Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - The Firstborn Is Dead Album Lyrics

Looka yonder
Looka yonder
Looka yonder
A big black cloud come
A big black cloud come
Oh, comes to Tupelo
Comes to Tupelo

Yonder on the horizon
Yonder on the horizon
Stopped at the mighty river
Stopped at the mighty river and
Sucked the damn thing dry
Sucked the damn thing dry
Tupelo
Oh, Tupelo
In a valley hides a town called Tupelo

Well, distant thunder rumble
Distant thunder rumble
Rumble hungry like the Beast
The Beast it cometh, cometh down
The Beast it cometh, cometh down
The Beast it cometh, cometh down
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Tupelo bound
Tupelo
Yeah, oh, Tupelo
The Beast it cometh, Tupelo bound

Why the hen won't lay no egg
Can't get that cock to crow
The nag is spooked and crazy
Oh God, help Tupelo
Oh God, help Tupelo
Oh God, help Tupelo
Oh God, help Tupelo

Ya can say these streets are rivers
Ya can call these rivers streets
Ya can tell ya self your dreaming buddy
But no sleep runs this deep
No, no sleep runs this deep
No, no sleep runs this deep
Women at their windows
Rain crashing on the pane
Writing in the frost
Tupelo's shame
Tupelo's shame
Tupelo's shame
Tupelo's shame
Oh God, help Tupelo
Oh God, help Tupelo
Oh God, help Tupelo
Oh God, help Tupelo

Oh, go to sleep little children
The sandman's on his way
Oh, go to sleep little children
The sandman's on his way
But the little children know
But the little children know
They listen to the beating of their blood
Listen to the beating of their blood
Listen to the beating of their blood
Listen to the beating of their blood
Sandman's mud
The sandman's mud
The sandman's mud
The sandman's mud
And black rain come down
The black rain come down
The black rain come down
Oh, water, water everywhere
Water, water everywhere
Where no bird can fly, no fish can swim
No bird can fly, no fish can swim
No fish can swim
Until The King is born
Until The King is born (Tupelo)
In Tupelo
'Til The King is born in Tupelo

In a clap-board shack with a roof of tin
Where the rain crashed down and leaked within
A young mother frozen on a concrete floor
And a bottle, and a box, and a cradle of straw
Tupelo
Oh, Tupelo
And a bottle, and a box, and a cradle of straw

Well Saturday gives what Sunday steals
And a child is born on his brothers heels
Sunday morn and the first-born dead
In a shoebox tied with a ribbon of red
Tupelo
Oh, Tupelo
In a shoebox buried with a ribbon of red

Oh mama rock you little one slow
Mama rock your baby
Mama rock your little one slow
God help Tupelo
God help Tupelo
Mama rock your little one slow
Mama rock your little one slow
The little one will walk on Tupelo
The little one will walk on Tupelo
Black rain come down
Black rain come down
Twenty years of litter and a burner phone
Years of litter and a burner phone
What does Nirvana do?
Ripped up, buried, and given away
And the King will walk on Tupelo
The King will walk on Tupelo
And carry the burden of Tupelo (Tupelo)
And carry the burden of Tupelo
And carry the burden of Tupelo
Yeah, carry the burden of Tupelo
Tupelo
Oh, Tupelo
Yeah, The King will walk on Tupelo
Tupelo
Tupelo, Tupelo
Yeah, The King will walk on Tupelo
Tupelo
Oh, Tupelo
Oh, Tupelo
Yeah, The King will walk on Tupelo
Tupelo
Yeah, oh, Tupelo
He carried the burden of Tupelo
Tupelo
Yeah, yeah Tupelo
He carried the burden of Tupelo
Tupelo
Hey, hey, hey Tupelo
He carried the burden of Tupelo
Tupelo
Yeah, yeah, yeah Tupelo
You will reap just what you sow
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, Tupelo

