Stranger Than Kindness
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Lyrics
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Bottled light from hotels
Spilling everything
Wet hand from the volcano
Sobers your skin
Stranger than kindness
You caress yourself
And grind my soft cold bones below
Your map of desire
Burned in your slave
Even a fool can come
A strange lit stair
And find a rope hanging there
Stranger than kindness
Keys rain like heaven's hair
There is no home, there is no bread
We sit at the gate and scratch
The gaunt fruit of passion
Dies in the light
Stranger than kindness
Your sleeping hands, they journey
They loiter
Stranger than kindness
You hold me so carelessly close
Tell me I'm dirty
I'm a stranger
I'm a stranger
I'm a stranger
To kindness
The seemingly elusive nature of kindness in the human experience is expressed in the song "Stranger Than Kindness" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of intimate encounters between two people where the presence of kindness is palpable but somehow out of reach. The opening lines "Stranger than kindness, bottled light from hotels, spilling everything, wet hand from the volcano, sobers your skin" suggest that even the most mundane things can become strange or unfamiliar if viewed through the lens of a deeper emotional connection.
As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more surreal and dreamlike, with phrases like "your map of desire burned in your slave" and "keys rain like heaven's hair" portraying a landscape that is both beautiful and dangerous. The line "the gaunt fruit of passion dies in the light" may suggest that the intensity of passion can only exist in the shadows or in a space that is removed from the harshness of reality.
The repetition of "I'm a stranger to kindness" at the end of the song suggests that the characters in the song are unable to fully give or receive kindness, even in moments of physical intimacy. The lyrics offer a glimpse into the complexities of human relationships, and the desire to connect on a deep emotional level even when we feel like strangers.
Line by Line Meaning
Stranger than kindness
The situation is more unusual than what is considered kind or empathetic behavior
Bottled light from hotels
The artificial lighting of a hotel room, captured in a small container or bottle
Spilling everything
Sharing intimate details with someone, even if it may be too much information
Wet hand from the volcano
A hand dampened by the steam from a volcanic eruption, symbolizing the unexpected and sometimes dangerous events that occur in life
Sobers your skin
A sudden feeling of sobriety or clarity that makes one more aware of their surroundings and their own feelings
You caress yourself
Engaging in self-pleasure or self-comfort
And grind my soft cold bones below
Using the singer's body for one's own pleasure, without concern for the singer's comfort or well-being
Your map of desire
The complex and intricate ways in which one's desires (sexual or otherwise) are interconnected
Burned in your slave
Being enslaved by one's own desires or passions, leading to a sense of powerlessness or lack of control
Even a fool can come
The ease with which one can become trapped or lost in their own desires or obsessions
A strange lit stair
A surreal or dreamlike image of a staircase, representing the path one takes to fulfill their desires
And find a rope hanging there
The availability of tools or means to achieve one's desires, even in unexpected places
Keys rain like heaven's hair
Keys falling or raining down from above, symbolizing an abundance of opportunities or choices
There is no home, there is no bread
A sense of lack, emptiness, or desperation that can accompany one's obsessions or desires
We sit at the gate and scratch
The frustration or struggle that can come with trying to satisfy one's desires, feeling stuck or unable to move forward
The gaunt fruit of passion
The negative effects that can result from following one's desires too closely or obsessively, leading to a metaphorical 'gaunt' or withered state
Dies in the light
The end of a relationship or connection due to the harsh light of reality, exposing the flaws or issues that may have been hidden before
Your sleeping hands, they journey
The subconscious thoughts and desires that guide one's actions and movements, even while asleep
They loiter
The aimless or wandering nature of these subconscious thoughts or desires, sometimes leading to indecision or confusion
You hold me so carelessly close
The mix of passion and carelessness that can be present in intimate relationships, leading to a sense of danger or unpredictability
Tell me I'm dirty
The use of language or shaming tactics to further one's own desires, regardless of how it may make the other person feel
I'm a stranger
The artist feels disconnected or removed from their own desires and passions
To kindness
The singer is unable to connect with or understand the empathetic or kind behavior that is expected in social situations
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, Mute Song Limited
Written by: Anita Lane, Blixa Bargeld
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind