Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Tender Prey Album Lyrics

It began when they come took me from my home
And put me in Dead Row
Of which I am nearly wholly innocent, you know
And I'll say it again
I am not afraid to die

I began to warm and chill
To objects and their fields
A ragged cup, a twisted mop
The face of Jesus in my soup
Those sinister dinner deals
The meal trolley's wicked wheels
A hooked bone rising from my food
All things either good or un-good

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
A tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die

Interpret signs and catalogue
A blackened tooth, a scarlet fog
The walls are bad, black, bottom kind
They are the sick breath at my hind
They are the sick breath at my hind
They are the sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath gathering at my hind

I hear stories from the chamber
How Christ was born into a manger
And like some ragged stranger
Died upon the cross
And might I say it seems so fitting in its way
He was a carpenter by trade
Or at least that's what I'm told

Like my good hand
Tattooed E-V-I-L all across his brother's fist
That filthy five
They did nothing to challenge or resist

In Heaven His throne is made of gold
The ark of his Testament is stowed
A throne from which I'm told
All history does unfold
Down here it's made of wood and wire
And my body is on fire
And God is never far away

Into the mercy seat I climb
My head is shaved, my head is wired
And like a moth that tries
To enter the bright eye
I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never lied

My kill-hand is called evil
Wears a wedding band that's good
'Tis a long-suffering shackle
Collaring all that rebel blood

And the mercy seat is burning
And I think my head is glowing
And in a way I'm hoping to be done
With all this weighing up of truth
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is growing
And I think my head is melting
And in a way I'm helping to be done
With all this twisting of the truth
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway, I saw no proof
And not a motive why

And the mercy seat is melting
And I think my blood is boiling
And in a way I'm spoiling all the fun
By all this consequence of truth
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway there was no proof
And not a motive why

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
A life for a life
And a truth for a truth
And anyway there was no proof
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is smoking
And in a way I'm hoping to be done
With all these looks of disbelief
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
But anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is-a waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
Of an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is-a waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
Of an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is-a waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
Of an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is-a waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
Of an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
Of an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm not afraid to lie

And the mercy seat is-a waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
Of an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm not afraid to lie

And the mercy seat is-a waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning to be done
With all this measuring of proof
Of an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm afraid I told a lie

Oh my, oh my
What a wretched life
I was born on the day
That my poor mama died
I was cut from her belly
With a Stanley knife
My daddy did a jig
With the drunk midwife

Who's that yonder all in flames
Dragging behind him a sack of chains
Who's that yonder all in flames
Well, up jumped the Devil and he staked his claim on me

Oh, poor heart
I was doomed from the start
Doomed to play
The villain's part
I was the baddest Johnny
In the apple cart
My blood was blacker
Than the chambers of a dead nun's heart

Oh, who's that milling on the courthouse steps
Nailing my face to the hitching fence
Who's that milling 'round the courthouse steps
Up jumped the Devil and off he crept

Oh no, oh no
Where could I go
With my hump of trouble
And my sack of woe
To the digs and the deserts of Mexico
Where my neck was safer from the lynching rope

Who's that yonder laughing at me
Like I was the brunt of some hilarity
Who's that yonder laughing at me
Well up jumped the Devil, one, two, three

H-h-h-h-h-how lucky we were
We hit the cathouses
And we sampled their wares
We got as drunk
As a couple of Czars
That night I swallowed
My lucky stars

Who's that dancing on the jailhouse roof
Stamping on the ramping with a cloven hoof
Who's that dancing on the jailhouse roof
Up jumped the Devil and said "Here is your man and I got a proof"

Oh no, oh no, don't go
Oh, slow down Joe
The righteous path is straight as an arrow
Take a walk and you'll find it's too narrow
Too narrow for the likes of me

Who's that hanging from the gallows tree
His eyes are plucked but he looks like me
Now who's that swinging from the gallows tree
Up jumped the Devil and he took my soul from me

Down, down, down
Down we go
Down we go
Down we go
Down we go
The Devil and me
Down we go
Down we go
Down, down, down
The Devil and me
Down we go
Down we go
For eternity
Yeah, the Devil and me
Down we go
Down we go
Down we go
Down, down, down
Hell fire and flames
Down we go
Down we go the Devil and me to Eternity
Down we go
Down we go

Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Well, you know you are my friend, yeah
Oh Deanna
And I ain't down here for your money
And I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your mon-
I'm down here for your soul

Ain't no carpet on the floor
And the winding cloth holds many moths
Around your Ku Klux furniture
I cum a deaths-head in your frock
And we discuss the murder plan
We discuss murder and the murder act
Murder takes the wheel of the Cadillac
And death climbs in the back

Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Sweet Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Well, this is a car
Oh Deanna
And this is a gun
Oh Deanna
And this a day number one
Oh Deanna
Of our little
Of our little crimeworn histories
Black and smoking Christmas trees
And honey, it ain't a mystery
Why you're a mystery to me

We will eat out of their pantries
And their parlors
Ashy leaving in their beds
And we'll unload into their heads
On this mean season
But this little angel that I'm squeezin'
She ain't been mean to me

Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Well, you're my friend and my partner
Oh Deanna
On this house on the hill
Oh Deanna
And I ain't down here for your money
No, I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your love or money
I'm down here for your soul

Oh Deanna
Oh, oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
I am a-knocking
Oh Deanna
With my toolbox and my stocking
Oh Deanna
Well I'll meet you on the corner
Yes, you point it like a finger
And squeeze its little thing
I hear its kick, I feel its bang
And let's not worry 'bout its issue
Don't worry about where it's been
And don't worry about where it hits
'Cause that ain't yours to sin

Oh Deanna
'Cause it just ain't your to sin
Oh Deanna
Oh, sweet Deanna
Oh Deanna
I ain't getting any younger
Oh Deanna
And you're my friend
Oh Deanna
The sun a hump at my shoulder
Oh Deanna
And I don't intend to get any older
Oh Deanna
Oh, oh Deanna
Oh Deanna
Well, I ain't down here for your money
I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your love of money
I'm down here for your soul

Alice wakes
It is morning
She is yawning
As she walks about the room
Her hair rolls down her breast
She is naked and it is June

Standing at the window
I wonder if she knows that I can see

Watching Alice rise year after year

Up in her palace, she's captive there

Alice's body
Is golden brown
Her hair hangs down
And she brushes it one hundred times
First she pulls her stocking on
And then the church bell chimes
Alice climbs into her uniform
The zippers on the side
Watching Alice dressing in her room
It's so depressing, it's cruel

Watching Alice dressing in her room
It's so depressing, it's true

I stood in the water
In the middle month of winter
My camel skin was torture
I was in a state of nature
The wind, sir, it was wicked
And I was so alone
And just as I predicted
My followers were gone

And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees

Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I had mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees

Thrown into a dungeon
Bread and water was my portion
And faith, my only weapon
To rest the devil's legion
The speak-hole would slide open
A viper's voice would plead
A voice thick with innuendo
Syphilis and Greed

And she cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
I told her to get down on her knees

Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
I told her to get down on her knees

A garden full of roses
My hands were tied behind me
My cousin's working miracles
I wondered if he'd find me
The moon advanced toward me
Like a platter made of gold
My death, it almost bored me
So often was it told

And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
I dropped down to my knees (to my knees)

And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And then you pushed me to my knees (to my knees)

Mercy (mercy on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
And I dropped down on my knees (on my knees)

Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I had mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees (on my knees)

Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Oh, have mercy, have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I dropped down on my knees

You better run
You better run
You better run and run and run
You better run
You better run
You better run and run and run and run and run
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge

Oh, when you stand before the Father
In a state of shame
Because your robes are covered in mud
When you kneel at the feet
Of a woman of the street
The gutters will run with blood
They will run with blood

You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge

In the days of madness
My brother, my sister
When you're dragged toward the Hell-mouth
You will beg for the end
But there ain't gonna be one, friend
For the grave will spew you out
It will spew you out

You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run

You'll be working in the darkness
Against your fellow man
And you'll find you're called to come forth
So you'll scrub and you'll scrub
Hey but the trouble is, Bob
The blood it won't wash off
No, it won't come off

You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge

When you stand before the Father
In a state of shame
Because your robes are covered in mud
When you kneel at the feet
Of some harlot off the street
The gutters will run with blood
They will run with blood

You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run and run and run and run and run

Darling, that morning you chose to go
I awoke in my boots and clothes
You dig in my cards, stole all my cash
Even my five-hundred dollar suit was slashed
And I just lay there watching the sun fall down from the sky
Not wanting to open the letter
But opening it anyway
And seeing those two words

Lover, lover, goodbye
So slowly goes the night
Next to me lies your body
Laying like the map of some forbidden land
I trace the ghosts of your bones
With my trembling hand
Dark is my night
And darker is my day yeah
I must've been blind
Out of my mind
I never, never saw the warning signs
How goes it?
It goes lonely
It goes slowly