Oh, say goodbye to the little girl tree
Oh, you know that I must say goodbye
To the little girl tree
This wall I built around you
Is made out of stone lies
Oh, little girl the truth would be
An axe in thee
Father look to your daughter
A brick of grief and stricken mortar
With this ring
This silver hoop of wire
I bind your maiden mainstem
Just to keep you as a child

Oh, say goodbye to the little girl tree
Yes, you know that I must say goodbye
To my little girl tree
How fast your candy bones
Reached out for me
I must say goodbye to your brittle bones
Crying out for me
Oh, you know that I must say goodbye
Oh, goodbye
Even though you will betray me
The very minute that I leave

Oh, say goodbye to the little girl tree
Oh Lord, you know that I must say goodbye
To that little girl tree
I rise up her girl-child lumps and slipping knots
Into your laden boughs
And amongst her roping limbs
Like a swollen neck vein branching
Into lesser, smaller veins
That must all just sing and say goodbye
And let her blossom veils fly
Her velvet gown
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down and goodbye
For you know that I must say goodbye

To a rhythm softly tortured
Of a motion back and forth
That's a rhythm sweetly tortured
Oh, that's the rhythm of the orchard
And you know that I must say goodbye
To the little girl tree
Oh, goodbye
Yeah, goodbye
For you know that I must die
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down and goodbye
For you know that I must die
Yes, you know that I must die
Oh, you know that I must die
Lord, you know that I must die

Woo-woo-woo
In the name of pain
(In the name of pain and suffering)
In the name of pain
(In the name of pain and suffering)
There comes a train
(There comes a train)
Yeah
A long black train
(There comes a train)
Lord, a long black train

Woo-woo, woo-woo

Punched from the tunnel
(The tunnel of love is long and lonely)
Engines steaming like a fist
(A fistful of memories)
Into the jolly jaw of morning
(Yeah, oh yeah)
Oh baby, it gets smashed
(You know that it gets smashed)
Oh baby, it gets smashed
(You know that it gets smashed)
Oh baby, it gets smashed

I kick every goddamn splinter
Into all the looking eyes in the world
Into all the laughing eyes
Of all the girls in the world
Oo-woo
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
Name of the pain is
Name of the pain is
Name of the pain is
The name of the pain is
The name of the pain is
A train long-suffering

Yeah, on rails of pain
(On rails of pain and suffering)
There comes a train
(There comes a train long-suffering)
On rails of pain
(On rails of pain and suffering)
Oh baby, blow it's whistle in the rain

Woo-woo, woo-woo

Who's the engine driver?
(The engine drivers over yonder)
His name is memory
(His name is memory)
Memory is his name
(Woo-woo)
Destination, misery
(Pain and misery)
Oh, pain and misery
(Pain and misery)
Oh, pain and misery
Pain and misery
Hey, hey
(Pain and misery)
Hey, that's a sad lookin sack
That's a sad lookin sack
That's a sad lookin sack
And the name of the pain is
The name of the pain is
The name of the pain is
Name of the pain is
Name of the pain is
A train long-suffering

There is a train
(It's got a name)
It's a train long-suffering
Oh, lord a train
(A long black train)
Lord Of pain and suffering
Each night so black
(Oh yeah, so black)
And in the darkness of my sack
I'm missing you baby
(I'm missing you)
And I just dunno what to do
(Dunno what to do)
(Train long-suffering, train long-suffering)
(Train long-suffering, train long-suffering)
Oh, she ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
She ain't never comin' back
(Train long-suffering, train long-suffering)
(Train long-suffering, train long-suffering)
(Train long-suffering, train long-suffering)
And the name of the pain is
Name of the pain is
Name of the train is
The name of the train is
The name of the train is
Pain and suffering, ooh

I am the black crow king, mhm
I am the black crow king
The keeper of the nodding corn
A bam, bam, bam, bam
(Bam, bam, bam, bam)
All the hammers are a-talking
(The hammers are a-talking)
All the nails are a-singing
(The nails are a-singing)
So sweet and low
(So deep and low)

