no bone
They did not break
In all the towns I've been before
I know from every day that I live
God-damn the day that I was born
The knife that forced me from the womb
And god-damn this town
For I am leaving now
But one day I will return
And the people of this town will surely see
Just how quickly the tables turn
This really is the end
There is always one more town
A little further round the end
Song Info
Submitted by
girgo On May 11, 2004
More Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Red Right Hand
Into My Arms
Where the Wild Roses Grow (feat. Kylie Minogue)
O Children
The Mercy Seat
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This song is fantastic. The meaning is pretty obvious. But the sense of menace and the descent into madness is wonderful to behold. By the last couple of verses it really is quite terrifying.
One of my favourite songs by the bad seeds for sure.
Yes, quite obviously about Cain.
Amazing song.