Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Dig, Lazarus, Dig!
Album: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!Avg rating:
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Total ratings: 1772
Length: 4:10
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Back in that hole.]
Larry made his nest up in the autumn branches
Built from nothing but high hopes and thin air
He collected up some baby-blasted mothers, they took their chances
And for a while they lived quite happily up there
He came from New York City, man, but he couldn't take the pace
He thought it was like dog eat dog world
Then he went to San Francisco, spent a year in outer space
With a sweet little San Franciscan girl
I can hear my mother wailing and a whole lot of scraping of chairs
I don't know what it is, but there's definitely something going on upstairs
[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
(I want you to dig)
[Back in that hole]
(I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
Yeah, New York City, he had to get out there
And San Fransisco, well, I don't know
And then to L.A., where he spent about a day
He thought even the pale sky-stars were smart enough to keep well away from L.A.
Meanwhile Larry made up names for the ladies
Like miss Boo and miss Quick
He stockpiled weapons and took potshots in the air
He feasted on their lovely bodies like a lunatic
And wrapped himself up in their soft yellow hair
I can hear chants and incantations and some guy is mentioning me in his prayers
Well, I don't know what it is, but there's definitely something going on upstairs
[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
(I want you to dig)
[Back in that hole]
(I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
Well, New York City, man, San Francisco, LA, I don't know
But Larry grew increasingly neurotic and obscene
I mean he, he never asked to be raised up from the tomb
I mean no one ever actually asked him to forsake his dreams
Anyway, to cut a long story short
Fame finally found him, mirrors became his torturers
Cameras snapped him at every chance
The women all went back to their homes and their husbands
With secret smiles in the corners of their mouths
He ended up like so many of them do, back on the streets of New York City
In a soup queue, a dopefiend, a slave, then prison, then the madhouse, then the grave
Ah, poor Larry
But what do we really know of the dead
And who actually cares?
Well, I don't know what it is, but there's definitely something going on upstairs
[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
(I want you to dig)
[Back in that hole]
[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
(I want you to dig)
[Back in that hole]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Back in that hole.]
Larry made his nest up in the autumn branches
Built from nothing but high hopes and thin air
He collected up some baby-blasted mothers, they took their chances
And for a while they lived quite happily up there
He came from New York City, man, but he couldn't take the pace
He thought it was like dog eat dog world
Then he went to San Francisco, spent a year in outer space
With a sweet little San Franciscan girl
I can hear my mother wailing and a whole lot of scraping of chairs
I don't know what it is, but there's definitely something going on upstairs
[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
(I want you to dig)
[Back in that hole]
(I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
Yeah, New York City, he had to get out there
And San Fransisco, well, I don't know
And then to L.A., where he spent about a day
He thought even the pale sky-stars were smart enough to keep well away from L.A.
Meanwhile Larry made up names for the ladies
Like miss Boo and miss Quick
He stockpiled weapons and took potshots in the air
He feasted on their lovely bodies like a lunatic
And wrapped himself up in their soft yellow hair
I can hear chants and incantations and some guy is mentioning me in his prayers
Well, I don't know what it is, but there's definitely something going on upstairs
[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
(I want you to dig)
[Back in that hole]
(I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
Well, New York City, man, San Francisco, LA, I don't know
But Larry grew increasingly neurotic and obscene
I mean he, he never asked to be raised up from the tomb
I mean no one ever actually asked him to forsake his dreams
Anyway, to cut a long story short
Fame finally found him, mirrors became his torturers
Cameras snapped him at every chance
The women all went back to their homes and their husbands
With secret smiles in the corners of their mouths
He ended up like so many of them do, back on the streets of New York City
In a soup queue, a dopefiend, a slave, then prison, then the madhouse, then the grave
Ah, poor Larry
But what do we really know of the dead
And who actually cares?
Well, I don't know what it is, but there's definitely something going on upstairs
[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
(I want you to dig)
[Back in that hole]
[Dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
[Laz'rus dig yourself]
(I want you to dig)
[Back in that hole]
Comments (126)add comment
Never seen them live and just locked tickets for one of his 2 shows in Chicago next Spring - very psyched! This is an excellent album and worth exploring if you are unfamiliar.
Jelani wrote:
add a bit of Beck, too
It's like an up-beat Tom Waits tune!
add a bit of Beck, too
It's like an up-beat Tom Waits tune!
Lyrical gold!
Love everything about this.
Jelani wrote:
Yeah, I can see that comparison. Love Mike Doughty's voice.
