Red Right Hand

What if the breath that kindled those grim fires, Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage, And plunge us in the flames; or from above Should intermitted vengeance arm again His red right hand to plague us?

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost/Book_II

According to Wikipedia the action of books I-II amongst other things centres around "a debate [between the rebels] on what to do next in relation to the war in Heaven." The extract is spoken by Belial, who has been symbolic of many differing qualities throughout history. However, in Book I of Paradise Lost he is represented as:

Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love Vice for itself. To him no temple stood Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars, when the priest Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled With lust and violence the house of God? In courts and palaces he also reigns, And in luxurious cities, where the noise Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, And injury and outrage; and, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night In Gibeah, when the hospitable door Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost/Book_I

On th' other side up rose Belial, in act more graceful and humane. A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed For dignity composed, and high exploit. But all was false and hollow; though his tongue Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear The better reason, to perplex and dash Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low— To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds Timorous and slothful. Yet he pleased the ear, And with persuasive accent thus began:—

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost/Book_II

So Belial in the extract that Nick cave refers to in his song Red Right Hand is attempting to persuade atan that the rebellion against God and the war in heaven is lost and to give up the fight. It is interesting to note that the phrase "Red Right Hand" refers to God and the fear of God's retaliation and not Satan or a lesser demon of hell, which isn't suprising since in religous terms right hand path denotes judeo-christian beliefs and left hand path alternative/satanist views.

Now how does Nick cave use the phrase "Red Right Hand" in his song and what is he implying?

Firstly, you have to decide weather the figure represents Christianity or the Devil. The song is quite ambigous and could be interpreted either way.

savage suggested this song was about an evangelist and these lines certainly support that argument:

He'll wrap you in his arms, tell you that you've been a good boy He'll rekindle all the dreams

as Awwsugar pointed out these lines reflect the paradoxical nature of the trinity of god:

He's a god, he's a man, he's a ghost, he's a guru

Could it be that the Guru along with the Evangelical aspects of the song is Nick's suspected form of the second coming of Christ?

Anyway I've spent enough time beating around the bush, I agree with the whole idea of Red Right Hand being a retelling of Faust but would add that the figure in the song is distinctly Christian and possibly a manifestation of God.

I juat wanted to end by saying that the interpretations that you guys offer are really fascinating and to keep up the good work. However, I doubt Nick Cave reads Stephen King. He tends to like the deeper, philosophical artists not the paperback novellists but you never know....

I doubt that this song was entirely ad-libbed, or even partly ad-libbed. it was probably well-thought out and written well before recording.

Also, ever noticed how Nick cave likes his serial killers, murderers and anti-heroes to be handsome and sexually alluring?