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)
Lament
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your vampire tooth, your little truth and your tiny lies
And I know your trembling hand, your guilty prize
Your sleeping limbs, your foreign hymns and your midnight cries
So dry your eyes
And turn your head away
Now there's nothing more to say
I know your trail of tears, your slip of hand
Your monkey claw, your monkey paw and your monkey hand
And I've seen your trick of blood, your trap of fire
Your ancient wound, your scarlet moon, your jail house smile
So dry your eyes
And turn your head away
Now there's nothing more to say
Now you're gone away
So dry your eyes
And turn your head away
Now there's nothing more to say
Now you're gone away
I'll miss your urchin smile, your orphan tears
Your shining prize, your tiny cries, your little fears
And I'll miss your fairground hair, your seaside eyes
Your little truth, your vampire tooth and your tiny lies
So dry your eyes
And turn your head away
Now there's nothing more to say
Now you're gone away
So dry your eyes
And turn your head away
Now there's nothing more to say
Now you're gone away
So dry your eyes
And turn your head away
Now there's nothing more to say
Now you're gone away
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ song Lament seems to describe the end of a relationship, with Cave addressing a person that he has known. The song starts with the description of the person’s physical features, including their fairground hair, seaside eyes, and vampire tooth, followed by the admission that he knows their “little truth and your tiny lies.” He then goes on to describe the person’s emotions, mentioning their “trembling hand,” “sleeping limbs,” “foreign hymns,” and “midnight cries,” which all indicate that the person is struggling with some kind of emotional turmoil.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase “so dry your eyes, and turn your head away, now there’s nothing more to say, now you’re gone away,” indicating that the relationship has come to an end, and Cave is advising the person to move on. He then describes the person’s actions that have caused the relationship to end, including their “trail of tears,” “slip of hand,” and “trap of fire.” The song ends with Cave admitting that he will miss the person, including their “urchin smile,” “orphan tears,” and “shining prize,” but ultimately accepting that they are gone and encouraging them to do the same.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen your fairground hair, your seaside eyes
I have observed your flamboyant hair and enchanting eyes that remind me of the beauty of a fairground and the serenity of the sea.
Your vampire tooth, your little truth and your tiny lies
I have noticed your sharp canines, the few things you honestly reveal to me, and the numerous little falsehoods you utter.
And I know your trembling hand, your guilty prize
I am aware of your shaking hands that betray your fear and your shameful secrets that you consider an accomplishment.
Your sleeping limbs, your foreign hymns and your midnight cries
I have seen you asleep with your limbs lying still, heard you chant strange melodies, and listened to your sorrowful weeping in the middle of the night.
So dry your eyes
Stop crying and compose yourself.
And turn your head away
Do not look back or dwell on the past.
Now there's nothing more to say
We have exhausted all possible words and solutions to our dilemma, and there is no point remaining in this relationship.
Now you're gone away
You have left me, and I must accept that you are no longer part of my life.
I'll miss your urchin smile, your orphan tears
I will fondly remember your cute but slightly mischievous smile and your tears that reveal your vulnerability.
Your shining prize, your tiny cries, your little fears
I will miss your greatest achievement, your innocent whimpering, and the things that frighten you that seem trivial.
And I'll miss your fairground hair, your seaside eyes
I will miss your extraordinary hair and your captivating eyes that remind me of the joy and tranquility of the fairground and the sea.
So dry your eyes
Again, stop crying and pull yourself together.
And turn your head away
Direct your attention elsewhere and move on.
Now there's nothing more to say
We have said all that needs to be said, and it is time to walk away.
Now you're gone away
You have left, and I need to accept that fact and continue with my life.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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