Caros audiophiles, this week I introduce a wonderful ballad Into My Arms by the Australian artist Nick Cave. He seems to me a strange beast, capable one moment of being tenderly romantic, but never sentimental, and the next moment sounding brutal, violent, postpunk, apocalyptic. He reminds me of Neil Young, or the actor Christopher Plummer, or the two masks of Janus. Indeed, if you check his Murder Ballads songs, in particular Henry Lee and Where The Wild Roses Grow, the beautiful melodies and harmonies almost hide the dark violence at the heart of his stories.
His songs concern Love and Death and Religion, searching for something good to die for to make it beautiful to live.
This song is a prayer to love,
I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
To each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms
But I believe in Love
And I know that you do too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candles burning
And make her journey bright and pure
That she will keep returning
Always and evermore
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
A proxima,
po
His songs concern Love and Death and Religion, searching for something good to die for to make it beautiful to live.
This song is a prayer to love,
I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
To each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms
But I believe in Love
And I know that you do too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candles burning
And make her journey bright and pure
That she will keep returning
Always and evermore
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
A proxima,
po
Dear P, thank you for having introduced me to one of my favourite songs ever. I absolutely love the lyrics as well as the contrast between Nick Cave's darkness (there is a certain darkness to him...)and the purity of the lyrics. I find the video very "angustiante" though .... Happy 2010, dear PO. pcp
ResponderEliminarPO,
ResponderEliminarI absolutely loved your post: It is a prayer to love - you're so right.
I loved the fact that it's a video in black and white with human faces showing distress mixed with the calm expression of the singer. And yet all is done subtetly and with good taste. Beautiful sensual voice as well. What an extraordinary mixture!
Thanks for that.
Dear PO,
ResponderEliminarMr. Cave is one of the greatest modern songwriters - period. Sometimes more rock&roll, sometimes more mellow, he is always relevant, inspired and inspiring. Even in his darkest visions.
From my side, I would like to express my gratitude, wishing to you and to all my co-readers a Happy New Year, full of joy, simplicity and a will to change things for better - every single drop counts and we tend to forget it.
If you find the time, and even anticipating that your surely already know these songs, here it goes a pair of them that are a sort of a miracle.
God is in the House
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f6wzGpFKUQ
and
The Ship Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuGBVEPUylk
My flowers,
gi.