Though the genre is considered to be rock, some of its subgenres are influenced by folk music, reggae, electronic music and jazz among other genres. At times alternative rock has been used as a catch-all phrase for rock music from underground artists in the 1980s, all music descended from punk rock (including punk itself, New Wave, and post-punk), and, ironically, for rock music in general in the 1990s and 2000s.
While a few artists like R.E.M. and The Cure achieved commercial success and mainstream critical recognition, many alternative rock artists during the 1980s were cult acts that recorded on independent labels and received their exposure through college radio airplay and word-of-mouth. With the breakthrough of Nirvana and the popularity of the grunge and Britpop movements in the early 1990s, alternative rock entered the musical mainstream and many alternative bands became commercially successful.
Jubilee Street
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She had a history, but she had no past
When they shut her down the Russians moved in
I am too scared, I'm too scared to even walk on past
She used to say
All those good people down on Jubilee Street
They ought to practice what they preach
Here they are to practice just what they preach
Those good people on Jubilee Street
And here I come up the hill
I'm pushing my wheel of love
I got love in my tummy and a tiny little pain
And a ten ton catastrophe on a sixty pound chain
And I'm pushing my wheel of love on Jubilee Street
Ah look at me now
The problem was she had a little black book
And my name was written on every page
Well a girl's gotta make ends meet
Even down Jubilee Street
I was out of place and time, and over the hill, and out of my mind
On Jubilee Street
I ought to practice what I preach
These days I go downtown in my tie and tails
I got a fetus on a leash
I am alone now, I am beyond recriminations
Curtains are shut, the furniture is gone
I'm transforming, I'm vibrating, I'm glowing
I'm flying, look at me now
I'm flying, look at me now
The song "Jubilee Street" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds tells the story of a girl named Bee who lived her life on Jubilee Street. Throughout the song, we learn that Bee has a history and a past that she keeps hidden. When they shut her down, the Russians move in, and the singer is too scared to even walk past. The chorus speaks to the hypocrisy of the good people on Jubilee Street who ought to practice what they preach, and yet, they fall short of that.
The singer admits that his name is written on every page of Bee's little black book. He acknowledges that even he was out of place and time, over the hill, and out of his mind on Jubilee Street. The tie and tails that he wears now are a far cry from his previous wildness.
The final verse speaks to transformation as the singer declares that he is beyond recriminations, and he is now vibrating, glowing, and flying. It's an acknowledgment that sometimes when we go through hardships and struggles, it can lead to growth and a new sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
On Jubilee Street there was a girl named Bee
Jubilee Street was home to a young lady called Bee
She had a history, but she had no past
Bee's life had significant moments, but she did not dwell on her past
When they shut her down the Russians moved in
After her exit from Jubilee Street, Russians took ownership of the space.
I am too scared, I'm too scared to even walk on past
Even though the artist walks past the street, they are afraid to look into it
She used to say
Bee had a habit of saying
All those good people down on Jubilee Street
People living in Jubilee Street
They ought to practice what they preach
They should practice what they advocate
Here they are to practice just what they preach
They are in the right place to apply what they preach
Those good people on Jubilee Street
Good people that reside in Jubilee Street
And here I come up the hill
The artist walks up the hill leading to Jubilee Street
I'm pushing my wheel of love
The singer brings along their passion and desire
I got love in my tummy and a tiny little pain
The artist's excitement is mixed with a tiny bit of discomfort
And a ten ton catastrophe on a sixty pound chain
The singer has a significant setback that is weighing them down
And I'm pushing my wheel of love on Jubilee Street
The singer tries to share their passion in Jubilee Street
Ah look at me now
The singer reflects on themselves
The problem was she had a little black book
A dilemma arose where Bee had a collection of secrets about others
And my name was written on every page
The artist was found on every page of Bee's little black book
Well a girl's gotta make ends meet
Bee is just trying to make a living
Even down Jubilee Street
Even in Jubilee Street, where life is hard
I was out of place and time, and over the hill, and out of my mind
The artist was struggling with their place in the world
On Jubilee Street
In Jubilee Street, things are not always as they seem
I ought to practice what I preach
The artist recognizes they should follow their own advice
These days I go downtown in my tie and tails
The singer now dresses formally when going downtown
I got a fetus on a leash
The artist carries a fetus or a metaphor for something precious but difficult to hold
I am alone now, I am beyond recriminations
The singer is now alone and has forgiven themselves
Curtains are shut, the furniture is gone
The singer's environment has changed
I'm transforming, I'm vibrating, I'm glowing
The singer feels a sense of renewal, and transcendence
I'm flying, look at me now
The artist has achieved a sense of freedom and limitless potential
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Mute Song Limited
Written by: Nicholas Edward Cave, Warren Ellis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@InsanityPrawnBoy8
if you haven't seen this live, you just have to, it's mind-blowing.
@albertorosso81
Agree! I had the chance to experience that at Hanging Rock.. Magic!
@TommyTonsuls
Nick and kamasi Washington are the two best live experiences I've ever had period
@rafabass4216
No może kapsułki do prania kupię bo nie mam. Taki konfjust jestem.
@ManlyOBeeferton
Yeah the ending in the live version is a lot more frenetic. I wish they didn't hold back in the studio version.
@jerryskid1
This song takes on a whole other dimension when played live. The buildup towards the end just gets heavier and heavier. Amazing!
@KingKlear
Indeed. I felt ecstatic when I hear it, and I don't mean that as a hyperbole.
@jerryskid1
The new live version from Australia is sooo good.
@stupidhandles
agreed, saw Nick live for the first time last year (a long time coming) Jubilee street live was the best gig experience ever
@janterrirocks
saw them play this in Berkeley at the Greek Theater. One of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed. And that's not hyperbole.