The Singer
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Lyrics
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Where a million passing feet have tromped before me
With my guitar in my hand
Suddenly, I realize nobody knows me
Where yesterday the multitude
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Today the streets are empty
I pass a million houses
But there is no place that I belong
All I knew to give you
Was song after song after song
All the truths I tried to tell you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Born two-hundred years too late
And two-hundred years too soon
I'm a child of this age
Locked into the pages of your book
And when I am but dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
And the heights I did aspire
Or will they tear out the pages of the book
To light a fire
With the rain on my face
There is no place where I belong
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
And did you forget my song?
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds's song The Singer is about a musician who feels lost and forgotten in the world. As he walks through the streets, he realizes that despite how famous he was, nobody recognizes or knows him. He used to perform for crowds of people who screamed and cried his name out for a song, but now the streets are empty, and the crowds are gone. He feels like he has lost his place in the world, passing by a million houses but finding no place that he belongs. All he knew to give was song after song after song, but even that seems to have lost its significance.
The musician in the song reflects on how his truths and messages fell on deaf ears, as they were as distant to his audience as the moon. He feels like he was born in the wrong era, as though he was 200 years too late or 200 years too soon. He feels like a child of his age, locked into the pages of someone else's book, never truly belonging anywhere.
The song ends with the musician wondering whether he will be remembered after he dies, or if his legacy will fade away. He wonders if his feats and aspirations will be marveled at or if his pages will be torn out and used to light up a fire. He ends the song with the haunting line, "Did you forget this fucking singer so soon? And did you forget my song?"
Overall, The Singer is a powerful and emotional song about the hardships of being a musician and feeling lost and forgotten in a world that once adored you.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walk these narrow streets
As I wander through the same old, over-trodden roads
Where a million passing feet have troped before me
Where countless strangers have walked before me
With my guitar in my hand
Clutching my guitar tight
Suddenly I realize nobody knows me
Quite suddenly it hits me that I am unknown to all
Where yesterday the multitude
Where yesterday, the masses
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Called out my name and begged for my songs
Today the streets are empty
Today, the streets are deserted
And the crowds have all gone home
And the masses have all departed
I pass a million houses
I walk by countless houses
But there is no place that I belong
But none feel like home
All I knew to give you
All I could offer
Was song after song after song
Were songs, one after another
All the truths I tried to tell you
All the things I tried to convey to you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Remained as unattainable to you as the moon
Born 200 years too late
Born too many years too late
And 200 years too soon
And too many years too early
I'm a child of this age
I belong to an era
Locked into the pages of your book
Confined to a chapter in your story
And when I am but dust and clay
When I have turned to dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
And future generations take a glance at my legacy
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
Will they be amazed by the deeds I accomplished
And the heights I did aspire
And the heights I aimed to reach
Or will they tear out the pages of the book,
Or will they discard my part of the story
To light a fire
To use as kindling
With the rain on my face
With the rain pouring down on me
There is no place that I belong
I don't have a true place to call home
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
Have you really forgotten about me so quickly?
And did you forget my song?
Have you forgotten the songs I sang?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles E. Daniels, Johnny R. Cash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Napman
As I walk these narrow streets
Where a million passing feet have troped before me
With my guitar in my hand
Suddenly I realize nobody knows me
Where yesterday the multitude
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Today the streets are empty
And the crowds have all gone home
I pass a million houses
But there is no place that I belong
All I knew to give you
Was song after song after song
All the truths I tried to tell you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Born 200 years too late
And 200 years too soon
I'm a child of this age
Locked into the pages of your book
And when I am but dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
And the heights I did aspire
Or will they tear out the pages of the book,
To light a fire
With the rain on my face
There is no place that I belong
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
And did you forget my song?
ΑΝΤΙ'
As I walk these narrow streets
Where a million passin feet have trod before me
With my guitar in my hand
Suddenly I realize nobody knows me
Where yesterday the multitude
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Today the streets are empty
And the crowds have all gone home
I pass a million houses
But there is no place that I belong
All I knew to give you
Was song after song after song
All the truths I tried to tell you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Born two-hundred years too late
And two-hundred years too soon
I'm a child of this age
Locked into the pages of your book
And when I am but dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
And the heights I did aspire
Or will they tear out the pages of the book
To light a fire
With the rain on my face
There is no place that I belong
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
And did you forget my song?
주아명
Cave Nick
Miscellaneous
The Singer
(Cash, Daniels)
As I walk these narrow streets
Where a million passin feet have trod before me
With my guitar in my hand
Suddenly I realize nobody knows me
Where yesterday the multitude
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Today the streets are empty
And the crowds have all gone home
I pass a million houses
But there is no place that I belong
All I knew to give you
Was song after song after song
All the truths I tried to tell you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Born 200 years too late
And 200 years too soon
I'm a child of this age
Locked into the pages of your book
And when I am but dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
And the heights I did aspire
Or will they tear out the pages of the book
To light a fire
With the rain on my face
There is no place that I belong
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
And did you forget my song?
Napman
As I walk these narrow streets
Where a million passing feet have troped before me
With my guitar in my hand
Suddenly I realize nobody knows me
Where yesterday the multitude
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Today the streets are empty
And the crowds have all gone home
I pass a million houses
But there is no place that I belong
All I knew to give you
Was song after song after song
All the truths I tried to tell you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Born 200 years too late
And 200 years too soon
I'm a child of this age
Locked into the pages of your book
And when I am but dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
And the heights I did aspire
Or will they tear out the pages of the book,
To light a fire
With the rain on my face
There is no place that I belong
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
And did you forget my song?
Roomy Lan
The lyrics, the guitar arrangement and the way that Nick performs it, touches me more than the original,.
SuperPais
One of the best singers of all times.
ΑΝΤΙ'
As I walk these narrow streets
Where a million passin feet have trod before me
With my guitar in my hand
Suddenly I realize nobody knows me
Where yesterday the multitude
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Today the streets are empty
And the crowds have all gone home
I pass a million houses
But there is no place that I belong
All I knew to give you
Was song after song after song
All the truths I tried to tell you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Born two-hundred years too late
And two-hundred years too soon
I'm a child of this age
Locked into the pages of your book
And when I am but dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
And the heights I did aspire
Or will they tear out the pages of the book
To light a fire
With the rain on my face
There is no place that I belong
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
And did you forget my song?
주아명
Cave Nick
Miscellaneous
The Singer
(Cash, Daniels)
As I walk these narrow streets
Where a million passin feet have trod before me
With my guitar in my hand
Suddenly I realize nobody knows me
Where yesterday the multitude
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Today the streets are empty
And the crowds have all gone home
I pass a million houses
But there is no place that I belong
All I knew to give you
Was song after song after song
All the truths I tried to tell you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Born 200 years too late
And 200 years too soon
I'm a child of this age
Locked into the pages of your book
And when I am but dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
And the heights I did aspire
Or will they tear out the pages of the book
To light a fire
With the rain on my face
There is no place that I belong
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
And did you forget my song?
amcreative
I don't think you will let us Nick. Nice addition
Stephan St. Claire-Méfret
Beautiful.
Suzie Patterson
I have such appreciation for him and this band. LOVE this!
mjtorjan
King Midas, Mr. Cave is. Everything he touches, pure gold.
Wsky Sierra
No doubt!