I don't know a lot of Nick Cave but I think songs like this made Lou Reed gnash his teeth in envy.
This guy is nuts. He makes the best quirkiest music...
This piece in particular reminds me of a Soul Coughing tune..Screenwriters Blues... which is awesome as well.
Yeah, I can see that comparison. Love Mike Doughty's voice.
I don't know a lot of Nick Cave but I think songs like this made Lou Reed gnash his teeth in envy.
anybody remember the Velvet Underground song The Gift?
this reminds me of that a little bit. spoken word story. that kind of thing.
this reminds me of that a little bit. spoken word story. that kind of thing.
First time I heard this years ago, I thought it was Beck in his "I'm a Loser" period
hayduke2 wrote:
Is that you Larry?
love it! I'm buck-ass nekkid and bobbing around my motel room
Is that you Larry?
Rather dark lyrics. Dig yourself, Lazarus.
Nice groove, and the vocal tone is perfect for this 'storytelling' type of song.
Nice groove, and the vocal tone is perfect for this 'storytelling' type of song.
I'm hoping some bow-legged muleskins are dancing in a hotel room somewhere, and maybe beating on a cowbell or more...
I have finally figured out the internet. It has given everybody to voice their opinion and the quality of that opinion had continually lessened!
I like it! Weird, but good!
Totally Cool!!!
This guy is nuts. He makes the best quirkiest music...
This piece in particular reminds me of a Soul Coughing tune..Screenwriters Blues... which is awesome as well.
This piece in particular reminds me of a Soul Coughing tune..Screenwriters Blues... which is awesome as well.
So cool to hear Nick Cave! I can't think of too many of his songs I've ever heard on the radio (terrestrial or internet) beyond Red Right Hand.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds embody, for me, the confidently rebellious and fearlessly creative musical spirit of their best-in-the-world-kinda hometown, where I could and would be if I could. DIG!
The Stranglers called -- they want their song back (Peaches).
This is quite an album. If you like this you must hear the whole thing, but it's not for the easily offended!
grhorn wrote:
2 Nick Cave songs in 20 minutes again C'mon man first NatureBoy now this they're not THAT good
PSD Bud. It's easier than complaining.
2 Nick Cave songs in 20 minutes again C'mon man first NatureBoy now this they're not THAT good
PSD Bud. It's easier than complaining.
It should be no surprise that Nick Cave took inspiration from Raymond Chandler and it's great to see that inspiration quoted in this song.
NC: "even the pale sky-stars were smart enough to keep well away from L.A"
RC: “looking up at the pale sky stars which know enough to keep their
distance from Hollywood” from The Little Sister
NC: "even the pale sky-stars were smart enough to keep well away from L.A"
RC: “looking up at the pale sky stars which know enough to keep their
distance from Hollywood” from The Little Sister
NoisyMiner wrote:
2 Nick Cave songs in 20 minutes again C'mon man first NatureBoy now this they're not THAT good
2 Nick Cave songs in 20 minutes, diggin' it Bill!
2 Nick Cave songs in 20 minutes again C'mon man first NatureBoy now this they're not THAT good
2 Nick Cave songs in 20 minutes, diggin' it Bill!
ONLY on RP - thanks Bill! Classic Nick Cave
capooti wrote:
Leider habe ich noch keinen Modern Lovers oder Jonathan Richman Song auf RP gehört.
Greetings from Bavaria to all the listeners outside. Stay safe!
This reminds me of some Modern Lovers tune
Leider habe ich noch keinen Modern Lovers oder Jonathan Richman Song auf RP gehört.
Greetings from Bavaria to all the listeners outside. Stay safe!
This reminds me of some Modern Lovers tune
kingart wrote:
Actually, I did hear it before. Musta. I rated it. Well, it was *like* I had heard it for the first time. And he's still certifiable.
I don't think I've heard this before. But other Cave tunes here, yes.
Mr. Cave is a certified lunatic genius. WTF.
Mr. Cave is a certified lunatic genius. WTF.
Actually, I did hear it before. Musta. I rated it. Well, it was *like* I had heard it for the first time. And he's still certifiable.
I don't think I've heard this before. But other Cave tunes here, yes.
Mr. Cave is a certified lunatic genius. WTF.
Mr. Cave is a certified lunatic genius. WTF.
Yeah so this is like...art, I guess. Or at least that's what they tell me.
hayduke2 wrote:
You're not a bowlegged muleskinner are you?
