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)
Swing Low
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thomas McGee, he swallowed a key
Did he die, little Thomas McGee?
Holly, Holly just let him be
He's wiser now, little Thomas McGee
Called this kid on the telephone
I needed something I could not digest
And the phone kept ringing
There's no one home
Ran to his house, rapped on the window
Blood was pumping much to fast
Stuck my fingers through the glass
Strange music playing on the radio
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low
Way down low
And carry me home
Pray like Peter, preach like Paul
Jesus died to save us all
I climbed through the window
I crawled on the floor
I ripped off all the furniture
But I still couldn't find what I was looking for
Problems to you we claim as our own
Cannot be solved they must be outgrown
The bottomless knowledge that can not be known
The empty ringing of the telephone
And the strange music playing on the radio
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low
Way down low
And carry me home
Where do you go, where do you go
Swing low baby save my soul
Where do you, where do you
Swing low, baby, save my soul
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low...
The opening lyrics of "Swing Low" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds seem to suggest a conversation about a person named Thomas McGee, who swallowed a key. The line "Did he die, little Thomas McGee?" leaves the listener with a sense of unease, questioning whether the child is still alive. But the response by Holly, "He's wiser now, little Thomas McGee," implies that he is still alive and has learned something valuable from his near-death experience. The song then takes a turn as the singer describes desperately needing something that he cannot digest and running to Thomas McGee's house to find it, only to be met with strange music playing on the radio.
The chorus of "Swing Low" throughout the song appears to be a plea for salvation or deliverance, with the repeated phrase "Swing low" giving the sense of coming down from above to carry the singer home. This call for salvation is further emphasized by the mention of biblical figures like Peter and Paul preaching and the acknowledgment of Jesus' sacrifice to save us all.
Overall, "Swing Low" seems to be a contemplation of the mysteries of life and the search for something that cannot be easily found. The repetition of the eerie radio music and the unanswered ringing of the phone add to the sense of unease and the feeling of being lost. But the chorus offers an assurance that salvation may be found, albeit in a mysterious and mystical way.
Line by Line Meaning
How is little Thomas McGee?
Asking about the well-being of Thomas McGee
Thomas McGee, he swallowed a key
Thomas McGee swallowed a key
Did he die, little Thomas McGee?
Inquiring about the status of Thomas McGee's survival
Holly, Holly just let him be
Holly is advised to leave Thomas McGee alone
He's wiser now, little Thomas McGee
Thomas McGee has gained some valuable experience
Called this kid on the telephone
Dialing the phone to reach someone
Heart was beating in my chest
Feeling nervous and anxious
I needed something I could not digest
Seeking something that cannot be fully understood or accepted
And the phone kept ringing
Continuously dialing with no answer
There's no one home
No one is available to answer
Ran to his house, rapped on the window
Going to his house and knocking on the window
Blood was pumping much too fast
Heart beating too fast due to intense emotions
Stuck my fingers through the glass
Putting fingers through the glass window to get inside
Strange music playing on the radio
Unusual music playing from the radio
Swing low
Requesting for help to come
Way down low
Help requested from a lower place
And carry me home
Asking for assistance to return home
Pray like Peter, preach like Paul
Aspiring to follow the example of Peter and Paul in faith
Jesus died to save us all
Believing in Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for humanity
I climbed through the window
Going through the window to get inside
I crawled on the floor
Moving on hands and knees
I ripped off all the furniture
Removing furniture in desperation to find something
But I still couldn't find what I was looking for
Not finding the desired object even after searching thoroughly
Problems to you we claim as our own
Assuming ownership of our problems rather than blaming others
Cannot be solved they must be outgrown
Some problems can only be overcome by personal growth
The bottomless knowledge that can not be known
The paradox of knowledge that is infinite yet unattainable
The empty ringing of the telephone
The frustration of unanswered phone calls
Where do you go, where do you go
Asking where to find help
Swing low baby save my soul
Seeking salvation and help from a higher power
Swing low, baby, save my soul
Requesting help and salvation from a higher power
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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