Lyric discussion by sillysad 

Cover art for We Real Cool lyrics by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

on one hand, who measure your height from the toes to the top of your head? a coffin maker. that's the first and very unambiguous association.

new cloths and shoes are also very often the part of the ritual. and a book you never read... there are plenty of post-mortem variants.

on the other hand there is a strong reference to the SUN!!!

"on the far side of the morning" is always SUN "who chase your shadow?" the light. and SUN by the very fact of casting your shadow, indeed is measuring you from the top of your head...

"who measured the distance to the planets?" THE LIGHT! it is so damn unambiguous!

what does it mean as a whole i have no idea.

My Interpretation