There may be copyright issues.
love it! I'm buck-ass nekkid and bobbing around my motel room
You're not a bowlegged muleskinner are you?
There may be copyright issues.
love it! I'm buck-ass nekkid and bobbing around my motel room
Dig this vibe, dig the rant this dude's always on, dig this rocking tune's bad-ass vocal stylings that dance the spectrum forever on the edge
what a awesome serie!!!!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!
Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
Muddy Waters - Baby Please Don't Go
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!
Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
Muddy Waters - Baby Please Don't Go
Very Leonard Cohen-ish.
This version sounded like it had some additional lines over prior versions - one just prior to the "Miss Boo, Miss Quick" piece - another just before the "soup line". Didn't catch those on the iTunes rev and I don't think I heard them on the video clip.
Are different cuts out there?
Are different cuts out there?
smilestoomuch wrote:
99.99% of all people would say the same thing.
God I love this station!!!
I watched "Brazil" for the first time the other night, and I was like, "Hey! It's Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!" And my husband, who does not listen to this wonderful station, said, "Who?"
99.99% of all people would say the same thing.
God I love this station!!!
Not one of his better ones but I like the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kV5XkBQsKU
great cheesy mustache and polyester suit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kV5XkBQsKU
great cheesy mustache and polyester suit
Pyro wrote:
Liked it the first eighty times Bill played it. Tired of it now.
ay. yeah, there's so much other f'ing great music by nick and the seeds, besides this one.... 
where is it?
where is it?Yah, time to retire this one to the once every 9 months or so queue. Great track, but.
Liked it the first eighty times Bill played it. Tired of it now.
Gednabb wrote:KICK!!!
GEDNABB
KICK!!!
I can't keep my foot from kicking the wall.
My God...is this song played enough on here? An average rating of 6, yet it's played all the time? WTF??
Ericac wrote:
This song makes me smile everytime I hear it. Also, can't keep my foot from tapping either.
I can't keep my foot from kicking the wall.
This song makes me smile everytime I hear it. Also, can't keep my foot from tapping either.
not a huge Nick Cave fan, but i do like some of the songs... although if i had to say 1 album was a bit overplayed on RP, it would be this one.
growing tired of this song 
stickers11 wrote:
Phil Collins' voice is soothing? wtf
Not a big fan of Cave at all but certainly you were not expecting Nick's voice to be soothing.... I think you should look under Phil Collins for that.
Phil Collins' voice is soothing? wtf
strawberryblonde wrote:
i want you to dig
good song
i'm a redhead myself. dig yerself ! ! !
i want you to dig
good song
RadioDoc wrote:
I'm not ashamed to admit... I like this less each time I hear it.
5->4
I just went ahead and gave it a 1 from the get-go, to save myself the trouble of changing it later.
countyman wrote: i want you to dig
good song
Poor Larry! ! ! !
i want you to dig
good song
few musicians can tell a story like nick cave. plus, the turn around on that chorus is ridiculously catchy.
smilestoomuch wrote:
I watched "Brazil" for the first time the other night, and I was like, "Hey! It's Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!" And my husband, who does not listen to this wonderful station, said, "Who?"
Don't forget Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire".
(click here)
I have a feeling I'd like this song more if I listened to the lyrics and it wasn't just slightly repetitive background music...
Too much.
what a trip....
Poor Larry! ! ! !
FOOD!!!
GLORIOUS
FOOD!!!
Sorry. That's what I think of when I see that album cover.
I am beginning..ah to hate..ah this song..ah
I Likee
Suddenly I'm in the mood for some Zappa...
Hysterical.
Grating.
I watched "Brazil" for the first time the other night, and I was like, "Hey! It's Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!" And my husband, who does not listen to this wonderful station, said, "Who?"
i like it
Bumped from 8 to 9.
Play it again, Sam!!
CalOF wrote:
Again?? Once was enough.
At least.
Again?? Once was enough.
paiasoloco wrote:
You have to watch this video
If I have to watch the video to like the song, then the song is a soundtrack. Some soundtracks are great. This is not one of them.
I'm not ashamed to admit... I like this less each time I hear it.
5->4
paiasoloco wrote:
You have to watch this video
Thanks. Now I'm damaged for life. Appreciate that.
Excelsior wrote:
Oh come on. I love Nick Cave, and I enjoy the new album, but you played this song twice yesterday, less than 12 hours apart. I suppose the thousands of other songs at RP's disposal aren't options anymore?
Even RP has a heavy rotation list...
