The song is from the soundtrack to The Proposition, a film also written by Nick Cave, and is almost a leitmotif for one of the protagonists, violent criminal Charlie Burns.
The film starts with Charlie and his simple minded younger brother Mike being captured by a lawman - Captain Stanley - and being given an ultimatum: find and kill your older brother Arthur, a rapist and murderer, or be hanged in five days along with Mike.
Charlie, although reluctant and conflicted, agrees to the deal riding off into the Australian outback towards where he believes his brother is hiding. This I think is “here says the rider, and took up his gun”. The previous lines reflect Charlie’s indecision.
Through various plot turns, Charlie, the psychotic poetry quoting Arthur, and another even more deranged accomplice return to town to rescue Mike and kill Captain Stanley planning to rape and beat his wife in front of him first. By this point it is clear that Charlie is terrified of Arthur and disgusted by his behaviour. Rather than let the rape and murder continue he shoots Arthur and the rest of gang dead. At this point he also has the option to kill Captain Stanley but, instead, walks away. This I think is “yes said the rider, and put down his gun”. The previous lines are him coming to a decision about what is right and wrong with the last “yes” against all the “noes” possibly being an expression of relief: “yes, I get it now”.
Or it could mean something completely different, it’s Nick Cave after all. It’s a great film, you should definitely watch it to hear the music in context.
The song is from the soundtrack to The Proposition, a film also written by Nick Cave, and is almost a leitmotif for one of the protagonists, violent criminal Charlie Burns.
The film starts with Charlie and his simple minded younger brother Mike being captured by a lawman - Captain Stanley - and being given an ultimatum: find and kill your older brother Arthur, a rapist and murderer, or be hanged in five days along with Mike.
Charlie, although reluctant and conflicted, agrees to the deal riding off into the Australian outback towards where he believes his brother is hiding. This I think is “here says the rider, and took up his gun”. The previous lines reflect Charlie’s indecision.
Through various plot turns, Charlie, the psychotic poetry quoting Arthur, and another even more deranged accomplice return to town to rescue Mike and kill Captain Stanley planning to rape and beat his wife in front of him first. By this point it is clear that Charlie is terrified of Arthur and disgusted by his behaviour. Rather than let the rape and murder continue he shoots Arthur and the rest of gang dead. At this point he also has the option to kill Captain Stanley but, instead, walks away. This I think is “yes said the rider, and put down his gun”. The previous lines are him coming to a decision about what is right and wrong with the last “yes” against all the “noes” possibly being an expression of relief: “yes, I get it now”.
Or it could mean something completely different, it’s Nick Cave after all. It’s a great film, you should definitely watch it to hear the music in context.