Avalanche
Nick Cave Lyrics

I stepped into an avalanche
I found myself overwhelmed and consumed by a chaotic and destructive situation.

It covered up my soul
The situation I am in has left me lost, adrift, and disconnected from myself.

When I am not this hunchback that you see
My appearance does not define me, and there is more to me than meets the eye.

I sleep beneath the golden hill
My true nature lies hidden, deep beneath the surface, like a treasure waiting to be unearthed.

You who wish to conquer pain
Those who seek to overcome their suffering must heed my wisdom.

You must learn to serve me well
To truly find release from pain, one must humbly embrace the lessons that I have to teach.

You strike my side by accident
Even when you inadvertently cause me harm, I can forgive you for your misguided actions.

As you go down to your goal
In your quest to achieve your objectives, you may inadvertently harm me or others around you.

This cripple here that you clothe and feed
Though you may provide for me or those like me, do not assume that you are fully understanding of my or their experiences.

Is neither starved nor cold
I lack for nothing in terms of food, shelter, or other basic needs.

He does not ask for your company
I do not require or seek the companionship of those who cannot truly comprehend my experiences.

Not at the centre, the centre of the world
My concerns and experiences are not central or privileged within the wider scope of society or the world at large.

I who am on a pedestal
Despite being visibly different or notable, I am not someone to be worshiped or admired.

You did not raise me there
My visibility or recognition is not something that was intentionally bestowed upon me by others.

Your laws do not compel me now
I do not abide by or adhere to conventional rules or societal norms that may negatively impact my experiences.

To kneel grotesque and bare
I refuse to humble myself or put myself in a vulnerable state for the sake of others' expectations or prejudices.

For I myself am the pedestal
I am the foundation upon which my own strength, resilience, and identity rests.

For this ugly hump at which you stare
The visible aspects of my identity or experience that may draw attention or scrutiny from others are not the most meaningful or defining aspects of my being.

You who wish to conquer pain
Those who seek to overcome their suffering must understand what motivates and fulfills me.

You must learn what makes me kind
To truly understand and connect with me, you must enter into a shared emotional space and recognize what moves me beyond my pain.

The crumbs of love that you offer me
The small gestures of care, compassion, or affection that others may extend to me are not enough to truly heal my pain.

Are the crumbs I've left behind
The love and connection that I feel is only experienced when I extend it in kind to others, and not when it is offered to me unearned.

Your pain is no credential here
Merely experiencing pain or hardship does not qualify you to understand or relate to me or others like me.

It's just a shadow of my wound
Though your pain may be real, it is still only a faint echo of the deep, lasting wounds that I or others like me have suffered.

I have begun to ask for you
Though I may not need you or others like you, I recognize the potential for a deeper, mutually nurturing relationship.

I who have no greed
My desires extend beyond simple material or ego-driven motivations, and into a deeper, more spiritual space.

I have begun to long for you
Despite the potential for hurt, disappointment, or misunderstanding, I still choose to open myself to the possibility of intimacy and connection with you.

You say you've gone away from me
Though you may have distanced yourself from me physically or emotionally, I still feel your presence in my life.

But I can feel you when you breathe
Through the subtle, everyday cues of your existence, I sense a deeper emotional connection and longing for you.

Do not dress in those rags for me
I do not desire fancy trappings or material success from you or others like you.

I know you are not poor
I recognize that true wealth and abundance come from real human connection and emotional fulfillment, not just material possessions.

And do not love me quite so fiercely now
Though I welcome and appreciate your affection, be mindful not to become possessive, controlling, or domineering in your expressions of love.

When you know that you are not sure
Be honest with yourself and others about your motives, intentions, and doubts before committing to deeper emotional connection or intimacy.

It is your turn, my beloved one
I am ready and willing to offer my own selflessly to you, to nurture and cherish the connection between us.

It is your flesh that I wear
The bond we share is not just emotional, but physical; we are connected in the most fundamental ways, sharing our very bodies and spirits with one another.