Opium Tea

A truly great song, so relaxing and serene but at the same time so poignant. I don't think he is saying he is a prisoner in the physical sense, this song seems to be quite clearly about drug addiction so the prison is the use of the drug. To me this song is about the absolutism that drug taking provides, when ones life choices can suddenly be confined to 'where is the next hit coming from' and there are no other choices to be made. The need for an absolute truth in life is something all humans seek and drug taking can be an easy way to find a form of serenity without any effort. The same is true for religion (or any doctrine/belief) where many people rather than seek true knowledge would rather surrender to a series of absolutes that they don't need to question in order to make them comfortable with their existence. Drug taking just happens to be one of the easiest ways of eliminating uncertainty in life, which is what the person in this song seems to have achieved when he can acknowledge the prisoner he is but at the same time quite happily maintain the status quo.

I think anyone who has been addicted to an opiate of any kind such as heroin, can really feel the sympathetic and mellow tone of this song. The lyrics are well written, but I think the melody is more important. The lyrics show someone who is living somewhat a miserable life, acknowledge this, but are content with their drug addiction and continue to life their life accordingly despite all that is wrong.

I don't think he's in Portugal; i guess he's in Morocco: "And I toss them a dirham or two"

The "wail of the call to prayer" obviously implies that he's in a Muslim country. The "dirham or two" suggests Morocco. I think this song is about William S. Burroughs. He lived in Tangier for a few years while writing his novel Naked Lunch. He was heavily addicted to opiates at the time. He left a son back in the States, which also fits. Nick Cave seems to reference literature a lot in his songs, so it seems like a plausible interpretation. I can imagine Burroughs drifting around the city in an opium haze, thinking about the life he left behind.

I've always thought this song was about rehab. Don't know for sure but it seems like the Opium Tea is something they use to wean people off.

These lines especially make me think rehab: I'm a prisoner here, I can never go home There is nothing here to win or lose There are no choices need to be made at all Not even the choice of having to choose

I'm a prisoner yes, but I'm also free 'Cause am what I am and what will be will be I'm a prisoner here but I'm also free

i dont think its about rehad, he's just stuck inside his addiction "i'm a prisoner here yes, but i'm also free" he's imprisoned by the drug, but he is free when he takes it

Perhaps it's inspired by Thomas De Quincey's "Confessions of an English Opium-Eater"? A great novel indeed. As is this song.

"I'm a prisoner here, but I'm also free" means that he can never leave Portugal, as opium is cheap and (almost) legal there. If he comes back to the states, he won't be able to get any. At least, I'm fairly sure he's in Portugal, although it could just as easily be Tangier. Either way, it truly is a great song. He captured the feeling perfectly.

Yep, a few here here have nailed it. The city is Tangiers. Very W S Burroughs inspired. Having spent time there myself Cave really captures whats its like to be on a holiday there (minus the opium).

well had to join to put all you guys right. Nick wrote this about his time in Essaouira. There are several clues to the area but especially the ramparts. Essa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 1100years old. Also famous for Hendrix writing his castle made of sands here. Then there is the Stones being here but before the lot of them, there was Orson Welles who made Othello here. Recently used in Game of Thrones.