Bring It On
Nick Cave & The Bad seeds/Nick Cave Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So bring it on
Bring it on
Every little tear
Bring it on
Every useless fear
Bring it on
All your shattered dreams
And I'll scatter them into the sea
Into the sea

The geraniums on your window sill
The carnations, dear, and the daffodil
Well, they're ordinary flowers
But they long for the light of your touch
And of your trembling will
Ah, you're trembling still
And I am trembling too
To be perfectly honest I don't know
Quite what else to do

So bring it on
Bring it on
Every neglected dream
Bring it on
Every little scheme
Bring it on
Every little fear
And I'll make them disappear

So bring it on, bring it on
Bring it on
Every little thing
Bring it on
Every tiny fear
Bring it on
Every shattered dream
And I'll scatter them into the sea

Woah
So bring it on, bring it on
Bring it on
Yeah, bring it on
Come on (come on)
Oh bring it on
Yeah come on, come on
Oh come, on
Bring it on
Every little fear
And I'll make them disappear

Woah
Bring it on
Bring it on (bring it on)
Yeah bring it on
Bring it on, bring it on
Yeah bring it on
Every little fear
Bring it on

Every tiny tear
And I'll make them disappear

Overall Meaning

The song "Bring It On" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds is a hauntingly beautiful ode to a garden the singer has built for his beloved. The garden symbolizes the love and intimacy they share, and the fear and trepidation the singer feels at the thought of losing it. He promises never to abandon it, as he couldn't bear to see it untended and destroyed. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer telling his beloved that he has nowhere else to go, and that the garden is their home.

The chorus "Bring it On" is repeated several times throughout the song, and it conveys a sense of emotional vulnerability and openness. It's almost as if the singer is daring his beloved to bring on all of her fears and shattered dreams, so that he can help her make them disappear. The second verse focuses on the geraniums on the window sill, which long for the light of his beloved's touch. The flowers are ordinary, but they symbolize the beauty and vulnerability of their relationship. The singer admits that he is also trembling with fear and uncertainty, and that he doesn't know what else to do except offer his love and support.

Line by Line Meaning

This garden that I built for you
This safe space that I've created for us

That you sit in now and yearn
That you cling to and long for

I will never leave it, dear
I'll always be here for you

I could not bear to return
The thought of leaving scares me

And find it all untended
And see the neglect it's suffered

With the trees all bended low
With the signs of damage and struggle

This garden is our home, dear
This space we share is our refuge

And I got nowhere else to go
I don't know how to exist outside of it

So bring it on
Let it all out, show me your pain

Every little tear
Every drop of sadness

Bring it on
Don't hold back, let me see your emotions

Every useless fear
Every anxiety that grips you irrationally

Bring it on
Share your disappointments

All your shattered dreams
All the ambitions that didn't come true

And I'll scatter them into the sea
And I'll take them away and make them disappear

The geraniums on your window sill
The small pleasures that you hold onto

The carnations, dear, and the daffodil
The beauty that you find in everyday things

Well, they're ordinary flowers
They're nothing special, but they mean something to you

But they long for the light of your touch
They seek your care and attention

And of your trembling will
And of the passion and anxiety that you put into everything

Ah, you're trembling still
You're still grappling with those strong emotions

And I am trembling too
I feel your emotions and I share them with you

To be perfectly honest I don't know
I don't have all the answers

Quite what else to do
I'm doing my best to understand and support you

Every neglected dream
All the desires you've given up on

Every little scheme
All the plans you've made in your head

And I'll make them disappear
I'll alleviate that pressure and make them less important

