Stranger Than Kindness (Nick Cave cover)

This song is about sex, obviously, but it's being regarded as a bizarre act of affection.

Lines like "maps of desire BURNED into flesh" and "tell me I'm dirty" make me feel as though this song isn't about glorifying intercourse, but almost questioning it, and remaining slightly ominous of its consequences.

This song feels inhuman, as well, like we really aren't ourselves when we're tempted with lust, like we're nothing but animals when it all comes down to it.

I think a step closer would reveal it's about prostitution... Lets just call a spade a spade... here is why I think so...

"The gaunt fruit of passion Dies in the light Stranger than kindness

Your sleeping hands journey They loiter Stranger than kindness You hold me so carelessly close Tell me I'm dirty I'm a stranger I'm a stranger I'm a stranger to kindness "

If that isn't the epitome of the relationship of a prostitute and her john I do not know what is>>>

and with that said I think this stanza is very telling.....

You caress yourself And grind my soft cold bones below Your map of desire Burned in your flesh Even a fool can come A strange lit stair And find a rope hanging there Stranger than kindness

This prostitute is so down and out she wishes she were dead!

& Since this song is about sex, wouldn't "even a fool can CUM" make more sense than "even a fool can COME?"

It's about sex, the song suggests that sex is 'stranger than kindness'

kindness is strange because its other people doing nice things for you for no personal gain what so ever which if you have trouble trusting others can seem like a very strange action

sex is strange like kindness its again people giving themselves up to others she cant imagine someone would offer their body to her hence making the experience strange like kindness

Ambience of this song is second to non, post punk junkie world view. Dark, miserable, comforting, aesthetically ideal. This song represents a genre and subculture like no other. \n\nStranger than kindness\n- why would anyone give you something?\nWet hand from the volcano\n- child birth as an act of giving.\n\nYour map of desire\nBurned in your flesh\n- the criss-cross scars of an addicts arm\n\nA strange lit stair\nAnd find a rope hanging there\n- like a moth drawn to the light, leads to a tourniquet for your arm. Alludes to the proximity to death\n\nKeys rain like heaven\'s hair\n- foils, needless, it\'s unclear to me.\n\nWe sit at the gate and scratch\n- like dogs or beggars, scratching from heroin withdrawal.\n\nThe gaunt fruit of passion\nDies in the light\n- disgust, ugliness, impotence, degeneration.\n\nYou hold me so carelessly close\nTell me I\'m dirty\nI\'m a stranger\nI\'m a stranger to kindness\n- epitomizes the relationship between junkies