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)
Stagger Lee
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He had a Colt forty-five and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee
He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Had a '28 Ford, had payments on that
Stagger Lee
And told him, "Never ever come back no more."
Stagger Lee
So he walked through the rain, and he walked through the mud
Till he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee
He said "Mr. Motherfucker, you know who I am?"
The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn."
To Stagger Lee
He said, "Well, bartender, it's plain to see
I'm that bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee."
Mr. Stagger Lee
Barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day."
Mr Stagger Lee
Well, those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head
Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Was known to make more money than any bitch in town
She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she starts to flirt
With Stagger Lee
She saw the barkeep, said, "O God, he can't be dead!"
Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head."
She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time.
Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime."
Mr. Stagger Lee
"But there's something I have to say before you begin
You'll have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in,
Mr. Stagger Lee."
"I'll stay here till Billy comes in, till time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass."
Said Stagger Lee
"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know?
And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole,"
Said Stagger Lee
Just then Billy Dilly rolls in and he says, "You must be
That bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee."
Stagger Lee
"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee, and you better get down on your knees
And suck my dick because if you don't, you're gonna be dead,"
Said Stagger Lee
Billy dropped down and slobbered on his head
And Stag filled him full of lead
Oh yeah
The lyrics to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "Stagger Lee" tell the story of a notorious African American criminal, Lee Shelton, who was also known as "Stag Lee." The song opens with a description of Stag's rough background during the time of the Great Depression when he was armed with a Colt .45 and a deck of cards. Stag is a cowboy figure, complete with the old stetson hat and rat-drawn shoes.
The next verse describes how Stag was thrown out by his woman and left to brave the cold and rain. He ends up in a seedy bar called The Bucket of Blood where he asserts his dominance over the barkeep. Stag introduces himself as "the bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee." When the barkeep challenges him, Stag shoots him dead in cold blood.
The following verse introduces a woman named Nellie Brown, who runs the town's brothel and is known for being the most successful prostitute in town. She approaches Stag and flirts with him, only to notice that the barkeep is dead. Stag tells her to count the holes in his head, brushing it off as a minor detail. Nellie invites him to her brothel, but warns him that he will have to leave before her man Billy Dilly comes back. Stag boasts that he will wait for Billy and kill him too. True to his word, when Billy arrives and confronts Stag, he forces him to perform fellatio on him before ultimately killing him.
The song is a retelling of an African American folk tale that circulated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has been covered by numerous artists, including Woody Guthrie and The Black Keys.
Line by Line Meaning
It was back in '32 when times were hard
The story took place during the Great Depression when people faced economic hardship.
He had a Colt forty-five and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee was armed and liked to gamble.
He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Stagger Lee's shoes were made of rats and he wore an old Stetson hat.
Had a '28 Ford, had payments on that
Stagger Lee owned a 1928 Ford, but still had to make payments on it.
His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
And told him, "Never ever come back no more."
Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee's woman kicked him out of their home and told him to never return.
So he walked through the rain, and he walked through the mud
Till he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee walked through tough conditions to reach a place known as The Bucket of Blood.
He said "Mr. Motherfucker, you know who I am?"
The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn."
To Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee introduced himself to the barkeeper, but the latter was rude and indifferent.
He said, "Well, bartender, it's plain to see
I'm that bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee."
Mr. Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee proclaimed himself to be a dangerous person named Stagger Lee.
Barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day."
Mr Stagger Lee
The barkeeper had heard of Stagger Lee and boasted about defeating people like him frequently.
Well, those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head
Stagger Lee killed the barkeeper in response to his rudeness.
Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Was known to make more money than any bitch in town
A woman named Nellie Brown entered the scene, who was reputed for her wealth.
She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she starts to flirt
With Stagger Lee
Nellie Brown flirted with Stagger Lee by walking seductively towards him and lifting her skirt.
She saw the barkeep, said, "O God, he can't be dead!"
Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head."
Nellie Brown noticed the dead barkeep and expressed shock, but Stagger Lee made a dark joke about the situation.
She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time.
Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime."
Mr. Stagger Lee
Nellie Brown offered Stagger Lee sexual services for free, implying that he hadn't had sex in a while.
"But there's something I have to say before you begin
You'll have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in,
Mr. Stagger Lee."
Nellie Brown warned Stagger Lee that her man Billy Dilly had to be gone before he could have sex with her.
"I'll stay here till Billy comes in, till time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass."
Said Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee decided to wait for Billy Dilly and boasted of sodomizing him when he arrived.
"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know?
And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole,"
Said Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee considered himself to be very tough and willing to do anything to fulfill his quest.
Just then Billy Dilly rolls in and he says, "You must be
That bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee."
Stagger Lee
Billy Dilly arrived and identified Stagger Lee correctly.
"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee, and you better get down on your knees
And suck my dick because if you don't, you're gonna be dead,"
Said Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee demanded that Billy Dilly perform oral sex on him, threatening to kill him otherwise.
Billy dropped down and slobbered on his head
And Stag filled him full of lead
Oh yeah
Billy Dilly obeyed, but Stagger Lee still shot and killed him after he was done.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JERRY GARCIA, ROBERT HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kevinlee8312
It was back in '32 when times were hard
He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee
He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Had a '28 Ford, he had payments on that
Stagger Lee
His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
And she told him, "Never ever come back no more"
Stagger Lee
So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud
'Til he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee
He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am"
The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn"
To Stagger Lee
He said, "Well bartender, it's a plain to see
I'm the bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Mr. Stagger Lee
Well the barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day"
Mr Stagger Lee
Well those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head
Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Known to make more money than any bitch in town
She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she's starting to flirt
Oh, with Stagger Lee
She saw the barkeep, said, "Oh God, he can't be dead!"
Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head"
She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time
Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime"
Mr. Stagger Lee
"But there's something I have to say before you begin
You have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in
Mr. Stagger Lee"
"I'll stay here 'til Billy Dilly comes in, 'til time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass"
Said Stagger Lee
"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know
And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole"
Said Stagger Lee
Just then Billy Dilly rolls in, he says, "You must be
The mad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
I'm Stagger Lee
"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees
Then suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead"
Said Stagger Lee
Well Billy Dilly dropped down and slobbered on his head
And Stag filled him full of lead
Oh yeah
@oreganoregan5947
Nick Cave single handedly makes Australia a place of culture
@mikebrisebois
I like this song because of its positive message
@redrumax
lolol
@assassindelasaucisse.4039
Be yourself lee.
@jasonandros9395
Thanks 🙏 that’s the best comment I’ve seen on any song in a long long time, or ever
@somebloke3869
Yeah, I guess I do too now.
@spacewombat6174
It is just so uplifting and joyous😂
@jacksta28
Nick Cave is Australia's - if not one of the world's - greatest ever wordsmiths - his ability to paint a picture with lyrics is undeniably unique - simply brilliant
@NickCavee
Thanks for the support, it’s my utmost pleasure having you here, thanks for your support you have been giving me all these years, I wouldn’t be here if not you my lovely fan. I hope you find joy and happiness in my songs?😊
@bloochoob
This is the perfect choice for ‘first dance’ at a wedding