So slowly goes the night
Ten lonely days, ten lonely nights
Come on
I watch the moon get flayed each night
Until the moon becomes the skinning knife
The skins of my sins I send to cover and comfort you
I know of a Heaven
Oh, but honey I know of a Hell, yeah
I hang my head
I toss in my bed
I never, never forget the words you said
"One evening, I'm leaving"
And I laughed and checked her breathing
And said darling

Oh, go slowly through the night
Oh baby, I feel the heal of time
And it hurts
I wake to find you sitting right there
Cutting tangles out of your hair
Singing a song that's all wrong
Hey, but that's alright, I don't care
Oh, I'm sorry
For all the misery, yeah
I reach out and embrace an empty space
A song that slowly slowly fades
Where goes it?
It goes some place
It goes somewhere, where it's lonely

And black as the night
Come on home, baby
Let's put things right, put things right
I hang my head and cry cry cry
Darling, all night I try
To cease on a reason for this mad mad season
The nights, the nights they are so long now
I can't remember being in light
Call it sleep, call it death, call it what you like
But only sleep, dear
Only sleep brings you back to life, yeah
I hang my head
I toss and I sweat
I never, never, never can forget
How goes it?
Well I'm going, baby, slowly slowly going
And we both know that it's gonna be alright

But it ain't you that has to cry cry cry
Ten lonely days, ten lonely nights
Since you left my side, side, side

Sunday's got a slave
Monday has got one too
Sunday's got a slave
Monday has got one too

Our sufferings are countless
And our pleasures are a motley few
Spend all day digging my grave
Now go get Sunday's slave

Tuesday sleeps in a stable
Wednesday's in chains
Tuesday gathers up the crumbs under the table
Wednesday dare not complain

My heart has collapsed
On the tracks of a run-a-way train
Just whisper his name
And here comes Sunday's slave

The hands in the stable are willing and able to pay
If you feel at a loss, man, as to who is the boss, man
Ask the blood of one of his bad days
I'm nervous to serve but the service is a f*ckin' mockery

He insists that he piss in your fist
But he still takes the money anyway
Oh, the master's a bastard
But don't tell Sunday's slave

Thursday's angered the master
Okay so Friday's gonna pay
Thursday's angered the master
Yeah, so Friday's gonna pay

One night on the rack and he's back
Saddling up Saturday
You can only whisper his name
But not on Sundays, never on Sundays
No not Sunday's slave

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
That man is bad
The road he drives you down
Oh sugar, it's a drag

The road it twists
The road is crossed
It's down that road
A lot of little girls go lost

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
He will drive ya on
Until the city of right
Becomes the city of wrong

Man, that stretch is far
You'll slip and slide
That stretch will find you
Gagged and tied

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
That assembly of sin
Like a lamb to a knife
You followed him in

He will laugh
And hang your sheets to see
The tokens of your virginity

You'll be his queen for the night
But in the morning you'll wake
With the lords and high ladies
Of the bottom of the lake

Sugar sugar
Honey you're so sweet
But beside you baby
Nothing can complete

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
Honey you're so sweet
But beside you baby
A bad man sleeps

You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray
You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray

You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray (honey)
You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray
And get down on your knees and pray

Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
That man is bad
And that's the bottom baby
Coming right up ahead

You can smell his fear
All his f*cking love
As he wipes his mouth
On your altar cloth

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
Try to understand
I'm an angel of god
I'm your guardian

He smells your innocence
Like a dog he comes
And like all the dogs he is
I shot him down

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
I can't explain
Must I kill that cocksucker
Everyday?

You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray
You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray

You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray (you better pray-pray)
You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray
('Cause your daddy he ain't far away)

You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray (your daddy he ain't far away)
You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray (your daddy come to take you away)

You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
Get down on your knees, and pray
You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray (your daddy he ain't far away)

You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray (yeah baby, you're tender prey)
You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray ('cause yeah baby, you're tender prey)

You better pray, baby
Pray baby, pray baby
You better pray

One morn I awakened
A new sun was rising
The sky was a kingdom
All covered in blood
The moon and the stars
Where the troops that lay conquered
Like fruit left to wither
Poor spiritual food

And the spears of the bright sun
All brave with this conquest
Did hover unearthly
With banners of fire
I knelt in the garden
Awash with the dawning
And a voice came so brightly
I covered my eyes

Thank you for giving
This bright new morning
So steeped seemed the evening
In darkness and blood
Let there be no sadness
No sorrow
Let there be no road too narrow
There'll be a new day
Oh yes, it's today
For us

I thank you for giving
This bright new morning
So steeped seemed the evening
In darkness and blood
Let there be no sadness
No sorrow
Let there be no road too narrow
There'll be a new day
Oh yes, it's today
For us