Bring it on
Feel free to express yourself

Every little thing
Any issue, big or small

Every tiny fear
Even the smallest of worries

Bring it on
Open up to me

And I'll make them disappear
I'll help you let go of them

Oh bring it on
Share your pain with me

Come on (come on)
Encouraging you to be vulnerable

Every little fear
All your worries, your anxieties

And I'll make them disappear
I'll lessen their hold on you

Bring it on (bring it on)
I'm here for you

Every tiny tear
Every drop of pain you feel

And I'll make them disappear
I'll help you move on from them

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Nicholas Cave

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@RohitkumarGangotia

6y↑92

Lyrics
This garden that I built for you
That you sit in now and yearn
I will never leave it, dear
I could not bear to return
And find it all untended
With the trees all bended low
This garden is our home, dear
And I got nowhere else to go
So bring it on
Bring it on
Every little tear
Bring it on
Every useless fear
Bring it on
All your shattered dreams
And I'll scatter them into the sea
Into the sea
The geraniums on your window sill
The carnations, dear, and the daffodil
Well, they're ordinary flowers
But they long for the light of your touch
And of your trembling will
Ah, you're trembling still
And I am trembling too
To be perfectly honest I don't know
Quite what else to do
So bring it on
Bring it on
Every neglected dream
Bring it on
Every little scheme
Bring it on
Every little fear
And I'll make them disappear
So bring it on, bring it on
Bring it on
Every little thing
Bring it on
Every tiny fear
Bring it on
Every shattered dream
And I'll scatter them into the sea

@DireitoDiarios

4y↑28

This garden that I built for you
That you sit in now and yearn
I will never leave it, dear
I could not bear to return
And find it all untended
With the trees all bended low
This garden is our home, dear
And I got nowhere else to go

So bring it on
Bring it on
Every little tear
Bring it on
Every useless fear
Bring it on
All your shattered dreams
And I'll scatter them into the sea
Into the sea

The geraniums on your window sill
The carnations, dear, and the daffodil
Well, they're ordinary flowers
But they long for the light of your touch
And of your trembling will
Ah, you're trembling still
And I am trembling too
To be perfectly honest I don't know
Quite what else to do

So bring it on
Bring it on
Every neglected dream
Bring it on
Every little scheme
Bring it on
Every little fear
And I'll make them disappear

So bring it on, bring it on
Bring it on
Every little thing
Bring it on
Every tiny fear
Bring it on
Every shattered dream
And I'll scatter them into the sea

Woah
So bring it on, bring it on
Bring it on
Yeah, bring it on
Come on (come on)
Oh bring it on
Yeah come on, come on
Oh come, on
Bring it on
Every little fear
And I'll make them disappear

Woah
Bring it on
Bring it on (bring it on)
Yeah bring it on
Bring it on, bring it on
Yeah bring it on
Every little fear
Bring it on
Every tiny tear
And I'll make them disappear

All comments from YouTube:

@LongJohnHill

2y↑92

Rest in peace, Chris Bailey. Always loved your performance on this.

@ishtarbabylon4869

2y↑4

Oh no! 😒

@conorlynch2879

3y↑42

Nick Cave is the only person in the world who doesn't look stupid singing into an unplugged mic.

@nicolehofarttattoo4336

😹😹😹

@magicbulletdancers

Absolute 👍
He just does himself

@TheJulesc52

2y↑35

Nick Cave AND Chris Bailey- how much more could you ask for?!
One of my absolutely favourite songs ever
❤️ Bless Chris Bailey - YOU were extraordinary! ❤️

@josephgarcia506

2y↑28

This year marks our ten year wedding anniversary, this was our wedding song. It still makes me giddy thinking back to that day. ❤

@obiigwe8349

36w↑2

Beautiful wedding song. Congrats on your anniversary

@makaylaboswell1854

18w

What a magical song to choose. I love that 😭

@RohitkumarGangotia

6y↑92

@meloniesghost

2y↑1

Those lyrics just..slay me.Even more than usual for a Nick Cave lyric...Simply beautiful!,,

@stephanie7890

6y↑68

Words can't express how much I love this album. <3

@serenechaosuk4682

which album's this from ?

@luxmoto7344

6y↑4

Serene, it is from 'Nocturama' , one of his 'lesser' albums. This is one of the best songs from that album.

@hmao4466

2y↑2

Underappreciated album...

