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.
Wonderful Life
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Across these purple fields
The sun has sunk behind you
Across these purple fields
That idiot-boy in the corner
Is speaking deviated truths
Come on, admit it, babe
It's a wonderful life
If you can find it
If you can find it
It's a wonderful life that you bring
Ooh it's a wonderful thing
Speak our secret into your hands
And hold it in between
Plunge your hands into the water
And drown it in the sea
There will be nothing between us, baby
But the air that we breathe
Don't cry
It's a wonderful, wonderful life
If you can find it
If you can find it
If you can find it
It's a wonderful life that you bring
It's a wonderful, wonderful thing
We can build our dungeons in the air
And sit and cry the blues
We can stomp across this world
With nails hammered through our shoes
We can join that troubled chorus
Who criticize and accuse
It don't matter much, no
We got nothing much to lose
But this wonderful life
If you can find it
And when you find it
And when you find it
It's a wonderful life that you bring
It's a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful thing
Sometimes our secrets are all we've got
With our lives we must defend
Sometimes the air between us, babe
Is unbearably thin
Sometimes it's wise to lay down your gloves
And just give in
Come in, come in
Come in, come in
To this wonderful life
If you can find it
And if you find it
It's a wonderful life that you bring
It's a wonderful, wonderful thing
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
The lyrics of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds's song "Wonderful Life" speak of finding the beauty and wonder in life despite the struggles and hardships that may come along the way. The song encourages listeners to admit that life is wonderful, but only if one can find it. The opening lines set a surrealistic tone, describing purple fields and a sinking sun. The last stanza especially highlights the importance of cherishing life, even in moments of vulnerability and weakness.
The second stanza's use of water imagery is poignant and symbolic. The line "There will be nothing between us, baby, but the air that we breathe" suggests stripping oneself of any barriers or walls, allowing oneself to be fully open with another person. This intimacy is a significant aspect of the song, as it emphasizes the importance of human relationships as well as the beauty of individual experience. The repeated emphasis on "It's a wonderful life that you bring" suggests that our own experiences shape and contribute to our perception and enjoyment of life.
Overall, "Wonderful Life" is a song that celebrates the joy and beauty of life and encourages listeners to embrace it, even in moments of vulnerability and sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Come in, babe
Enter my life, my love
Across these purple fields
Through the fields that symbolize freedom, love finds its way
The sun has sunk behind you across these purple fields
The light that once shone so brightly is now fading away
That idiot-boy in the corner is speaking deviated truths
The fool in the room is saying things that aren't true
Come on, admit it, babe
Be honest, my love
It's a wonderful life if you can find it
Life is beautiful if you can discover its true meaning
If you can find it
Life must be searched for and discovered
If you can find it
Life is something that must be found
It's a wonderful life that you bring
My love brings joy and happiness to my existence
Ooh, it's a wonderful thing
The love that we share is a beautiful and wonderful thing
Speak our secret into your hands and hold it in between
Whisper our intimate secrets to yourself and hold them tightly
Plunge your hands into the water and drown it in the sea
Let go of your worries and leave them behind
There will be nothing between us, baby but the air that we breathe
Our love is pure and simple, only the air we share between us
Don't cry, it's a wonderful, wonderful life
Don't be sad, life is beautiful
We can build our dungeons in the air and sit and cry the blues
We can create our own problems and dwell in sadness
We can stomp across this world with nails hammered through our shoes
We can endure pain and suffering but still push through
We can join that troubled chorus who criticize and accuse
We can become part of the negativity that surrounds us
It don't matter much, no, we got nothing much to lose
Our problems are small in the grand scheme of things
But this wonderful life, if you can find it
Despite the hardships, life is still beautiful if we seek it out
