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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: 483









Released: 2001
Length: 6:09
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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
Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
Haven't played this CD for years. Trying to remember if this is the opening number. 
Posted 2 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
This would be much better as an instrumental.
Posted 3 years ago by BeanCrusher    [ Reply ]
piano part is hypnotic.
Posted 4 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
The lyrics contain an odd mixture of "indifferent universe" and religious belief.

They could kill at the old venue "The Bitter End."
Posted 4 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
Это просто ОХРЕНИТЕЛЬНО. Впервые его слышал
Posted 4 years ago by Egurtov    [ Reply ]
 cbhutchinson50 wrote:


Sorry but I think this is truly awful
 
How unfortunate for you. 
Posted 4 years ago by chyk5    [ Reply ]
Absolutely a great meditation. 10!
Posted 4 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
 Milanche wrote:
A masterpiece.

 

Why?
Posted 4 years ago by Felix_The_Cat    [ Reply ]
 oppositelock wrote:

Yes it is.
 

Sorry but I think this is truly awful
Posted 4 years ago by cbhutchinson50    [ Reply ]
I think 3 years passed since it was last played.
I love Nick Cave. One of it's kind in his time for sure.
Posted 4 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
 Milanche wrote:
A masterpiece.

 
Yes it is.
Posted 8 years ago by oppositelock    [ Reply ]
 
  A masterpiece.

Posted 9 years ago by Milanche    [ Reply ]
I must get more Nick Cave into my collection. Why have I not heard much from him before?
Posted 19 years ago by shayde    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 19 years ago by tony99    [ Reply ]
... or maybe it's more like Dana Harvey when he does the "she's choppin broc-o-leee" bit 8O
Posted 19 years ago by melissa    [ Reply ]
Will it never end...?
Posted 19 years ago by RosieRedfield    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by radiozep    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 19 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
What the...
Posted 19 years ago by radiozep    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by melissa    [ Reply ]
moshevelvul wrote:
sounds like Richard Thompson and David Byrne's love child finally made a record.
(And he had a cold that day. too.)
Posted 19 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 19 years ago by Nastychicken    [ Reply ]
If I would be a woman, Nicky could be my husband...
Posted 19 years ago by Nastychicken    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 19 years ago by gpracer    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by lovebuzz    [ Reply ]
Ick. Double ick.
Posted 19 years ago by rockasaurus    [ Reply ]
I really like NC & the BSeeds, but I really can't listen to this one.
Posted 19 years ago by Ichthyologist    [ Reply ]
sounds like Richard Thompson and David Byrne's love child finally made a record.
Posted 19 years ago by moshevelvul    [ Reply ]
Yikes!
Posted 19 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
This one's not doing it for me...
Posted 19 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by beelzebubba    [ Reply ]
what's wrong with the lyrics? Honestly I don't get it, someone explain?
Posted 19 years ago by Sobient    [ Reply ]
Bad poetry? (click here) Nick Cave may be an acquired taste, but his lyrics are often nothing short of sublime.
Posted 19 years ago by anetode    [ Reply ]
Nick Cage and the Bad Intonation
Posted 19 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
8)
Posted 19 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
Ouch, painfully bad lyrics!
Posted 19 years ago by Charlie    [ Reply ]
Bad poetry set to music is still bad poetry.
Posted 19 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
Mr. Halloween himself!! Check out the new double album - perhaps his masterpiece?
Posted 20 years ago by britrock    [ Reply ]
shari wrote:
WOW! More Nick Cave!!!! Shari
Yes yes YES! Never enough of Saint Nick!
Posted 20 years ago by MTL_Robbie    [ Reply ]
WOW! More Nick Cave!!!! Shari
Posted 20 years ago by shari    [ Reply ]