Born and raised in rural Victoria, Cave studied art before fronting The Birthday Party, one of Melbourne's leading post-punk bands, in the late 1970s. They relocated to London in 1980, but, disillusioned by life there, evolved towards a darker, more challenging sound, and acquired a reputation as "the most violent live band in the world". At this time, Cave, with his shock of black hair and pale, emaciated look, became an unwilling gothic rock poster boy. Soon after the band's break-up in 1983, Cave formed Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Much of the band's early material was set in a mythic American Deep South, drawing on spirituals and Delta blues, while Cave's preoccupation with Old Testament notions of good versus evil culminated in what has been called his signature song, "The Mercy Seat" (1988). The 1990s saw Cave achieve greater commercial success with quieter, piano-driven ballads, notably the Kylie Minogue duet "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (1996), and "Into My Arms" (1997). More recent releases, including the band's 17th and latest LP, Ghosteen (2019), feature increasingly abstract lyrics from Cave, as well as elements of ambient and electronic music. Grinderman, Cave's garage rock side project, has released two albums since 2006.
Cave co-wrote, scored and starred in the 1988 Australian prison film Ghosts... of the Civil Dead (1988), directed by John Hillcoat. He also wrote the screenplay for Hillcoat's bushranger film The Proposition (2005), and composed the soundtrack with frequent collaborator Warren Ellis. The pair's film score credits include The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), The Road (2009), Lawless (2012), and Hell or High Water (2016). Cave is the subject of several films, including the semi-fictional "day in the life" 20,000 Days on Earth (2014), and the documentary One More Time with Feeling (2016). Cave has also released two novels: And the Ass Saw the Angel (1989) and The Death of Bunny Munro (2009).
Cave's work has become the subject of academic study, and his songs have been covered by a wide range of artists, including Johnny Cash ("The Mercy Seat"), Metallica ("Loverman") and Snoop Dogg ("Red Right Hand"). He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007, and named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017.
Moonland
Nick Cave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The city was gone
The sky's full of lights
The snow provides a silent cover
In Moonland, under the stars
Under the snow and I followed this car
And I followed that car, through the sand
I listen to the DJ, and it must feel nice (it must feel nice)
It must feel nice to know, that somebody needs you
And everything moves slow
Under the stars, under the ash, through the sand
And the night drifts in, the snow provides a silent cover
And I'm not your favorite lover, I turn on the radio
And it must feel nice (it must feel nice)
Oh very very nice to know, that somebody needs you
And the chilly winds blow
Under the snow, under the stars
The whispering DJ on the radio
The whispering DJ on the radio
I'm not your favorite lover
I'm not your favorite lover
And it must feel nice (it must feel nice)
To leave no trace (no trace at all)
But somebody needs you, and that somebody is me baby
Under the stars, under the snow
Your eyes were closed
You were playing with the buttons on your coat
In the back of that car
In Moonland, under the stars
In Moonland, and I followed that car
The lyrics of Nick Cave's "Moonland" describe the feelings of a lonely person wandering through a deserted city, in search of love and companionship. As the song opens, the singer emerges from a meat-locker and discovers that the city he once knew has disappeared, replaced by a snow-covered landscape illuminated by stars and distant city lights. He follows cars on the snow-covered roads, turning on the radio to listen to the whispers of a DJ. The DJ's voice, coupled with the snowy and quiet surroundings, makes the singer yearn for the feeling of being needed by someone.
The chorus repeats the idea that it "must feel nice" to be needed by someone, as the singer craves affection and begins to believe that he has found it in the car he is following. However, he soon realizes that he is not the other person's favorite lover and that he is merely someone to pass the time with on the snow-covered roads. In spite of this, he feels a strong desire to be needed by this person.
Overall, "Moonland" is a powerful commentary on loneliness and the need for love and companionship. The song shows how even the most desperate and lonely people can find hope in the simple fact that they are needed by someone else. It also provides a poignant reminder of the fragility and impermanence of human relationships, reminding us that sometimes we are not the only ones in someone's life.
Line by Line Meaning
When I came up from out of the meat-locker
Emerging from a cold and dark place
The city was gone
The familiar surroundings were lost or no longer present
The sky's full of lights
Looking up and seeing the bright city skyline
The snow provides a silent cover
The snowfall created a muted and insulated atmosphere
In Moonland, under the stars
In an unknown, mystical place under the night sky
Under the snow and I followed this car
Moving through the snow-covered landscape while tailing a vehicle
And I followed that car, through the sand
Continuing to track the car through a different terrain
Through the snow, I turn on the radio
Driving through the snow-filled environment while listening to radio music
I listen to the DJ, and it must feel nice (it must feel nice)
Appreciating the feeling of being listened to by an audience while broadcasting over the airwaves
It must feel nice to know, that somebody needs you
The DJ feels pleased and valued to have listeners who depend on their radio show
And everything moves slow
The listener perceives time as moving slowly while being absorbed in the music and lyrics of the radio show
Under the stars, under the ash, through the sand
Moving through different terrain and surroundings during the journey
And the night drifts in, the snow provides a silent cover
As darkness falls, the snow creates a quiet and peaceful atmosphere
And I'm not your favorite lover, I turn on the radio
Fishing for a connection and listening to music on the radio, since the romantic relationship is not fulfilling
Oh very very nice to know, that somebody needs you
Finding comfort in the thought of being needed by others
And the chilly winds blow
Feeling the cold wind and the physical discomfort it brings
Your eyes were closed
Observing the other person's appearance and behavior
You were playing with the buttons on your coat
Noticing the other person's restlessness or nervousness, as shown by fidgeting with clothing
And it must feel nice (it must feel nice)
Reflecting on the emotional state of being wanted and appreciated
To leave no trace (no trace at all)
Desiring to remain anonymous or unnoticed
But somebody needs you, and that somebody is me baby
Feeling lonely and wanting to be with the other person
In Moonland, under the stars
In a mysterious and exotic location beneath the night sky
In Moonland, and I followed that car
Pursuing adventure and excitement by following the car to an unknown destination
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jim Sclavunos, Martyn Casey, Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
moenbase
on Nick Cave & Enya - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Don't fear the reaper isn't sung by Cave. It's H.I.M. And... the lyrics is from a completely different song; Disco 2000, original by Pulp, but yea, also sung by Cave.