The band has featured international personnel throughout its career and presently consists of Cave, violinist and multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis, bassist Martyn P. Casey (all from Australia), guitarist George Vjestica (United Kingdom), keyboardist/percussionist Toby Dammit (United States) and drummers Thomas Wydler (Switzerland) and Jim Sclavunos (United States). The band has released sixteen studio albums and completed numerous international tours, and has been considered "one of the most original and celebrated bands of the post-punk and alternative rock eras in the '80s and onward".
The band was founded in 1983 following the demise of Cave and Harvey's former group the Birthday Party, the members of which met at a boarding school in Victoria. By the release of their fifth studio album Tender Prey in 1988, they shifted from post-punk towards an experimental alternative rock sound, later incorporating various influences throughout their career. For example, the 2008 album Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! and the side-project Grinderman were strongly influenced by garage rock. Synthesizers and minimal guitar work feature prominently on Push the Sky Away (2013), recorded after Harvey's departure from the band in 2009.
The project that would later evolve into Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds began following the demise of The Birthday Party in August 1983. Both Cave and Harvey were members of the Birthday Party, along with guitarist Rowland S. Howard and bassist Tracy Pew. During the recording sessions of the Birthday Party's scheduled EPs Mutiny/The Bad Seed, internal disputes developed in the band. The difference in Cave and Howard's approach to songwriting was a major factor, as Cave explained in an interview with On The Street: "the main reason why The Birthday Party broke up was that the sort of songs that I was writing and the sort of songs that Rowland was writing were just totally at odds with each other." Following the departure of Harvey, they officially disbanded. Cave also said that "it probably would have gone on longer, but Mick has the ability to judge things much more clearly than the rest of us."[8]
Cave and guitarist Kid Congo Powers during the band's 1986 tour.
An embryonic version of what would later become Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was formed in the Birthday Party's then-home of London in September 1983, with Cave, Harvey (acting primarily as drummer), Einstürzende Neubauten guitarist Bargeld, Magazine bassist Barry Adamson, and Jim G. Thirlwell. The band was initially formed as a backing band for Cave's intended solo project Man Or Myth?, which had been approved by the record label Mute Records. During September and October 1983, they recorded material with producer Flood,[9] although the sessions were cut short due to Cave's touring with the Immaculate Consumptive, another project formed with Thirlwell, Lydia Lunch and Marc Almond.[10] In December 1983 Cave returned to Melbourne, Australia, where he formed a temporary line-up of his backing band, due to Bargeld's absence, that included Pew and guitarist Hugo Race. The band performed their first live show at Seaview in St. Kilda on 31 December 1983.
Following a short Australian tour, and during a period when they were without management, Cave and his band returned to London. Cave, Harvey, Bargeld, Race and Adamson formed the project's first consistent line-up, while Cave's longtime girlfriend Anita Lane was credited as a lyricist on the band's debut album.[citation needed] The group, which up to this time had been nameless, adopted the moniker Nick Cave and the Cavemen, which they used for the first six months of their career. However, they were later renamed Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in May 1984, in reference to the final Birthday Party EP The Bad Seed.[citation needed] They began recording sessions for their debut album in March 1984 at London's Trident Studios and these sessions, together with the abandoned Man Or Myth? sessions from September–October 1983 that were recorded at The Garden studios, formed the album From Her to Eternity, released on Mute Records in 1984.
