Originally, the Australian band was called The Boys Next Door, comprising Cave, Howard, Mick Harvey (guitar, drums, organ, piano), bassist Tracy Pew, and drummer Phill Calvert. After the Door Door album and Hee Haw EP under that name, the band moved to London and switched its name to the deceptively benign Birthday Party. Once they arrived in Britain, their demented, knotty post-punk began to gel. They released their first international album, Prayers On Fire, in 1981, earning critical praise in the U.K. and U.S. While the band was preparing to record the follow-up, Pew was jailed for drunk driving; former Magazine member Barry Adamson, Harry Howard, and Chris Walsh filled in for the absent Pew on 1982's Junkyard.
After the release of Junkyard, Calvert joined Psychedelic Furs and the band moved to Germany, where they began collaborating with such experimental post-punk acts as Lydia Lunch and Einstürzende Neubauten. Harvey left in the summer of 1983. The group briefly continued with drummer Des Heffner, but it soon disbanded after a final concert in Melbourne, Australia. Cave had the most successful solo career, recording a series of albums in the '80s and '90s that maintained his status as a popular cult figure; Harvey joined Cave's band Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Howard joined Crime & The City Solution, which also featured his brother Harry and Harvey. Tracey Pew toured with The Saints before dying of an epileptic seizure in 1986.
--Review from AMG Allmusic Guide
Hamlet
The Birthday Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hamlet's fishing in the grave
a-fishing in the grave
thru the custard bones and stuff
he ain't got no friend in there
no he ain't got no friend in there
I believe our man's in love
he wears a crucifix
he wears a crucifix
pow pow pow pow/pow pow pow pow
Hamlet move so beautiful
moves so beautiful
walking thru the flowers
waving to the people
all those beautiful people
lying in the shadows
he's movin' down the street-now
he likes the look of that Cadillac
and now he wants that Cadillac
pow pow pow pow/pow pow pow pow
is this love some kinda love
is this love some kinda love
now he's comin' down my street
crawling up my stairs
he's coming to my room
he's knocking on my door
WHERE FOR ART THOU BABY-FACE
where... for... art... thou...
pow pow pow pow/pow pow pow pow
is this love
is this love
POW!
he shoot it inside
he shoot it inside
POW!
some kinda love...
don't let 'em steal your heart away
he went and stole my heart POW!
hey hey hey POW!!
The Birthday Party's song "Hamlet" is a cacophony of enigmatic lyrics that can be interpreted in multiple ways. However, one interpretation is that the song is about the titular character of William Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet." The song starts with Hamlet going fishing in the grave, which could be interpreted as him trying to find comfort in death or trying to escape his own life. Hamlet is depicted as being alone in the grave with no friends, which could suggest a feeling of loneliness or despair.
The song's chorus "Hamlet got a gun - now he wears a crucifix" seems to refer to Hamlet's quest for revenge against his uncle, who killed his father and married his mother. The gun and crucifix could symbolize his conflicting feelings of wanting to seek vengeance but also wanting redemption from his sins. The line "walking through the flowers, waving to the people, all those beautiful people lying in the shadows" could signify Hamlet's realization that everyone, no matter how beautiful or powerful, ends up dead.
The song's climax and perhaps the most poignant moment comes towards the end when Hamlet comes down to the singer's street, crawls up to the singer's room, and asks for Baby-Face. The line "where for art thou Baby-Face" references Juliet's famous monologue from Romeo and Juliet, and could suggest Hamlet's insanity or delusion. The song ends with the sound of gunshots, which could signify Hamlet's ultimate demise, but it is open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Hamlet's fishing in the grave
Hamlet is metaphorically searching for something, possibly meaning or closure, in a barren and hopeless place
a-fishing in the grave
Continuation of the above line
thru the custard bones and stuff
Hamlet is digging through the remains of the dead looking for something he can't find
he ain't got no friend in there
Hamlet's search is solitary, as he struggles to find closure on his own
no he ain't got no friend in there
Continuation of the above line
I believe our man's in love
Hamlet is lost and distracted, possibly by his own emotions, which are hindering his search for closure
Hamlet got a gun-now
Hamlet has a newfound sense of power and control in his search for closure
he wears a crucifix
Hamlet carries a symbol of hope or salvation in his search for closure
pow pow pow pow/pow pow pow pow
The gunshot sounds signify Hamlet's new sense of power and control
Hamlet move so beautiful
Hamlet's movements suggest a confident and graceful approach to his search
moves so beautiful
Continuation of the above line
walking thru the flowers
Hamlet's search may involve a journey through pleasant and peaceful surroundings
waving to the people
Hamlet may seek validation or support from those around him
all those beautiful people
Continuation of the above line
lying in the shadows
Hamlet may be hiding his struggles and emotions from those around him
he's movin' down the street-now
Hamlet's journey may take him beyond the pleasant surroundings he started in
he likes the look of that Cadillac
Hamlet may be tempted by material possessions or worldly pleasures that distract from his search
and now he wants that Cadillac
Continuation of the above line
is this love some kinda love
Hamlet's motivations and emotions are uncertain and unclear
now he's comin' down my street
Hamlet's journey leads him to encounter others who may be affected by his search
crawling up my stairs
Hamlet's search may involve a struggle or hardship, possibly metaphorical or literal
he's coming to my room
Hamlet's journey may lead him to confront or involve others in his search
he's knocking on my door
Continuation of the above line
WHERE FOR ART THOU BABY-FACE
A reference to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, suggesting confusion and questioning of identity or motivation
where... for... art... thou...
Continuation of the above line
pow pow pow pow/pow pow pow pow
The gunshot sounds indicate Hamlet's violent and unpredictable actions
is this love
Continuation of the earlier line, implying that Hamlet's motivations and emotions remain unclear
POW!
Another gunshot indicating Hamlet's unpredictable and violent behavior
he shoot it inside
Hamlet's violence may be directed inward, possibly affecting his mental or emotional well-being
some kinda love...
Uncertainty and confusion over Hamlet's emotions and motivations
don't let 'em steal your heart away
A warning to not let external factors take away one's motivation or hope in a difficult search
he went and stole my heart POW!
Hamlet's actions may be affecting those around him, possibly in harmful ways
hey hey hey POW!!
Continuation of the above line, indicating the ongoing and unpredictable nature of Hamlet's actions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
terrypussypower
Mick Harvey’s drumming is awesome! And Tracy Pew’s baseline is evil!
Roberto Munoz
RAW ROCK AND ROLL !!!!!!!!!!
Giselle A Martínez Rangel
Pow pow pow pow pow
duxsmer
and Jesus Lizard is born