Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Opium Tea Lyrics

Here I sleep the morning through

'Til the wail of the call to prayer awakes me

And there ain't nothing at all to do but rise and follow

The day wherever it takes me



I stand at the window and I look at the sea

And I am what I am, and what will be will be

I stand at the window and I look at the sea

And I make me a pot of opium tea



Down at the port I watch the boats come in

Watch the boats come in can do something to you

And the kids gather around with an outstretched hand

And I toss them a diram or two



Well, I wonder if my children are thinking of me

Cause I am what I am, and what will be will be

I wonder if my kids are thinking of me

And I smile and I sip my opium tea



At night the sea lashes the rust red ramparts

And the shapes of hooded men who pass me

And the moan of the wind laughs and laughs and laughs

The strange luck that fate has cast me



Well, the cats on the rampart sing merrily

That he is what he is and what will be will be

Yeah, the cats on the rampart sing merrily

And I sit and I drink of my opium tea



I'm a prisoner here, I can never go home

There is nothing here to win or lose

There are no choices needed to be made at all

Not even the choice of having to choose



Well, I'm a prisoner here, yes, but I'm also free

Cause I am what I am and what will be will be

I'm a prisoner here, yeah, but I'm also free

And I smile and I sip my opium tea.