Jack the Ripper
Bad Seeds; Nick Cave Lyrics
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She rules my house with an iron fist
I got a woman
She rules my house with an iron fist
She screams out Jack the Ripper
Every time I try to give that girl a kiss
Oh well I got a woman
Oh well I got a woman
She strikes me down with a hand of lead
We bed in a bucket of butcher's knives
I awake with a hatchet hanging over my head
Well you know the story of the viper
It's long and lean with poison tooth
Oh well, you know the story of the viper
It's long, it's lean, it's got a poison tooth
Well they're hissing under the floorboards
Hanging down in bunches from my roof
I got a woman
She just hollers what she wants from where she's at
I got a woman
She just hollers what she wants from where she is
She screams out Jack the Ripper
Every time I try to give that girl a kiss
The song "Jack the Ripper" by Nick Cave is a dark and twisted narrative that talks about a toxic and abusive relationship between a man and a woman. The lyrics describe how the woman is the dominant figure in the relationship and rules over the man with an iron fist. She screams out "Jack the Ripper" whenever the man tries to initiate intimacy, which suggests that she finds pleasure in dominating and inflicting pain.
The lyrics also describe how the woman physically abuses the man, striking him down with a hand of lead and leaving him in a state of fear and insecurity. The reference to the bed in a bucket of butcher's knives and the hatchet hanging over the man's head implies that he lives in constant fear and danger.
The song is a metaphor for the real-life Jack the Ripper serial killer who terrorized the streets of London in the late 19th century. The use of the story of the viper and the poison tooth suggests that evil and danger are lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to attack and destroy.
Overall, "Jack the Ripper" is a haunting and disturbing song that explores the dark side of human nature and the destructive power of toxic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a woman
I am in a romantic relationship with a woman
She rules my house with an iron fist
She dominates and controls our household with strict authority
I got a woman
I have a female partner
She rules my house with an iron fist
She exercises her power over me and our living space firmly
She screams out Jack the Ripper
She expresses her displeasure by invoking the infamous murderer's name
Every time I try to give that girl a kiss
Whenever I attempt to be affectionate towards her
Oh well I got a woman
Well, I am still in a relationship with this woman
She strikes me down with a fist of lead
She physically attacks me with great force
Oh well I got a woman
Despite the difficulties, I am still committed to this woman
She strikes me down with a hand of lead
She hits me with a heavy-handed blow
We bed in a bucket of butcher's knives
Our sleeping situation is dangerous and unsettling
I awake with a hatchet hanging over my head
I am in a constant state of fear and uncertainty
Well you know the story of the viper
You are familiar with the tale of a poisonous snake
It's long and lean with poison tooth
The viper is characterized by its elongated shape and venomous fangs
Oh well, you know the story of the viper
Again, you are aware of the narrative being referenced
It's long, it's lean, it's got a poison tooth
The serpent is slim, sleek, and dangerous
Well they're hissing under the floorboards
The snakes are making threatening noises beneath the ground
Hanging down in bunches from my roof
The dangerous creatures are dangling in clusters above me
She just hollers what she wants from where she's at
She communicates her needs loudly from wherever she is located
She just hollers what she wants from where she is
She vocalizes her desires even if she is not near me
She screams out Jack the Ripper
She frequently calls upon the notorious killer's name when she is angry
Every time I try to give that girl a kiss
Whenever I attempt to display affection towards her
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nicholas Cave
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cyb3rDracul
I got a woman
She rules my house with an iron fist
I got a woman
She rules my house with an iron fist
She screams out Jack the Ripper
Every time I try to give that girl a kiss
I got a woman
She strikes me down with a fist of lead
I got a woman
She strikes me down with a fist of lead
We bed in a bucket of butcher's knives
A awake with a hatchet hanging over my head
Well you know the story of the viper
It's long and lean with poison tooth
Yeah, you know the story of the viper
It's long and lean with poison tooth
Well they're hissing under the floorboards
Hanging down in bunches from my roof
I got a woman
She just hollers what she wants from where she is
I got a woman
She just hollers what she wants from where she is
She screams out Jack the Ripper
Every time I try to give that girl a kiss
@cherybomber
Nick Cave brought me here.
@antemrva7439
Deftones brought me'er
@PatientenO.T.
Blixa is so hot in this video. Probably the one and only time he’s ever worn a white shirt performing. I love his signature guitar playing at the end. He’s such a treasure.
@marisolalvarezlopez7968
Beautiful Blixa ❤ brought me here
@ianalanneilgrant4626
Yeah, what the fuck happened to him? He started earning enough money to live on or something? 😂♥️
@mattdigiulio3196
My wife as always adored Nick Cave. She calls him her muse for her art. I'm jealous, but I gotta admit he is a creative genius so I can understand.
@zoltankiraly3590
if your wife likes Nick Cave you know she is a keeper :)
@damongirl66
@@zoltankiraly3590 Absololuty !
@deboracolangelo6334
He is fascinating when he sings!
@idasofar6892
I never realize how sexy this song was, until I saw Nick sing it for the first time in Paris last february (2013), I keep on loving him, more and more...