@NICO9000

6y↑26

An underrated album from Nick. Going to see him in October in L.A . Haven't been to one of his shows for a decade, so I'm way overdue!
When he was a crazy junkie in the days of The Birthday Party, I would have never thought we'd see a 60-year-old Nick Cave, but here he is. One of the last true rock stars.

@MattHooverDotCom

4y↑1

Underrated indeed. I avoided it for years because of the ratings. Finally checked it out today and am having a fucking blast. Bring it on. And yeah, 60-year-old Nick Cave is the best Nick Cave yet. I seriously think Ghosteen is his best album.

@NICO9000

1y↑2

@CYNTHIA DICKINSON And in Nick’s case, getting clean didn’t really negatively affect his work. If you’re not on his Red Hand Files email list, I highly suggest you subscribe. He is a really giving artist now, and his thoughts in these emails are nothing short of astonishing.👏

@TheAMVDJ

49w↑8

This song came out in 2003, and I'm just now finding it....Better late than never. So awesome!!

@StevenMatthewsTFI

38w↑2

I found it yesterday. Peaky Blinders.

@normariamarchena9393

37w↑6

Esta cancion es simplemente deliciosa... ❤❤❤❤❤

@phil6025

24w↑1

can't get enough of it

@timbest1280

2y↑7

The perfect union. Nick said that the saints inspired the boys next door and his solo stuff. Australian music royalty 🙏

@paulstevens9006

3y↑10

Love Chris Baileys cameo on this.....what a song!

@meloniesghost

2y↑2

I cannot stop watching this video.The song is...perfect and the dancers??Just beautiful!

@floriangeyer72

2y↑4

Awesome song ! Thanks for this Chris ! May you rest in peace.

@MegaMissfitz

6y↑10

Morning! This is my current favourite track ive had on repeat! It has a nice moody melody with a wonderful positive baseline! Perfect for kicking off a brandnew week 🔊😘🔊

@jenniferniskanen361

2y↑2

Such an amazing song. I'd love to see these videos rereleased in HD or 4k.

@DireitoDiarios

4y↑28

@johnroychenhall1764

2y↑4

What a banging videoclip as well. Those dancers are awesome!

@matthewchambers-sinclair8772

36w↑1

Nocturama gets a lot of flack, but if not for "Babe, I'm on Fire" it would be a very solid album. "Wonderful Life", "Still in Love" and this are three of my favourites.

@susieh2100

4y↑8

I LOVE Chris Baileys Voice in this!

@ruthlessperson8198

4y↑22

Those girls really brought it, along with Nick 🖤

@johnroychenhall1764

Word

@user-vl1ox4gy4r

47w↑2

Это просто чудо...❤ Мне 47 лет, а я до сих пор, с середины девяностых, обожаю музыку Ника. С любовью, Анна.

@morbius101

6y↑38

This album is so underappreciated.

@prodevus

6y↑1

This album is a parody of Nick Cave, both lyrically and melodically. Dude are you listening to the same song I am?

@morbius101

6y↑10

Wonderful Life, Dead Man in my Bed, Babe I'm on Fire, are all wonderful tracks. Look, just cause your worst album is an 8/10 when the others are 9/10 doesn't make it bad.

@BlueGrenadeTom

6y↑5

Dusk Kodesh -It’s weird. I really don’t like this album (even though Dead Man In My Bed and I’m On Fire are astounding) but if any of the songs come up on shuffle then they’re just fantastic! I’m sure the only problem with the album is with the track order. It’s amazing what a difference it can make. When Your Funeral... My Trial was first released on cd they messed about with the track order and it sounded like a really aggressive album, but when Mick remastered all the albums he put the track list back in its original order and it was like listening to a different album - way less aggressive and more mournful and dark. Very strange. Ever since then I’ve always left someone else to do the track order - I can’t bear (bare?) it - the tension. It’s alchemy. Witchcraft I tells ya, witchcraft!!