And when you find it
When you truly discover the beauty of life
And when you find it
Life must be found through exploration
It's a wonderful life that you bring
My love makes my life worthwhile
Sometimes our secrets are all we've got, with our lives we must defend
Our deepest thoughts and feelings are what we must protect the most
Sometimes the air between us, babe, is unbearably thin
Sometimes our relationship is fragile and vulnerable
Sometimes it's wise to lay down your gloves and just give in
Sometimes it's best to surrender and let go of our burdens
Come in, come in, to this wonderful life
Join me in discovering the beauty of existence
It's a wonderful life
Life is beautiful
It's a wonderful life
Life must be cherished and valued
It's a wonderful life
Life is a gift to be appreciated
It's a wonderful life
Life is full of surprises and moments of joy
It's a wonderful life
No matter the hardships, life is worth living
It's a wonderful life
We must cherish every moment we have on this earth
It's a wonderful life
Life is beautiful, and we should always remember that
It's a wonderful life
We must find the beauty and joy in our existence
It's a wonderful life
Our lives are full of meaning and purpose
It's a wonderful life
Despite the hardships, life is still beautiful
It's a wonderful life
We must never forget the beauty and wonder of life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nicholas Cave
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mavirenes
Come in, babe
Across these purple fields
The sun has sunk behind you
Across these purple fields
That idiot-boy in the corner
Is speaking deviated truths
Come on, admit it, babe
It’s a wonderful life
If you can find it
If you can find it
If you can find it
It’s a wonderful life that you bring
Ooh it’s a wonderful thing
Speak our secret into your hands
And hold it in between
Plunge your hands into the water
And drown it in the sea
There will be nothing between us, baby
But the air that we breathe
Don’t cry
It’s a wonderful life, wonderful life
if you can find it
If you can find it
If you can find it
It’s a wonderful life that you bring
It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing
We can build our dungeons in the air
And sit and cry the blues
We can stomp across this world
With nails hammered through our shoes
We can join that troubled chorus
Who criticise and accuse
It don’t matter much
We got nothing much to lose
But this wonderful life
If you can find it
And when you find it
And when you find it
It’s a wonderful life that you bring
It’s a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful thing
Sometimes our secrets are all we’ve got
With our lives we must defend
Sometimes the air between us, babe
Is unbearably thin
Sometimes it’s wise to lay down your gloves
And just give in
Come in, come in
Come in, come in
To this wonderful life
If you can find it
And if you find it
It’s a wonderful life that you bring
It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing
It’s a wonderful life
It’s a wonderful life
@stevieray56
When Nick Cave enters his home office and puts quill to parchment, the lyrics that bleed from its tip onto the page can range from those of a dark and grisly murder ballad to an epic Biblical allegory, rife with wit and layers of meaning. But Cave also has a well-tuned ear for the romantic; at one time it might have seemed peculiar to hear the singer behind “6-inch Gold Blade” trading his venom and violence for something more intimate and sincere, but 1997’s The Boatman’s Call should have put those doubts to rest — as would have 2003’s Nocturama.
Nocturama’s leadoff track, “Wonderful Life,” takes that level of intimacy up a notch by allowing some of the minor cracks in love’s facade — and the obstacles in its way — to become more visible. For while Cave can spin a poignant and devastating song of yearning or passion, he presents them in a way that goes much deeper than boy-meets-girl.
“A great love song should have, somewhere, an ache in it,” Cave said. “It should be able to make you feel joyful and a little melancholy at the same time. Love has its melancholy side. I think that love songs that are kind of upbeat, and don’t really have the sigh, aren’t really love songs.”
“Wonderful Life” certainly has the sigh, but it’s also optimistic in its own shadowy, minor-key way. The love that Cave sings of in “Wonderful Life” is portrayed as both imperfect and sacred. “Sometimes the air between us, babe, is unbearably thin,” Cave croons, reflecting the sometimes tumultuous, even ambiguous nature of relationships. “Sometimes it’s wise to lay down your gloves and just give in.”
