Lyric discussion by Dohle 

Cover art for Mermaids lyrics by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

At the concert in Offenbach, Nick told the audience, a bit joking, that this song is "not about an old guy who watches young girls, but about the deception of ideas". So I always had this thought that the songs is indeed more than what it reads on paper, especially since the lyrics on "Push the sky away" became more abstract. But I couldn't figure out what it was. Now, it makes really sense when you look at it. Especially the lines: "I believe in God I believe in mermaids too I believe in 72 virgins on a chain Why not? Why not?" ...are an evidence for this, as it seems to me.