Swampland
The Birthday Party Lyrics


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Quixanne, ah'm in its grip
Quixanne, ah'm in its grip
Sinken in the mud
Patron-saint of the Bog.
They cum with boots of blood
Wit' pitchfawk and with club
Chantin' out mah name
Got doggies strainin' onna chain
Lucy, ah'll love ya till the end!
They hunt me like a dog
Down in Sw-a-a-a-amp Land!

So cum mah executioners! Cum bounty hunters!
Cum mah county killers--for ah cannot run no more
Ah cannot run no more
Ah cannot run no more
No I can't!
Lucy, ya won't see this face agin'
When ya caught ya swing and burn
Down in Sw-a-a-a-amp Land!

The trees are veiled in fog
The trees are veiled in fog
Like so many jilted brides
Now they're all breakin' down and cry
Cryin' tears upon mah face
Cryin' tears upon mah face
And they smell of gasoline
A-a-a-a-ah- scr-e-e-e-a-am
Lucy, ya made a sinner out of me
Now ah'm burnin' like a saint
Down in Sw-a-a-a-amp Land!

So cum mah executioners!
Cum mah bounty huntahs!
Cum mah county killers




ya know ah cannot run no more
No ah cannot run no more.

Overall Meaning

The Birthday Party's "Swampland" is a song about a man who is stuck in the grips of the swamp, unable to escape the hunters chasing him. The singer is portrayed as a victim and a sinner at the same time, with Lucy being the catalyst for his downfall. There is a sense of inevitability to his fate as he sings, "ah cannot run no more" multiple times throughout the song.


The lyrics are vivid and descriptive, setting the mood of the song from the very beginning with "Quixanne, ah'm in its grip." The swamp becomes a character of its own, with the patron-saint of the bog and the trees crying tears upon the singer's face. The hunters and their dogs add to the sense of danger, with the pitchforks and clubs they carry.


Lucy is mentioned several times throughout the song, with her love turning the singer into a sinner, and her absence leading to his execution in the swamp. The song is full of religious imagery, with burning like a saint and the patron-saint of the bog.


Overall, "Swampland" is a haunting and evocative song, with Nick Cave's distinctive voice adding to the bleak atmosphere of the swamp.


Line by Line Meaning

Quixanne, ah'm in its grip
I am trapped in a place called Quixanne


Sinken in the mud
I am sinking in the mud


Patron-saint of the Bog.
I am the patron-saint of the swamp


They cum with boots of blood
People are coming with bloody boots


Wit' pitchfawk and with club
They have pitchforks and clubs


Chantin' out mah name
They are chanting my name


Got doggies strainin' onna chain
They have dogs on chains, waiting to hunt me


Lucy, ah'll love ya till the end!
I will love Lucy until the end


They hunt me like a dog
They are hunting me like a dog


Down in Sw-a-a-a-amp Land!
I am in a place called Swampland


So cum mah executioners! Cum bounty hunters!
Come, my executioners and bounty hunters


Cum mah county killers--for ah cannot run no more
Come, my killers, as I can't run anymore


Ah cannot run no more
I cannot run anymore


No I can't!
I really cannot


Lucy, ya won't see this face agin'
Lucy won't see me again


When ya caught ya swing and burn
When they catch me, they will kill me


The trees are veiled in fog
The trees are covered in fog


Like so many jilted brides
They look like brides who were stood up at the wedding


Now they're all breakin' down and cry
Now they are all breaking down and crying


Cryin' tears upon mah face
They are crying tears on my face


And they smell of gasoline
They smell like gasoline


A-a-a-a-ah- scr-e-e-e-a-am
I am screaming


Lucy, ya made a sinner out of me
Lucy has turned me into a sinner


Now ah'm burnin' like a saint
I am burning like a saint


Down in Sw-a-a-a-amp Land!
I am still in the place called Swampland


So cum mah executioners!
Again, I am calling my executioners


Cum mah bounty huntahs!
I am also calling my bounty hunters


ya know ah cannot run no more
They know that I can't run anymore


No ah cannot run no more.
Again, I cannot run anymore




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Comments from YouTube:

turnip burst talcumpowder

Absolutely fantastic, louder the better

Patricio Fernandez

Rockin that 7/4 on the drums Mick!!

Alistair Boom

Great track, thanks for posting. The original 12" single I bought is in the old dears' attic, haven't heard it for over 20 years!

Scott LeBrun

My favorite BP song... brilliant

Wes Paul

It's right up there

gleeart

For a last gasp band release this passed muster & then some.
Saw them in London prior to their Berlin relocation & Nick tried to make a little "thanks/goodbye" speech before the set....was shouted down by yells of "wan###!!", & made for a classic vaudeville moment.
Happy days.

terrypussypower

Nick Cave is fucking feral on this! The Birthday Party fucking RULE!

Stephen Dedalus

This is equally hard with any death metal song. Cool.

James Sidney Reynolds

Go nick drill the songs break this at with into years play been by party private .king j

Morticia Addams

This song always reminds me of his book And the Ass Saw the Angel for some reason.Genius prose

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