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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — As I Sat Sadly By Her Side
Album: No More Shall We Part
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 478









Released: 2001
Length: 6:11
Plays (last 30 days): 0
As I sat sadly by her side
At the window, through the glass
She stroked a kitten in her lap
And we watched the world as it fell past
Softly she spoke these words to me
And with brand new eyes, open wide
We pressed our faces to the glass
As I sat sadly by her side

She said, "Father, mother, sister, brother,
Uncle, aunt, nephew, niece,
Soldier, sailor, physician, labourer,
Actor, scientist, mechanic, priest
Earth and moon and sun and stars
Planets and comets with tails blazing
All are there forever falling
Falling lovely and amazing"

Then she smiled and turned to me
And waited for me to reply
Her hair was falling down her shoulders
As I sat sadly by her side

As I sat sadly by her side
The kitten she did gently pass
Over to me and again we pressed
Our indifferent faces to the glass
"That may be very well", I said
"But watch the one falling in the street
See him gesture to his neighbours
See him trampled beneath their feet
All outward motion connects to nothing
For each is concerned with their immediate need
Witness the man reaching up from the gutter
See the other one stumbling on who can not see"

With trembling hand I turned toward her
And pushed the hair out of her eyes
The kitten jumped back to her lap
As I sat sadly by her side

Then she drew the curtains down
And said, "When will you ever learn
That what happens there beyond the glass
Is simply none of your concern?
God has given you but one heart
You are not a home for the hearts of your brothers

And God don't care for your benevolence
Anymore than he cares for the lack of it in others
Nor does he care for you to sit
At windows in judgement of the world He created
While sorrows pile up around you
Ugly, useless and over-inflated"

At which she turned her head away
Great tears leaping from her eyes
I could not wipe the smile from my face
As I sat sadly by her side
Comments (43)add comment
sat and listened while texting someone and couldn't figure out who this was. Was pleased to see that it was Nick Cave doing something unusual. Quite extraordinary
Haven't played this CD for years. Trying to remember if this is the opening number. 
This would be much better as an instrumental.
piano part is hypnotic.
The lyrics contain an odd mixture of "indifferent universe" and religious belief.

They could kill at the old venue "The Bitter End."
Это просто ОХРЕНИТЕЛЬНО. Впервые его слышал
 cbhutchinson50 wrote:


Sorry but I think this is truly awful
 
How unfortunate for you. 
Absolutely a great meditation. 10!
 Milanche wrote:
A masterpiece.

 

Why?
 oppositelock wrote:

Yes it is.
 

Sorry but I think this is truly awful
I think 3 years passed since it was last played.
I love Nick Cave. One of it's kind in his time for sure.
 Milanche wrote:
A masterpiece.

 
Yes it is.
 
  A masterpiece.

I must get more Nick Cave into my collection. Why have I not heard much from him before?
The guitar riff at the start reminds me of "Like the Way I Do" by Melissa Etheridge. You have to listen real closely because it's very soft in the mix.
Dave_Mack wrote:
I think Bryan Ferry was the midwife. Funny, I like all those guys, but this song isn't to my liking. A tad too maudlin, perhaps?
Best song from a disappointing record
... or maybe it's more like Dana Harvey when he does the "she's choppin broc-o-leee" bit 8O
Will it never end...?
Nastychicken wrote:
...Do you understand any feeling when he sings?? You may don't understand the way he's composing and writing...
I really don't care how he's feeling. It's making me feel ill.
moshevelvul wrote:
sounds like Richard Thompson and David Byrne's love child finally made a record.
I think Bryan Ferry was the midwife. Funny, I like all those guys, but this song isn't to my liking. A tad too maudlin, perhaps?
What the...
There's something about this song that makes me think of Bill Murray in Saturday Night Live when he does the parody of the lounge singer. I keep thinking I'm going to hear some hilarious lyrics.. but, alas, I'm left cold with a kit-ten sitting in my lap.
moshevelvul wrote:
sounds like Richard Thompson and David Byrne's love child finally made a record.
(And he had a cold that day. too.)
TampaPurple wrote:
Whatever message he is trying to impart is lost on me as I can't get by the annoying vocals.
...Do you understand any feeling when he sings?? You may don't understand the way he's composing and writing...
If I would be a woman, Nicky could be my husband...
great writing. (thanks for the link to the lyrics whoever you were) horrid singing. he needs to stick to writing and find a vocalist. and, oh yeah, I lOVE ANIMALS, but the lines involving the kitten seem awkward. i think its the way he sings 'kitt- tin' you try and try to like it,.... Thank God you followed it with Coldplay
moshevelvul wrote:
sounds like Richard Thompson and David Byrne's love child finally made a record.
Agreed, I didn't know this was NC, this kind of sucks.
Ick. Double ick.
I really like NC & the BSeeds, but I really can't listen to this one.
sounds like Richard Thompson and David Byrne's love child finally made a record.
Yikes!
anetode wrote:
Bad poetry? (click here) Nick Cave may be an acquired taste, but his lyrics are often nothing short of sublime.
Thanks for the link. I liked that a lot.
This one's not doing it for me...
Again on my lunch break today, I stopped by Borders and listenend to Abbotoir/Lyre for about the 12th time now, with the original intention of buying it, because I really, really like 'Flower Boy' and a few other I've heard. But then I hear this sort of song as well, and end up putting the CD back on the shelf, saving my $20 bucks and walking out empty handed.
what's wrong with the lyrics? Honestly I don't get it, someone explain?
Bad poetry? (click here) Nick Cave may be an acquired taste, but his lyrics are often nothing short of sublime.
Nick Cage and the Bad Intonation
8)
Ouch, painfully bad lyrics!
Bad poetry set to music is still bad poetry.
Mr. Halloween himself!! Check out the new double album - perhaps his masterpiece?
shari wrote:
WOW! More Nick Cave!!!! Shari
Yes yes YES! Never enough of Saint Nick!
WOW! More Nick Cave!!!! Shari