Do You Love Me?
nick cave & the bad seeds feat. pj harvey Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You give me double vision, strange transmission
When you walk in the room
Tongue tied feeling, can't see the ceiling
You've turned out the moon

Tell me, darling, what you're trying to do

You give me double vision, strange condition
When you act that way
I'm walking sideways, my nights become days
But I feel okay

Tell me, darling, what you're trying to do

You give me double vision, soul transmission
When you act so cruel
My mind is reeling, can't see the ceiling
'Cause you've turned out the moon

Tell me, mama, what you're trying to do
You got me jumping like a man with the voodoo




Tell me, darling, what you're trying to do
You got me mad like a man with the voodoo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' "Do You Love Me?" featuring PJ Harvey are an evocative reflection of the intense and unpredictable nature of love. The singer is seemingly captivated by a mysterious figure who enters the room and instantly sends their world into disarray. The phrase "double vision" indicates a sense of confusion or disorientation, as if the singer can't quite process the overwhelming nature of their emotions. The use of "strange transmission" and "soul transmission" suggests that the attraction between the two is beyond mere physicality - there is a sense of a deep, spiritual connection.


The imagery of the moon being turned out reinforces the idea that this encounter is affecting the singer at a fundamental level, disrupting their usual patterns of behaviour and shaking up their perception of the world. The repeated pleas of "Tell me, darling, what you're trying to do" suggests that the singer is unsure whether this new presence is benevolent or not, and is grappling with a sense of vulnerability in the face of this unknown force. Despite this uncertainty, however, there is a sense of acceptance - "But I feel okay". This speaks to the idea that love can be tumultuous and unpredictable, but can also be worth the risk.


Line by Line Meaning

You give me double vision, strange transmission
Your presence makes me feel disoriented and unsure of myself.


When you walk in the room
Your arrival has a significant impact on me.


Tongue tied feeling, can't see the ceiling
I am completely at a loss for words and feel overwhelmed in your presence.


You've turned out the moon
You have such a powerful effect on me that the once bright moon now appears dark and all-consuming.


Tell me, darling, what you're trying to do
I'm confused by your actions and need you to explain your intentions to me.


You give me double vision, strange condition
You are causing me to feel physically unwell and disoriented in new and unexpected ways.


When you act that way
Your behavior is causing a significant and unexpected impact on me.


I'm walking sideways, my nights become days
You are causing me to lose track of time and direction in my life.


But I feel okay
Despite your impact on me, I inexplicably feel fine with it.


You give me double vision, soul transmission
You are penetrating deep into my soul and affecting me in ways beyond the physical realm.


When you act so cruel
Your cruelty is something that I struggle to comprehend and deal with.


My mind is reeling, can't see the ceiling
I am struggling to process and cope with your treatment of me, and it's having a significant impact on my mental state.


'Cause you've turned out the moon
Your actions have caused such an upheaval in my life that everything I once thought was bright and hopeful now seems dark and hopeless.


Tell me, mama, what you're trying to do
I need answers and clarity from you about your intentions and behavior toward me.


You got me jumping like a man with the voodoo
Your impact on me is so powerful that it feels like a supernatural force is controlling my actions and reactions.


You got me mad like a man with the voodoo
Your impact on me is driving me to madness in ways that I cannot understand or explain.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KIM FOWLEY, PAUL STANLEY, ROBERT A. EZRIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@turk914

I do admire the way he says "Do you love me?" like he's trying to get someone to admit to a crime. Just classic.

@lauraroach3512

“LIKE I LOVE YOU.” Ominously, almost as though the singer is trying to manipulate reciprocal love by proclaiming love, though based on the lyrics, I would determine that one of them (perhaps both) are profoundly disturbed, perhaps mentally ill?- “our lady of the various sorrows, some saved some borrowed some stolen , some kept, safe for tomorrow”, whereas the singer speaks as though he has a disturbing and ultimately fatalistic god-complex, coupled with a seemingly contradictory inferiority - (“I was sent to her to put things right.... so I stacked all my accomplishments beside her...still I seemed so obsolete and small.... I found GOD: now his devil’s inside Her”. From the first person narrative, it’s nearly impossible to know which one is crazier, if the “beloved” is a projection of the singers interpretation... and far from reality...etc.— gahhhh it doesn’t matter, it’s poetry -
Forgive me , I’m the daughter of an English prof and analysis is practically par for discourse but I hate it when I dissect the most essential thing about a poem/lyric right out of the song the vague, mysterious enchanting muddied water, or the questions that want to remain unanswered- dwelling in infinite possibilities

@lauraroach3512

https://youtu.be/P51IVqf28Hs

@rexmundi3108

You said it.

@biancads393

Pois é

@klaarbeckers2496

I was thinking the same

10 More Replies...

@caroldecampo7190

He can't do anything wrong with that voice and talent.
THE PREACHER MAN ❤

@karlmorris-xz6iq

if you like this you might like my brother’s music. his name is Stu Morris and 'Daisy' is a good song by him.

@caroldecampo7190

@@karlmorris-xz6iq I will have a listen

@ASMRconKiki

I absolutely adore Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Pure poetry in music form.

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