Deanna
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Well, you know you are my friend, yeah
Oh Deanna
And I ain't down here for your money
I ain't down here for your mon-
I'm down here for your soul
Ain't no carpet on the floor
And the winding cloth holds many moths
Around your Ku Klux furniture
I cum a deaths-head in your frock
And we discuss the murder plan
We discuss murder and the murder act
Murder takes the wheel of the Cadillac
And death climbs in the back
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Sweet Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Well, this is a car
Oh Deanna
And this is a gun
Oh Deanna
And this a day number one
Oh Deanna
Of our little
Of our little crimeworn histories
Black and smoking Christmas trees
And honey, it ain't a mystery
Why you're a mystery to me
We will eat out of their pantries
And their parlors
Ashy leaving in their beds
And we'll unload into their heads
On this mean season
But this little angel that I'm squeezin'
She ain't been mean to me
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Well, you're my friend and my partner
Oh Deanna
On this house on the hill
Oh Deanna
And I ain't down here for your money
No, I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your love or money
I'm down here for your soul
Oh Deanna
Oh, oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
I am a-knocking
Oh Deanna
With my toolbox and my stocking
Oh Deanna
Well I'll meet you on the corner
Yes, you point it like a finger
And squeeze its little thing
I hear its kick, I feel its bang
And let's not worry 'bout its issue
Don't worry about where it's been
And don't worry about where it hits
'Cause that ain't yours to sin
Oh Deanna
'Cause it just ain't your to sin
Oh Deanna
Oh, sweet Deanna
Oh Deanna
I ain't getting any younger
Oh Deanna
And you're my friend
Oh Deanna
The sun a hump at my shoulder
Oh Deanna
And I don't intend to get any older
Oh Deanna
Oh, oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Well, I ain't down here for your money
I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your love of money
I'm down here for your soul
The lyrics to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' song Deanna depict a disturbing and violent narrative about a relationship between two people who plot and carry out murders together. The first verse establishes Deanna as the singer's friend and explains that he is not interested in her money or love, but instead wants her soul. The second verse describes the eerie setting of Deanna's house, with no carpet on the floor and a death's-head wearing her frock. The two discuss murder plans and then execute them, with murder driving a Cadillac and death riding in the back.
The third verse depicts the couple preparing to break into someone's house and steal their food and possessions, while also potentially harming or killing them. Despite this criminal activity, the singer describes Deanna as a little angel, who has not been mean to him. The final verse is ominous, as the singer arrives at Deanna's house with his toolbox and stocking, and they plan to use a gun together. The singer emphasizes that a sin committed with the gun is not Deanna's responsibility, but implies that both of them could be held accountable for their actions.
Overall, the song suggests a deeply twisted relationship between two individuals who engage in heinous crimes together. The lyrics use imagery of death and violence to convey a sense of danger and unease throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Deanna
The singer is addressing Deanna.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Well, you know you are my friend, yeah
The singer considers Deanna as his friend.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
And I ain't down here for your money
The singer is not interacting with Deanna for money.
And I ain't down here for your love
The singer is not interested in Deanna's love.
I ain't down here for your mon-
The singer interrupts his own sentence and moves on to the next line.
I'm down here for your soul
The singer is interacting with Deanna for her soul.
Ain't no carpet on the floor
The room is not well furnished.
And the winding cloth holds many moths
The cloth in the room has many moths on it.
Around your Ku Klux furniture
Deanna has a racist furniture in her room.
I cum a deaths-head in your frock
The singer is dressed as a dead head wearing Deanna's frock.
And we discuss the murder plan
The singer and Deanna are discussing a plan of murder.
We discuss murder and the murder act
The discussion between the singer and Deanna is about murder.
Murder takes the wheel of the Cadillac
Murder is being personified as driving the Cadillac.
And death climbs in the back
Death is personified as sitting at the back of the car.
Sweet Deanna
The singer is addressing Deanna in an affectionate way.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Well, this is a car
The singer is pointing out that they are in a car.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
And this is a gun
The singer is pointing out that he has a gun.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
And this a day number one
The singer is marking the beginning of a new day.
Of our little
The singer is indicating a small but significant event.
Of our little crimeworn histories
The singer and Deanna are building a history of committing crimes.
Black and smoking Christmas trees
The trees are turned black due to the fires set by the singer and Deanna.
And honey, it ain't a mystery
The singer assures Deanna that there's no mystery about what they will do.
Why you're a mystery to me
The singer is curious about Deanna's character.
We will eat out of their pantries
The singer and Deanna will eat the food from the pantries of their victims.
And their parlors
They will also use the parlors of their victims.
Ashy leaving in their beds
The singer and Deanna will leave ashes on the beds of their victims.
And we'll unload into their heads
The singer and Deanna will shoot their victims.
On this mean season
The crimes are being committed in a rough time of the year.
But this little angel that I'm squeezin'
The singer refers to Deanna as his little angel whom he's fond of.
She ain't been mean to me
Deanna hasn't been unkind to the singer.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Well, you're my friend and my partner
The singer considers Deanna his friend and partner in crime.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
On this house on the hill
The crimes are being committed in a house on a hill.
And I ain't down here for your money
The singer repeats that he's not committing crimes for money.
No, I ain't down here for your love
The singer repeats that he doesn't want Deanna's love.
