The name of the new project indicated the shift in Cave's role from band member, as in The Birthday Party, to band leader, and coincided with his shift in songwriting style from expressionism to detailed lyrical narrative. The group has been through many personnel changes, with Cave and Harvey remaining the constants until 2009.
While in West Berlin, the band released four albums: The Firstborn Is Dead, Kicking Against the Pricks, Your Funeral... My Trial and Tender Prey. Kicking Against the Pricks was the first album to feature the drumming of Thomas Wydler, now the longest-serving band member alongside Cave and Harvey.
In 1987, The Bad Seeds made an appearance in the Wim Wenders film, Wings of Desire. In 1990, the band collectively eliminated hard drugs from its diet, relocated to Brazil, and released The Good Son, which reflected a less punk approach than their previous works. Their next record, 1992's Henry's Dream, was the first to feature current members Martyn P. Casey and Conway Savage. Following it came 1994's commercially successful Let Love In.
In 1996, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds released Murder Ballads, their most successful album to date. The album included "Henry Lee", a duet with English rock singer PJ Harvey, with whom Cave had a brief relationship, and arguably the band's most well-known song, "Where the Wild Roses Grow", a duet with Australian pop idol Kylie Minogue. The latter was a mainstream hit in the United Kingdom and in Australia, winning three ARIA Awards including Song Of The Year.
Their next album, 1997's The Boatman's Call, marks a radical shift from archetypal and violent narratives to biographical and confessional songs about Cave's relationships with his ex-wife Vivianne Carneiro and PJ Harvey. It was also the first full-length album centered around Cave's piano playing.
Cave then took a short break to rehabilitate from his 20 years of heroin and alcohol abuse, during which time he married. The band resurfaced with No More Shall We Part in 2001, which followed a similar dynamic to The Boatman's Call, but received a mixed response from fans. After the release of the 2003 album Nocturama, which failed to excite reviewers, Bargeld announced he was leaving The Bad Seeds to devote more time to Einstürzende Neubauten, leaving Mick Harvey as the only original member other than Cave.
The following year, the band released their first double record, the acclaimed two-disc set Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus. In 2005, they released B-Sides and Rarities, a three-disc, 56-track collection of B-sides, rarities and unreleased songs.
In October 2007, Cave was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. During his acceptance speech, he cheekily took it upon himself to also induct the Australian members of The Bad Seeds (excluding Hugo Race), plus the members of The Birthday Party (excluding Phill Calvert).
In March 2008, the band released their 14th studio album, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, inspired by the Biblical story of the resurrection of Lazarus. Following a similar style to The Bad Seeds' side project Grinderman, the album was "universally-acclaimed." An exclusive Live Session EP was released through iTunes in April 2008, recorded at the legendary Air Studios on 2 March, 2008 as part of iTunes' Live From London series.
On 22 January 2009, Mick Harvey announced through the band's web page that he was leaving The Bad Seeds to pursue other endeavours. Now the only original member of the band, Cave focused on Grinderman, which includes The Bad Seeds' Martyn P. Casey, Jim Sclavunos and Warren Ellis; as the project includes so many Bad Seeds members it is therefore sometimes referred to as "Mini-Seeds."
The current line-up of the band is:
Nick Cave - vocals, piano, organ, harmonica, percussion, electric guitar, string arrangements (1984-)
Thomas Wydler - drums, percussion, vocals (1987—)
Martyn P. Casey - bass, vocals (1991—)
Conway Savage - piano, organ, vocals (1991—)
Warren Ellis - violin, fender mandocaster, loops, mandolin, tenor guitar, viola, bouzouki, accordion, flute, lute, piano, programming, percussion, string arrangements, vocals (1994—)
Jim Sclavunos - percussion, drums, organ, melodica, vocals (1996—)
James Johnston - organ, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals (2003—)
Past members, guest and touring musicians include:
Mick Harvey - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, organ, percussion, piano, loops, string arrangements, vocals (1984-2009)
Blixa Bargeld - electric guitar, slide guitar, pedal steel guitar, vocals (1984–2003); original member who quit after almost 20 years
Anita Lane - lyrics (1984)
Barry Adamson - bass, electric guitar, drums, organ, piano, percussion, vocals (1984-1986)
Hugo Race - electric guitar, vocals (1984)
Rowland S. Howard (deceased) - electric guitar, organ, vocals
Tracy Pew (deceased) - bass
Kid Congo Powers - electric guitar, slide guitar (1986-1989)
Roland Wolf (deceased) - piano, organ, electric guitar, vocals (1986-1989)
Helpless
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With dream comfort, memory to spare
And in my mind, I still need a place to go
All my changes were there
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Leave us, helpless, helpless, helpless
Baby can you hear me now?
The chains are locked and tied across the door
Baby, sing with me somehow
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Leave us helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
In "Helpless," Nick Cave reminisces about a place he once knew; a town in northern Ontario that provided him with comfort and memories. He explains that even though he has moved on and gone through various changes, he still longs for that place. The vivid description of the blue windows behind the stars, the yellow moon, and the big birds flying across the sky, all create a picture that underlines the wonder and beauty of the place he seeks to return to. But despite his nostalgia, he feels helpless – the chains are locked and tied across the door, and he can only sing with someone who understands.
The melancholy tone of the song is heightened with the simple yet powerful chorus of "Helpless, helpless, helpless," which echoes his feelings of despair at not being able to go back to the place and time he longs for. The song can be interpreted as an ode to how our past can shape our present and how a place can leave a profound impact on us, but it also serves as a reminder that no matter how hard we try, we can never relive the past.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a town in north Ontario
The singer describes a location in which the memories of the past reside.
With dream comfort, memory to spare
The location allows for peaceful and comfortable memories to be held onto.
And in my mind, I still need a place to go
The singer is still seeking a place where they can hold onto these memories.
All my changes were there
The artist recognizes that their past has changed them in ways that they cannot forget.
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
The beauty of the night sky is appreciated.
Yellow moon on the rise
The rising of the moon signifies a new beginning.
Big birds flying across the sky
The freedom of the birds is a symbol for the singer's desires.
Throwing shadows on our eyes
The presence of darkness casts a shadow that lurks over the artist's heart and mind.
Leave us, helpless, helpless, helpless
The powerlessness that the artist feels is overwhelming.
Baby can you hear me now?
The artist pleads for someone to hear their cries for help.
The chains are locked and tied across the door
The singer feels trapped and unable to break free from their current situation.
Baby, sing with me somehow
The artist seeks comfort and unity from others to alleviate their pain.
Leave us helpless, helpless, helpless
The overwhelming feeling of powerlessness is reiterated.
Helpless, helpless, helpless
The repeating of this line emphasizes the importance of the singer's plea for help.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BUCK RAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
YTPartyTonight
I've always been fond of this album... I can't believe it's been 20+ years already.
cavento88
I remember I bought this on cassette -
lyonslaforet
I agree although the results are a little patchy, the successful covers make the purchase worthwhile, notably this sublime version.
Jeffrey Coley
As a youth, this Neil song led me to Nick. How fortunate.
Cyrus Bud at Fletcher Gate Art
a trillion thumbs up..........
nutmeg1974
Used to have a boyfriend that was a radio DJ... he'd sing my name in the chorus of this at the end on the air... ;) *sigh*
anuki tsutskiridze
მიყვარხარ ნიკა კეივ :D <3
Scott S
Makes me miss the pedal steel guitar of Ben Keith, RIP Ben.
Mick G.
Scott S Wow! I bought Henry's dream on cassette. What a time to be alive!
sort of....
cagliostro
@kvkrob give the kid some joint and set him free