Red Right Hand
PJ Harvey Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take a little walk to the edge of town
Go across the tracks
Where the viaduct looms
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracks
Where secrets lie in the border fires
In the humming wires
Man, you know
You're never coming back

On a gathering storm comes
A tall handsome man
In a dusty black coat
With a red right hand

Where the viaduct looms
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracks
Where secrets lie in the border fires
In the humming wires
Man, you know
You're never coming back

On a gathering storm comes
A tall handsome man




In a dusty black coat
With a red right hand

Overall Meaning

PJ Harvey's song "Red Right Hand" is a haunting tune that paints a foreboding picture of a mysterious figure known only by his red right hand. The song begins with an invitation to the listener to take a walk to the edge of town, crossing the tracks and arriving at a viaduct. The viaduct is described as a "bird of doom" that shifts and cracks, and is perched ominously over a landscape where secrets are hidden in the border fires and humming wires. PJ Harvey warns that once you enter this world, you will never return.


On a stormy night, the tall, handsome man in the dusty black coat arrives, with his red right hand. The listener is not given any context as to who this man is or what he wants, but his presence is enough to set the tone for a story of danger and unease. The viaduct and its secrets are intertwined with the appearance of the mysterious figure with the red right hand, creating a sense of impending doom and a warning to stay away from the edge of town.


In "Red Right Hand," PJ Harvey's lyrics are dark and eerie, and the music complements the mood perfectly. The song is often used as a theme song for crime dramas and has become a cult classic. The lyrics hint at supernatural elements, and while they are open to interpretation, they create a sense of suspense and tension that keep the listener engaged until the very end.


Line by Line Meaning

Take a little walk to the edge of town
Venture to the outskirts of civilization


Go across the tracks
Transverse the railroad


Where the viaduct looms
Near where the overhead bridge casts a shadow


Like a bird of doom
Menacing and foreboding like an ominous bird


As it shifts and cracks
Unstable and fragile, it trembles and fractures


Where secrets lie in the border fires
Close to where clandestine information is kept, where danger lurks


In the humming wires
Electricity crackles in the air, a sign of danger


Man, you know
Dude, you're aware


You're never coming back
Returning is not an option


On a gathering storm comes
During turbulent weather appears


A tall handsome man
A commanding and striking gentleman


In a dusty black coat
Wearing a worn and dingy garment


With a red right hand
Sporting a sinister and ominous red-colored hand


Where the viaduct looms
Near where the overhead bridge casts a shadow


Like a bird of doom
Menacing and foreboding like an ominous bird


As it shifts and cracks
Unstable and fragile, it trembles and fractures


Where secrets lie in the border fires
Close to where clandestine information is kept, where danger lurks


In the humming wires
Electricity crackles in the air, a sign of danger


Man, you know
Dude, you're aware


You're never coming back
Returning is not an option


On a gathering storm comes
During turbulent weather appears


A tall handsome man
A commanding and striking gentleman


In a dusty black coat
Wearing a worn and dingy garment


With a red right hand
Sporting a sinister and ominous red-colored hand




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Mute Song Limited
Written by: Mick Harvey, Nick Cave, Thomas Wydler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Amanda Marques

Take a little walk to the edge of town
Go across the tracks
Where the viaduct looms
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracks
Where secrets lie in the border fires
In the humming wires
Man, you know
You're never coming back

On a gathering storm comes
A tall handsome man
In a dusty black coat
With a red right hand

Where the viaduct looms
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracks
Where secrets…



Ahmed Hassan

Take a little walk to the edge of town
And go across the tracks
Where the viaduct looms
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracks
Where secrets lie in the border fires
In the humming wires
Hey man, you know
You're never coming back



Daniel

Take a little walk to the edge of town.
Go across the tracks.
Where the viaduck looms.
Like a birt of doom.
As it shifts and cracks.
Where secrets lie in the border fires.
In the humming wires.
Man, you know.
You're never coming back.
On a gathering storm comes.
A tall handsome man.
In a dusty black coat.
With a red right hand.
Wher the viaduct looms.
Like a bird of dooms.
As it shifts and cracs.



All comments from YouTube:

William Shd

Put this song at my funerals.

Godless

Fuck your god !!

Life Kid

For the Peaky Blinders ma'e.

Igor Novičić

@symphonic 94 what did he wrote?

ihtisham ulhaq

What an idiotic comment

Sheena K

How many are you expecting to have?

16 More Replies...

adumelial rothstein

Cillian Murphy was so epic in this AND he had a class A bunch of peers acting just the same with him. BEST crime drama I have ever seen! I HAD TO binge watch it at times. Had me on the edge of my seat!

I wonder where in the hell Steven Knight pulled this story out of his creative soul? Then again it was the music sound track that made this series high up on the satisfaction scale of cinema viewing.

Godless

Fuck your god !!

Demi Basan

@Anamya Jain i think his granddad was who arthut is supposed to be.

Anamya Jain

Steven knight family was shelby

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