@manuelacasale9199

@BlueGrenadeTom You are right. The songs order made the album too

@thekidcambo781

25w

This song is so amazing it brings tears too my eyes

@Layla_

4y↑9

This song is amazing !!!!

@stephansong

1y↑3

So classic. Blixa. Rimshots. White n black suits. It fits me just right. I'll wear your songs on my heart Nick.

@kolomonolo6798

3y↑1

Obejrzałem pewien serial i ten kawałek nie rozjebał, panowie macie nowego fana z Polski 🇵🇱 pozdrawiam i słucham kolejnych kawałków 🙏👌✌

@mb2453

3y↑12

Two legends sitting and singing side by side ;)

@MrDocninja

I love this song, especially the refrain

@wendrickhenrill8675

4y↑18

Por ordem dos Peaky Blinders que vim aqui curtir essa track foderástica. Nunca supero.

@afnannafis8996

4y↑3

great song....unique music..mixture of various flavour

@GabrielSpizoyk

3y↑3

It’s my fav song so far 🖤

@parisgriego

Acabo de oír esta joya en Peaky Blinders! Que temazo!

@Oniria444

6y↑10

Y así mi día comienza de manera genial!! 💕

@Hanmakiller

6y↑1

Gélida Luz ya somos dos!! <3

@ananita626

mejor dicho, ya somos tres!

@Oniria444

Nita Barone jajaja ya somos unos cuantos 😉

@Hanmakiller

6y↑1

Jajajaja somos pocos los que tenemos buenos gustos xD

@dejanhasic5303

3y↑5

A masterpiece....

@subhajitsaha5668

3y↑2

What a song man💚

@alenda7984

6y↑1

Nossa Nick Cave ainda está na ativa 😮

@alejandrojimenez7047

6y↑5

Awesome!
This song is like the sound of god

@craigdonkin6766

2 of the best singers ever........ what a song bring on ...

@ciaranmurphy1912

4y↑5

Even tough i was suppose to be graduating this year this song is after. Giving me the courage to remember all of my friend that have been with through out the year.

@dibyoroy5467

3y↑2

The choreas part is osam.I heard this song here after watching peaky blinders s1 e5. Its a mindblowing song ♥️♥️♥️♥️

@kencoakley3959

2y↑1

Nick Cave is a bona-fide genius.

@carloguidi5173

Fantastica 🙌🏼

@markmuldoon4607

Class,just pure class. What a man

@viktoriawestrinhogstrom5434

3y↑1

love love love it!

@iesus68

6y↑18

God bless Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Chris Bailey and The Saints

@joopajoo4152

4y↑8

The best music video of all times.

@sealaka

4y↑1

What a song!

@Marcela1968PR

6y↑1

Muy bueno, gracias!

@robynfortune1379

I love this look! You are super human, Mr Cave ❤️‍🔥

@md.saminhossain5803

3y↑267

Fact: This song was sung before the Peaky Blinders.

@LastPuppy

3y↑7

nope. not true i dont believe it

@alexdelarge5021

No way

@luizandrogomes8251

Yes Bro absolutely

@greeneray

3y↑3

For real? You don’t say

@jacobseeger4428

3y↑7

Fact: We need less people like you.

13 More Replies...

@entreguesaosbichos

3y↑2

It_s Nice to see that many people around here came to check Nick cave after watching peaky blinders. On the other hand, it's so sad to see that if it wasnt for that show, most people would have heard Nick's great music

@brianjury4508

3y↑2

Woohoo, as usual Nick and the Band tighter wound than a Swiss watch. Thanks as usual

@johnashley2832

19w

luar bisaa. 💕💕

@float_sam

5y↑1

dudes the man... got all that down on record without plugging in his mic.

@NFD3122

2y↑11

Wasn’t expecting this video haha but great song either way!

@johnroychenhall1764

Those dancers are lit! 🔥

@zoranlojanica

2y↑1

Yeah, just remembered seeing this back in the day and thinking how somehow the lyrics and the whole setup made the strippers less objectified, more human. Which was a lot to take in for a full blooded 25-year old male (at the time).

