Arguably Nick Cave the songwriter at his finest - certainly at his most brutal and violent. One of 3 major reasons Murder Ballads should not be regarded as some sort of throwaway novelty album. He rhymes grief with banana leaf for god sakes - thats a master at work.
I have to respond to TOMMOs breakdown of the fourth stanza, because it struck me as a huge stretch. It's not the most obvious of things, no - but it's certainly not so vague as to allow for such a wild explaination i don't believe.
My hand decided that the time was nigh (the time to kill these cretins - more evidence toward his idea that he has no control and is hence not morally culpable)
And for a moment it slipped from view. (off the bar and perhaps into his jacket, or down by his hip)
When it returned, it fairly burned with confidence anew (because it was now brandishing the gun it had procured out of view. now, with this gun, his hand felt far more confident than it had empty - more toward this man being a weak coward.)
And i don't know that this guys on any sort of drug - he's just snapped - i don't know that he's the angel of death either - i believe he fancies himself as some avenging angel (hence all the references) which goes hand in hand with his vanity.
And for fun, since he was counting on his fingers, i had to do this after the first few listen through but he tallies 12 i believe (correct me if i'm wrong) 10 shootings, 1 throat crush and a bludgeoning by ashtray.
Why thank you for your kind assessment. I hadn't been on this site in years, and I logged in to see some lyrics. I'm not even sure if they had this reply feature back then.
Why thank you for your kind assessment. I hadn't been on this site in years, and I logged in to see some lyrics. I'm not even sure if they had this reply feature back then.
“Well, I caught my eye in the mirror
And gave it a long and loving inspection
"There stands some kind of man", I roared
And there did, in the reflection “
“Well, I caught my eye in the mirror
And gave it a long and loving inspection
"There stands some kind of man", I roared
And there did, in the reflection “
Am I the only one who flashes on ‘You’re so Vain’ when I hear this verse?
Am I the only one who flashes on ‘You’re so Vain’ when I hear this verse?
Arguably Nick Cave the songwriter at his finest - certainly at his most brutal and violent. One of 3 major reasons Murder Ballads should not be regarded as some sort of throwaway novelty album. He rhymes grief with banana leaf for god sakes - thats a master at work.
I have to respond to TOMMOs breakdown of the fourth stanza, because it struck me as a huge stretch. It's not the most obvious of things, no - but it's certainly not so vague as to allow for such a wild explaination i don't believe.
My hand decided that the time was nigh (the time to kill these cretins - more evidence toward his idea that he has no control and is hence not morally culpable)
And for a moment it slipped from view. (off the bar and perhaps into his jacket, or down by his hip)
When it returned, it fairly burned with confidence anew (because it was now brandishing the gun it had procured out of view. now, with this gun, his hand felt far more confident than it had empty - more toward this man being a weak coward.)
And i don't know that this guys on any sort of drug - he's just snapped - i don't know that he's the angel of death either - i believe he fancies himself as some avenging angel (hence all the references) which goes hand in hand with his vanity.
And for fun, since he was counting on his fingers, i had to do this after the first few listen through but he tallies 12 i believe (correct me if i'm wrong) 10 shootings, 1 throat crush and a bludgeoning by ashtray.
Cold blooded murder never sounded so awesome!
This is by far the best, most intelligent, insightful interpretation here!
This is by far the best, most intelligent, insightful interpretation here!
Why thank you for your kind assessment. I hadn't been on this site in years, and I logged in to see some lyrics. I'm not even sure if they had this reply feature back then.
Why thank you for your kind assessment. I hadn't been on this site in years, and I logged in to see some lyrics. I'm not even sure if they had this reply feature back then.
@StickityWicket
@StickityWicket
“Well, I caught my eye in the mirror And gave it a long and loving inspection "There stands some kind of man", I roared And there did, in the reflection “
“Well, I caught my eye in the mirror And gave it a long and loving inspection "There stands some kind of man", I roared And there did, in the reflection “
Am I the only one who flashes on ‘You’re so Vain’ when I hear this verse?
Am I the only one who flashes on ‘You’re so Vain’ when I hear this verse?