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.
Nature Boy
Nick Cave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To watch the news on TV
I saw some ordinary slaughter
I saw some routine atrocity
My father said, don't look away
You got to be strong, you got to be bold, now
He said, that in the end it is beauty
That is going to save the world, now
And she moves among the sparrows
And she floats upon the breeze
She moves among the flowers
She moves something deep inside of me
I was walking around the flower show like a leper
Coming down with some kind of nervous hysteria
When I saw you standing there, green eyes, black hair
Up against the pink and purple wisteria
You said, "Hey, nature boy, are you looking at me
With some unrighteous intention?"
My knees went weak
I couldn't speak, I was having thoughts
That were not in my best interests to mention
And she moves among the flowers
And she floats upon the smoke
She moves among the shadows
She moves me with just one little look
You took me back to your place
And dressed me up in a deep sea diver's suit
You played the patriot, you raised the flag
And I stood at full salute
Later on we smoked a pipe that struck me dumb
And made it impossible to speak
As you closed in, in slow motion
Quoting Sappho, in the original Greek
She moves among the shadows
She floats upon the breeze
She moves among the candles
And we moved through the days
And through the years
Years passed by, we were walking by the sea
Half delirious
You smiled at me and said, babe
I think this thing is getting kind of serious
You pointed at something and said
Have you ever seen such a beautiful thing?
It was then that I broke down
It was then that you lifted me up again
She moves among the sparrows
And she walks across the sea
She moves among the flowers
And she moves something deep inside of me
She moves among the sparrows
And she floats upon the breeze
She moves among the flowers
And she moves right up close to me (something deep inside of me)
The song "Nature Boy" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds is a powerful piece about the beauty and brutality of life. The opening lyrics describe the horrors of the news that a young boy watches, and how his father teaches him to be resilient against the darkness of the world. However, his father also imparts a valuable lesson about the importance of beauty in the world, suggesting that it is ultimately what will save us all. The singer then meets a beautiful woman who captivates him in every way, inspiring him to see the beauty in the world even more deeply.
Throughout the rest of the song, the singer describes his relationship with this woman, detailing how she moves among various elements of nature and how her presence deeply affects him. The last verse describes the couple's deep connection as they walk by the sea, with the singer ultimately breaking down and being lifted up again by his partner's strength.
In many ways, "Nature Boy" is a meditation on the power of beauty in a world that often seems cruel and harsh. The song suggests that even amidst the darkness, there is great beauty and meaning to be found - in love, in nature, and in the way that they intersect. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and to the transformative power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just a boy when I sat down
I was a young, impressionable child sitting down to watch the news
To watch the news on TV
Watching the TV news where I saw terrible things
I saw some ordinary slaughter
I witnessed some commonplace acts of violence
I saw some routine atrocity
I saw some everyday acts of horror
My father said, don't look away
My father urged me not to turn away
You got to be strong, you got to be bold, now
He told me to be courageous and not to give up
He said, that in the end it is beauty
He said that ultimately, beauty will triumph
That is going to save the world, now
Beauty is what will save us all
And she moves among the sparrows
She moves gracefully among the birds
And she floats upon the breeze
She glides effortlessly on the wind
She moves among the flowers
She moves in a delicate manner within the plants
She moves something deep inside of me
She stirs something profound within me
I was walking around the flower show like a leper
I was wandering the event like an outcast
Coming down with some kind of nervous hysteria
Feeling anxious and on edge
When I saw you standing there, green eyes, black hair
I spotted you, your striking eyes and dark hair catching my attention
Up against the pink and purple wisteria
You stood near the beautiful, colorful vine
You said, "Hey, nature boy, are you looking at me
You spoke to me, asking if I was staring at you
With some unrighteous intention?"
If I was looking at you inappropriately
My knees went weak
My legs felt unsteady
I couldn't speak, I was having thoughts
I was at a loss for words, having impure thoughts
That were not in my best interests to mention
Thoughts that I knew were not appropriate to voice
And she moves among the shadows
She moves elegantly in the darkness
She moves upon the smoke
Her presence moves along with the smoke
She moves among the candles
She glides amidst the lit candles
And we moved through the days
We spent days together, moving forward through life
And through the years
As the years passed, we remained close
Years passed by, we were walking by the sea
Many years later, we walked along the shoreline
Half delirious
Slightly disoriented or confused
You smiled at me and said, babe
You smiled warmly at me and called me "babe"
I think this thing is getting kind of serious
You expressed that our relationship was becoming significant
You pointed at something and said
You gestured at something and spoke
Have you ever seen such a beautiful thing?
Asking if I had ever witnessed something as breathtaking
It was then that I broke down
I became emotional at that moment
It was then that you lifted me up again
You comforted me and lifted my spirits
And she walks across the sea
She elegantly strides across the water
And she moves right up close to me (something deep inside of me)
She approaches me intimately, stirring something profound within me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Mute Song Limited
Written by: Jim Sclavunos, Martyn Casey, Nicholas Cave, Warren Ellis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anngiles2149
Got to hear nick cave this year .My son introduced me to Into My Arms and I became a big fan ! I love this song and video and dance to it ,it’s so infectious ,I’m 88 years old !
@thelonelypiper9562
😮😊
@elizabethhobson7939
I have got a number of people into Nick Cave - always starting with Into My Arms! It’s irresistible!
@Marta-wl6su
The whole album is a masterpiece!
@graemeblake6980
Brilliant song with more than a nod and a wink to Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's 1975 classic 'Make me Smile (Come up and see me)'
@neomoose13
That's exactly what I was thinking when I heard it!
@badboy46528
that#s right was always wondering what this reminds me of
@johanroing927
evidentially !
@stuartgiles9541
I’d not noticed that. Good call. Although Steve Harley wouldn’t have had wisteria in his lyrics.
@OpalAlex
This is my favourite song of all time.