Lyric discussion by Dohle 

Cover art for Jack the Ripper lyrics by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

I agree, is one of the finest Cave songs. One interpretation which comes to my mind is based on the title. Why "Jack The Ripper"? Is it just because a nerdy joke inside of this song? You can say that, but what if this is about THE Jack the Ripper? He himself is the narrator and angry about one of his victims which fits back while he's torturing her. And she fights back with style, with anger and aggression like he himself has. So I like both interpretations, the one with that real ugly partnership, and mine here, the worldview from the madman's head.