I feel I have heard enough of this for a while.
The world seems to be divided into those who dig shouted music and those who don't. I don't.
You have to watch this video
Oh come on. I love Nick Cave, and I enjoy the new album, but you played this song twice yesterday, less than 12 hours apart. I suppose the thousands of other songs at RP's disposal aren't options anymore?
I hate this guy. Pure, unreasoning. He sounds totally phony to me.
I thought this was drech the first time I heard it. Exponentially more every time extra I hear it.
The more I hear Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, the more I like them - Thanks RP :D
I'm not ashamed to admit... I like this more each time I hear it.
Nice transition from Madrugada to Nick Cave!
i curse this song, twice now i have awoken thinking "lazarus, dig yourself"
Nice toe tapper 
stickers11 wrote:
Not a big fan of Cave at all but certainly you were not expecting Nick's voice to be soothing.... I think you should look under Phil Collins for that.
To be honest, stickers, I didn't know what to expect Nick's voice to be like. I don't really know his stuff...I had only heard the name before. This is the only thing I've heard by him, and, if this is representative of all of his work, this may very well be the only thing I hear of him (at least, willingly). This is the only song on RP I've given a 1 so far.
Love Nick Cave, don't care for this song.
this kicks ass.
Danimal174 wrote:
I try to have an open mind, but, man, I don't care for this at all. The music seems very repetitive, and Nick's voice isn't exactly soothing. I'd be fine with not hearing this one again.
You might be happier with the 24 hour Nick Drake channel.
shayde wrote:
I'm reminded of some Soul Coughing bits ("it is 5am... and you are listening...") - .
This entire new album is pretty good, if you ask me. Very well written. Dark, disturbing and fun.
Danimal174 wrote:
I try to have an open mind, but, man, I don't care for this at all. The music seems very repetitive, and Nick's voice isn't exactly soothing. I'd be fine with not hearing this one again.
Not a big fan of Cave at all but certainly you were not expecting Nick's voice to be soothing.... I think you should look under Phil Collins for that.
Danimal174 wrote:
I try to have an open mind, but, man, I don't care for this at all. The music seems very repetitive, and Nick's voice isn't exactly soothing. I'd be fine with not hearing this one again.
Well put.
I try to have an open mind, but, man, I don't care for this at all. The music seems very repetitive, and Nick's voice isn't exactly soothing. I'd be fine with not hearing this one again.
Great attitude, cheesy moustache.
The music does nothing for me.
Beaker wrote:
Stfu and sing dude.
God, I'm glad I'm not the only one. This gives me a headache.
Freakin' love it!
I like it!
govna wrote:
SHUT......THE.......FUCK.....
...UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
My sentiments about your review!
I can't believe how this song has grown on me. It was horrible to me at first. Now I'm groovin'. And if you're talking about derivatives, I hear Eric Burden, esp. the background.
gotta get me some nick cave - have heard him and his bad seeds here a few times and always have liked.
Wow. This is pretty cool!
SHUT......THE.......FUCK.....
...UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
reminds me of Velvet's Underground "The Gift"
...great flavor...
an exelent album !
I'm reminded of some Soul Coughing bits ("it is 5am... and you are listening...") - I've loved just about every Nick Cave track I've heard on RP, but when I get the albums, I have a hard time getting into them. Maybe it's just that Bill knows the right tracks to play. Dunno.
Ah, poor Larry. Love this groove 
Happygirl wrote:
I really like this! 
I don't know why?!? ... but ... me,too!!!
redstorm wrote:
trying to listen with an open mind.....ohhhh forget it! 
sounds like warren zevon after rehab, just not as much fun
It's entertaining when people attempt humor and fail so miserably.
sounds like warren zevon after rehab, just not as much funLovely. perfect. 
I dig it!
Sounds kinda like Velvet Underground to me ("The Gift" maybe?). Great effort from one of my favorite artists.
I really like this!
Now if only we can segue this with Get Down Moses
trying to listen with an open mind.....ohhhh forget it! sounds like warren zevon after rehab, just not as much fun
sounds like warren zevon after rehab, just not as much funWell, maybe. I'll give it time to grow on me.
I should have known I might like this.
figsout wrote:
sho' nuff
these are BAD seeds, thats for sure.
1
sho' nuff
Brilliant tune!
Never seen them live and just locked tickets for one of his 2 shows in Chicago next Spring - very psyched! This is an excellent album and worth exploring if you are unfamiliar.
You lucky duck! Give us a full report!