@agustinabordogna1793

Magestuoso tema.

@alessandrocerato-comedy7326

2y↑1

One of the most underrated song EVER.

@aniket7151

29w

Its a refreshing song when u hear it lying exhausted after winning a war

@martinpeevski9461

44w

Hey, you create good music!

@ReviveFromMyMind

6y↑17

Unparalleled genius, I live in wait for another uk tour...

@MrMan-dy7sg

ERROR he's in London on the 3rd of June

@mariusmoldovan1982

6y↑1

Victoria Park,London 3 June 2018

@jamiebaker3958

Wee you guys at the front!

@PortalEMCioranBrasil

The perfect rock song

@enricopersia4290

6y↑154

when the charisma of this artist keeps you focused on him more than on twerking ladies :D

@luxmoto7344

4y↑11

well, to be perfectly honest, the twerking ladies don't look bad.

@javedurrahman4475

3y↑3

Niggah you gay

@justinhensley9067

3y↑2

It's a great song, regardless, but I must say, those are some seriously GORGEOUS black women.

@ryanbell6672

3y↑4

@Javedur Rahman okay, so now that we know who is gay, now what?

@LuannOsbourne

@Ryan Bell don't delete my comment

8 More Replies...

@psytechs

2y↑3

Great music, great asses!

@trishjones3595

rock on Nick ! are ye putting up any footage from Kilmainham on June 6th- Bring it on Man ~~great gig - manic ,melodic,magical~~
hope you do a coupla of encores next time- make up for June 6th !
Bad Seeds- fuckin' brilliant !

@graywarrior

6y↑5

Hilarious and awesome at the same time.

@snowgloomywinter4472

3y↑2

you have an amazing talent that beautiful voice beautiful melody congratulations

@nicholaordognebailey8718

3y↑1

I totally agree with you there he has a top voice

@anagaytan3274

Funny, I was listening & enjoying this song few days ago. But the "bad seed", inside of me, makes me enjoy your songs with another perceptions.
Anyway thank you! Great song. Good video. ;)

@HandleGF

2y↑1

Chris wipes the floor with Cave

@gustavmarie

RiP Chris...you inspired all of this and us .so bring it on!

@Emilano90

4y↑2

I love Peaky Blinders

@brucedelahunty880

3y↑5

After all these years, I still believe you could have made a classier video with those beautiful girls.
Awesome song and awesome music!
Gross clip!

@markovrdoljak1089

3y↑3

It was on purpose. 'Cause at the time everybody was telling him that he should get more naked girls to shake their booties in his videos. So he did. And then some.

@ruffyrafl2943

2y↑1

Such a great emotional song, but the most unsuiting, horrible video. 100% agree

@williamamacker3119

4y↑2

Nick Cave the one and only Fucking Awesome 😎

@msfx4g132

3y↑1

Muy buena

@killaant84

20w

First heard this on peak blinders of course > I watch the show often and just finished the episode where they play this song I like it alot,my favorite part of this song is the chorus, I wish someone could make them disappear for me..

@Rockerbeck

6y↑45

I refuse to believe that this song and video are 15 years old.

@ytho8838

Rockerbeck fuckn hell!

@patrickclaeys6512

16 now

@shadowolf4670

it is obvious since Blixa has aged like hell in that time :,,,,,,,P

@MattHooverDotCom

4y↑1

You'd better believe that THE MAN is 60+ years old and releasing the best music of his career. Fucking legend.

@isabely.6926

3y↑1

@Shadowolf in a sense; but also, he is as elegant and imposing as ever. It’s just my humble opinion, but I find him truly attractive up to this day.