With each verse’s permutation of the central theme — resistance, conflict, frustration and doubt — Cave always returns to a variation of the same refrain: “It’s a wonderful, wonderful life, if you can find it … It’s a wonderful life that you bring.” There are no illusions about love conquering all, changing the world, curing all ills or any such similar notions. But it’s still a worthy end in itself — a wonderful life, no matter how insignificant it might seem from the outside. It’s a realistic and human look at an intimate connection between two people — even a healthy one.
@admiremariah
Come in, babe
Across these purple fields
The sun has sunk behind you
Across these purple fields
That idiot-boy in the corner
Is speaking deviated truths
Come on, admit it, babe
It's a wonderful life
If you can find it
If you can find it
If you can find it
It's a wonderful life that you bring
Ooh it's a wonderful thing
Speak our secret into your hands
And hold it in between
Plunge your hands into the water
And drown it in the sea
There will be nothing between us, baby
But the air that we breathe
Don't cry
It's a wonderful, wonderful life
If you can find it
If you can find it
If you can find it
It's a wonderful life that you bring
It's a wonderful, wonderful thing
We can build our dungeons in the air
And sit and cry the blues
We can stomp across this world
With nails hammered through our shoes
We can join that troubled chorus
Who criticise and accuse
It don't matter much, no
We got nothing much to lose
But this wonderful life
If you can find it
And when you find it
And when you find it
It's a wonderful life that you bring
It's a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful thing
Sometimes our secrets are all we've got
With our lives we must defend
Sometimes the air between us, babe
Is unbearably thin
Sometimes it's wise to lay down your gloves
And just give in
Come in, come in
Come in, come in
To this wonderful life
If you can find it
And if you find it
It's a wonderful life that you bring
It's a wonderful, wonderful thing
It's a wonderful life
It's a wonderful life
@DanielleBarnham
This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Happy in a rather sad way. Nick Cave is a stunning artist, not many even come close.
@mollyjones4165
This song sings of such simple truths. Life is as wonderful as we dare to make it. If we make it wonderful we bring wonder to others.
@tippersfunnyworld4795
This is the most underrated album in the history of rock n roll
@MattHooverDotCom
Agreed. I avoided it for years due to the ratings. Today I checked it out and realized my error.
@marijaspanjol4648
True !
@marisolquintero3179
Maybe because it is more valued as cabaret??
@mavirenes
Come in, babe
Across these purple fields
The sun has sunk behind you
Across these purple fields
That idiot-boy in the corner
Is speaking deviated truths
Come on, admit it, babe
It’s a wonderful life
If you can find it
If you can find it
If you can find it
It’s a wonderful life that you bring
Ooh it’s a wonderful thing
Speak our secret into your hands
And hold it in between
Plunge your hands into the water
And drown it in the sea
There will be nothing between us, baby
But the air that we breathe
Don’t cry
It’s a wonderful life, wonderful life
if you can find it
If you can find it
If you can find it
It’s a wonderful life that you bring
It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing
We can build our dungeons in the air
And sit and cry the blues
We can stomp across this world
With nails hammered through our shoes
We can join that troubled chorus
Who criticise and accuse
It don’t matter much
We got nothing much to lose
But this wonderful life
If you can find it
And when you find it
And when you find it
It’s a wonderful life that you bring
It’s a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful thing
Sometimes our secrets are all we’ve got
With our lives we must defend
Sometimes the air between us, babe
Is unbearably thin
Sometimes it’s wise to lay down your gloves
And just give in
Come in, come in
Come in, come in
To this wonderful life
If you can find it
And if you find it
It’s a wonderful life that you bring
It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing
It’s a wonderful life
It’s a wonderful life
@corviderook
this song never fails to show me anything less than what we are at our most passionate. it's a wonderful life it's a wonderful lie... made her cry when i played it to her too!
@pauloaleixo6554
I feel sorry for the 26 souls ,who did not have the necessary subtlety to appreciate this wonder!
@roodlofcalve9611
28 by now. some have no taste