You can hear it in the valley
Where live the lame and the blind
They climb my hill out of its belly
Leave with mean black boot shine

I just made a simple gesture
They jumped up and nailed it to my shadow
Spread eagled like a hooker
You know, my shadow's made of timber

And the storm is a-rolling
(The storm is a-rolling)
And the storm it's a-rolling
(Rolling)
All down on me

And I'm still here rolling after everybody's gone
I'm still here rolling after everybody's gone
Yeah, I'm still here rolling and I'm left on my own
The blackbirds have all gone
Everyone's rolled on

I am the black crow king
Keeper of the trodden corn
I am the king
Won't say it again
And the rain, it raineth daily
Lord
And wash away my clothes
I surrender up my arms
To a company of crows
I am the black crow king
Honey, I won't say it again

And all the thorns are a-crowning
(The thorns are a-crowning)
King ruby on each spine
And all the spears are a-sailing
Oh my, oh my

The storm is rolling
(The storm is rolling)
The storm is a-rolling
(Rolling)
All down on me

And I'm still rolling after everybody's gone
I'm still here rolling after everybody's gone
I'm still here rolling after everybody's gone
The blackbirds flown and everybody's gone

And I am on my own
I am the black crow king
Keeper of the forgotten corn
The King, The King
I'm the king of nothin' at all
The hammers are talking
(The hammers are a-talking)
The nails are singing
(The nails are a-singing
The spears are sailing
(The spears are a-sailing)
The thorns are a-crowning him
(The thorns are a-crowning him)
The crows are a-mocking
(The crows are a-mocking)
The corn is a-nodding
(The corn is a-nodding)
The storm it's a-rolling
(The storm is a-rolling)
The storm it's a-rolling
(The storm is a-rolling)
Yeah, the storm it's a-rolling
(The storm is a-rolling)
Yeah, the storm it's a-rolling down
(The storm is a-rolling)
The storm is a-rolling down
(The storm is a-rolling)
The storm is a-rolling down on me
Yeah, rolling down on me

These chains of sorrow, they are heavy, it is true
And these locks cannot be broken
No, not with one thousand keys
Oh, Jailer, you drag a ball and chain you cannot see
You can lay your burden on me
You can lay down your burden on me
You can bring your burden down upon me
But you can't lay down your memory, no

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Here I go
Knockin' on Joe
This square foot of sky will be mine 'til I die
Knockin' on Joe
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
All down the row
Knockin' on Joe

Oh, Warden, I surrender to you
Your fists can't hurt me anymore
You know, these hands will never mop
Your dirty Death Row floors
Preacher, come closer, you don't scare me anymore
Just tell Nancy not to come here
Oh, tell her not to come
Let me die in the memory of her arms

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
All down the row
Knockin' on Joe
Oh, you kings of halls and ends of halls
You will die within these walls
And I'll go, down the row
Knockin' on Joe

Oh, Nancy's body is a coffin
She wears my tombstone at her head
Her body is a coffin
She wears my tombstone at her head
She wears her body like a coffin
She wears a dress of gold and red
She wears a dress of gold and red
She wears a dress of red and gold
Grave-robbers at my coffin
Before my body's even cold

It's a door for when I go
Knockin' on Joe
Oh, these hands will never mop
Your dirty Death Row floors
No
And you can hide
You can run
You can run, you can hide
You can stay, you can come
Oh, but your trial is yet to come
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
You can run
You can hide
But you have yet to be tried
You can lay your burdens down here
You can lay your burden down
Knockin' on Joe
You can lay your burden upon me
You can lay your burden upon me
Knockin' on Joe
You can lay it down here
You can bring your burden down
Knockin' on Joe
You can't hurt me anymore, no
You can't hurt me anymore
Knockin' on Joe
You can bring your burden down
You can bring your burden down