1 More Replies...

@lazaroaraujo6451

3y↑5

A música é maravilhosa o clipe uma droga

@marcosgrillo2630

É bem cômico isso sim kkkkkk

@kandazrarw6633

6y↑4

😍❤es hermoso 😍❤

@healyf52

I'm gonna have to get this recording. Nick sings like a man, none of that fake ass falsetto crap so prevalent today

@marceloandrade4715

4y↑27

Peaky blinders.... Thanks Nick! 👊👊👊

@BobbieDraper

1y↑4

wtf didnt expect this kind of mv lmao

@OujiDarkmatter

Ol' Nick always had good taste,Chris was a big oart of my teenage years and beyomd/Just like Moe Tucker said,"when your idols and people start dying who were in your youth s start dying,it gets scary.RIP Chris,hope it's good for you

@destercqsylvia7399

4y↑1

Le meilleur de love💖💖💖nick j'adorrr💋de la Belgique🇧🇪

@yaronsegev1281

2y↑2

We're on our way up in the world, brother

Believe me

@chrisandersen5635

2y↑1

Rest In Peace Chris Bailey.

@colin2116

3y↑124

This music video feels like it doesn't belong in the same universe as the music.

@Gene669

3y↑5

in an interview he said he had asked "what's appealing today" when they were deciding a theme for the clip and heard "nice asses dancing" so he piled it up to "okay let's add asses dancing in the clip". it's stereotypical of those times in short, where at the time of the making of the vid, videoclips of black singers had black female dancers twerking (too much simple motion) and being dressed like prostitutes (even though this dress code has become mainstream and non representative anymore)

@thatthingthatisaid65

Chris Bailey and his barbaric yawp produce a colour unheard

@Sandysaraiva

Thinking the same here… what the 🤷🏻‍♀️

@brunosm.l2267

@AGene I thought something like that. It's like a reggaeton clip (or rap-trap in US) but with a nick cave song. Very weird. But very nick cavian of him to do that. He knew it wouldn't work didn't he.

@kevinshiels2975

27w

They wanted to do a rap music vid

@lanieg4813

2y↑1

Peaky fuckin blinders is the best series. Nick cave Red right hand was the opening song in Jack Irish, Australian and worth watching. Guy pierce is it and other great actors. Check it out. I was so glad Nick vavs

Nick cave did the opening song for the Australian series called Jack Irish. It's really good and worth watching. Red right hand was spit on. Love him

@m.e.k.4770

Geiler Song ! :-)

@keithburnt6073

50w↑1

bring it on :) yes bring it on !!

@wfdemyan1

6y↑12

This tune and The Weeping Song are my favorites

@IIJDMII

30w↑3

Só quem veio pela a série Peaky Blinders deixa o like !!

@TheWaynos73

Such sad news for Nick losing his other son so tragically. Horrible for any parent.

@hildaatje

4y↑57

After all these years the one thing that always springs to mind; what a great song and what a totally ridiculous fucked up video. Why?

@TheRoadEye

I think this video was made to appeal to an American audience. As an American, I love the song and the girls lol

@strega1380

3y↑10

at the time I read in an interview that Nick and his crew had no idea what to do MV wise so they watched some MTV to get inspired, and so the booty shake Nick Cave music video was born.

@govchal

3y↑2

the question ? begs the answer that hides in plain sight.

@ryanbell6672

3y↑3

Because it is fucking brilliant

@emmanuelmathabela8195

2y↑2

Never Mess with Peaky Blinders

@sorab777

6y↑1

This is my song of this moment to next 100 days....

@adoumiehgym

24w↑1

Siiii!!! Temporada 1 E5

@elisabethseaton6521

3y↑1

I'm here because of Puddles Pity Party. He did a cover of Nick Cave's Ship song and I wondered who this Nick Cave might be, so I googled him and picked a song. Puddles is amazing

@themadcap.laughs

6y↑1

Love you, Nick.

@eilishoshea3349

2y↑4

RIP Chris Bailey 😢

@ArianaSarahaFlightBehavior

1y↑1

Ok diehard fans, who can tell me what they cut to make this 4:20 long instead of the 5:21 album version. They cut about 10 seconds of the intro, but did they also cut a verse or one of those fabulous repeating builds?