Hard On for Love

I tend tot hink: not just rape, not just sex...

I didn't like this song at first, or pretty much any of "Your Funeral..." It freaking grew on me, damnit, with that heartbeat rhythm and candor so typical of our dear poet Nick. I wouldn't say that rape is central to the song, though the first verses seem to spell out something dark and non-concensual (non-"conSensual"? heh..) The speaker "steals" this blood and milk. I might translate that as a lover's feeling as if it were theft, in the heat of passion and personal, _shared eros which can include mutual rape fantasies, like bondage or situational role play. The obvious biblical references have all been turned into highly erotic suggestions and underscore the otherworldly nature of our human views of love and sex. Cave revels in this arena. Smudging the edges between friendly love, romantic/erotic love, and divine love.

I particularly get a literary kick out of "He leadeth me like lamb to the Lips of the Mouth of the valley of the shadow of death..." I think we all know where that valley is... It's a playful and candid way of describing the helplessness felt in the throes of passion where woman's sex is some geography in a valley formed by softly curving calves and mountain-peak knees. Led there by the divine, like a lamb, with no choice in the matter. Again, playful and serious in the same mix. It's also parodying from the Lord's Prayer which may offend some, but I believe no disrespect was intended.

As usual, go Nick... -Phase

Certainly this is about rape, right? Maybe it's the violent music, but it feels way too malevolent and dark to be just about sex.

Seems a wee bit like it, considering "I steal like a robber from her altar of love"

At some point these have transformed and vibrated into the lyrics to Get Ready For Love