I ain't down here for your love or money
The singer is here to take Deanna's soul, not money or love.
I'm down here for your soul
Repetition of line 10.
Well, I'll meet you on the corner
The singer and Deanna have a meeting place on a corner.
Yes, you point it like a finger
Deanna is giving directions to the singer like pointing her finger.
And squeeze its little thing
The singer is squeezing the trigger of the gun.
I hear its kick, I feel its bang
The singer confirms the sound and the impact of the gun being fired.
And let's not worry 'bout its issue
The singer and Deanna don't care about the impact of the gun.
Don't worry about where it's been
The singer and Deanna don't need to know where the bullet has been before.
And don't worry about where it hits
The singer and Deanna don't need to know where the bullet will land.
'Cause that ain't yours to sin
Killing is not considered a sin by the singer and Deanna.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
'Cause it just ain't yours to sin
Repetition of the previous line.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Oh, sweet Deanna
Repetition of line 21 with an added adjective.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
I ain't getting any younger
The singer is growing old and wants to complete his goals soon.
And you're my friend
Repetition of line 6.
The sun a hump at my shoulder
The sun is casting its shadows on the singer's shoulder.
And I don't intend to get any older
The singer wants to achieve his goals before he gets too old.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Oh, oh Deanna
Repetition of line 22 with an added exclamation.
Oh Deanna
Repetition of line 1.
Well, I ain't down here for your money
Repetition of line 8.
I ain't down here for your love
Repetition of line 9.
I ain't down here for your love of money
Repetition of line 34.
I'm down here for your soul
Repetition of line 10.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nicholas Cave
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@drumb9771
DEANNA
O DEANNA
O Deanna!
O DEANNA
Sweet Deanna!
O DEANNA
You know you are my friend, yeah
O DEANNA
And I ain’t down here for your money
I ain’t down here for your love
I ain’t down here for you love or money
I’m down here for you soul
No carpet on the floor
And the winding-cloth holds many moths
Around your Ku Klux furniture
I cum a deaths-head in your frock
We discuss the murder pact
We discuss murder and the murder act
Murder takes the wheel of the Cadillac
And death climbs in the back
O DEANNA
This is a car
O DEANNA
This is a gun
O DEANNA
And this a day number one
O DEANNA
Our little crimeworn histories
Black and smoking Xmas trees
And honey, it ain’t a mystery
Why you’re a mystery to me
We will eat out of their pantries
And their parlours
Ashy leavings in their beds
And we’ll unload into their heads
On this mean season
This little angel that I squeezin’
She ain’t been mean to me
O DEANNA
O Deanna!
O DEANNA
You are my friend and my partner
O DEANNA
On this house on the hill
O DEANNA
And I ain’t down here for your money
I ain’t down here for your love
I ain’t down here for your love or money
I’m down here for your soul
O DEANNA
I am a-knocking
O DEANNA
With my toolbox and my stocking
O DEANNA
And I’ll meet you on the corner
O DEANNA
Yes, you point it like a finger
O DEANNA
And squeeze it’s little thing
O DEANNA
Feel it’s kick, hear its bang
And lets not worry about its issue
Don’t worry about where its been
And don’t worry about where it hits
Cause it ain’t yours to sin
O DEANNA
No it just ain’t yours to sin
O DEANNA
Sweet Deanna
O DEANNA
And we ain’t getting any younger
O DEANNA
And I don’t intend gettin’ any older
O DEANNA
The sun a hump at my shoulder
O DEANNA
O Deanna!
O DEANNA
Sweet Deanna
O DEANNA
And I ain’t down here for your money
I ain’t down here for your love
I ain’t down here for your love of money
I’m down here for your soul
@deannaleprieur3367
So happy to see so many Deanna’s😂
@AndresRuiz-ge7km
Congratulations sweet Deanna, you got swing
@amalienanopod5165
Even when Blixa is lip-syncing you can see his german accent haha
@sarajayne3832
Baahaahaa !!! ;)
@ultraviolentgeisha
I love the way he sings every single word in this song. "This is a GUNNAAA"/"and this is a day number UONNAA"
@deannahayward4600
I finally found a song with my name in it. And it sounds really good.
@deadragonlord022
That was my thought, too!
@deannaclandfield872
Lol me to
@Drummer2695
🙌
@deannime158
Omg sameee I was named from this song!!!!