I'm a wanted man, wanted man
I'm wanted, I'm a wanted man (wanted man)
Oh yeah (wanted man)
(Wanted man)
Yeah (wanted man)
Ah honey, I'm a wanted man

I'm a wanted man in California, I'm a wanted man in Buffalo
I'm a wanted man in Kansas City, I'm a wanted man in Ohio
I'm a wanted man in Mississippi, they want me in Old Cheyenne
Wherever you may look tonight, you will see this wanted man

I might be in Colorado or Georgia by the sea
Working for some man who may not know at all who I might be
If you ever see me comin' and you know just who I am
Don't breathe a word to no one buddy, 'cause I'm a wanted man

Wanted man in Albuquerque, wanted man in Syracuse
Wanted man in Tallahassee, I'm a wanted man in Baton Rouge
Wanted man in Arizona, wanted man in Galveston
Wanted man in El Dorado, this wanted man's in great demand

If you ever catch me sleepin'
Just see the price flashin' 'bove my head
Well take look again my friend
That's a gun pointed at your head

Wanted man by Lucy Watson, wanted man by Jesse Brown
Wanted man by Nellie Johnson, wanted man in this next town

Wanted man by the Boller Sisters
Wanted man by Kid Callahan
Hey Darlin' don't you tell me you don't want me
'Cause I'm a wanted man

A wanted man who's lost his will to live
A wanted man who won't lay down
There's a woman kneelin' on my grave
Pushin' daisies in the ground

Wanted man in the Windy City, wanted man in Tennessee
Wanted man in Broken Arrow, wanted man in Wounded Knee
Wanted man in Jackson Town, Wanted man in El Passo
I got bounties on my head in towns I wouldn't ever think to go

Wanted Man in Arizona, wanted man in Louisville
Wanted man deep in Death Valley
Wanted man up in the Hollywood Hill

If the Devil comes collectin'
'Cause Heaven don't want no wanted man
He'd better wear a six gun on his hip
And hold another in his hand

If you love the wanted man
You best hold him while you can
'Cause you're gonna wake up one mornin'
And find the man you wanted, he is gone

Wanted man in New York City, wanted man in San Anton'
Wanted man down in Laredo, wanted man in Tupelo
Wanted man in the state of Texas, wanted man in the state of Maine
This wanted man's in the state of leavin' ya baby
Jumpin' on a midnight train

Wanted man in every cat house, wanted man in a many saloons
Wanted man is a ghost in hundred homes, a shadow in a thousand rooms

Wanted man down in St. Louis, wanted man in New Orleans
Wanted man in Mossel Bay, wanted man in Cripple Creek
Wanted man in Detroit City, wanted man in San Anton'
But there's one place I'm not wanted lord
It's the place that I call home

Wanted man
Wanted man
If the devil comes collectin'
He better hold a six gun in his hand

Blind Lemon Jefferson is a-coming
Tap tap tapping with his cane
Blind Lemon Jefferson is coming
Tap tap tapping with his cane
His last ditch lies down the road of trials
Down the road of trials
Half filled with rain

Oh Sycamore, Sycamore
Stretch your arms across the storm
Down fly two greasy brother crows
They hop'n'bop
They hop'n'bop
They hop'n'bop
Like the tax-man come to call
They go knock-knock
Knock-knock
Hop'n'bop, hop'n'bop, hop'n'bop
They slap a death-writ on his door

Here come the Judgement train
Get on board
And turn that big black engine home
Let's roll
Let's roll
Down the tunnel
The terrible tunnel of his world
Waiting at his final station
Like a bigger blacker third bird, huh

Oh, let's roll
Let's roll
Oh, let's roll

Oh, his road is dark and lonely
He don't drive no Cadillac
Oh, his road is dark and holy
He don't drive no Cadillac
If that sky serves as his eyes
Then that moons a cataract

Let's roll
Roll on
Let's roll
Yeah, let's roll