Tender Prey
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
1988 ReleasedUpvote Your Favorite Album Today!
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Digging into Tender Prey - what's your favorite track or standout moment? 🤘
1
The Mercy Seat
07 : 18
2
Up Jumped the Devil
05 : 16
3
Deanna
03 : 45
4
Watching Alice
04 : 01
5
Mercy
06 : 22
6
City of Refuge
04 : 48
7
Slowly Goes the Night
05 : 23
8
Sunday’s Slave / Sugar Sugar Sugar
08 : 42
9
New Morning
03 : 46
10
The Mercy Seat (video mix)
05 : 06
Sponsor content
Track Lyrics
The Mercy Seat Lyrics
[Intro]
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 again
I am not afraid to die
[Verse 1]
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 ungood
[Refrain]
And the mercy seat is awaiting
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
A tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die
[Verse 2]
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 the sick breath gathering at my hind
[Verse 3]
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
[Bridge 1]
Like, my good hand tattooed E.V.I.L. across its brother's fist
That filthy five! They did nothing to challenge or resist
[Verse 4]
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
[Verse 5]
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
So I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never lied
[Bridge 2]
My kill-hand is called E.V.I.L
Wears a wedding band that's G.O.O.D
'Tis a long-suffering shackle
Collaring all that rebel blood
[Refrain]
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
But I'm not afraid to die
And the mercy seat is glowing
And I think my head is a-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 a-melting
And I think my blood is boiling
And in a way I'm spoiling
All the fun by all of this consequence and 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 awaiting
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 nor a motive why
And the mercy seat is awaiting
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 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
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 awaiting
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 awaiting
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 awaiting
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 awaiting
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 awaiting
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 afraid I told a lie
[Instrumental Outro]
Deanna Lyrics
[Hook]
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna
(Oh, Deanna) Oh, dear Deanna (Oh, Deanna)
Well you know you are my friend, now (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 money
I'm down here for your soul
[Verse 1]
There 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 your Cadillac
And death climbs in the back
[Hook]
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna
(Oh, Deanna) Sweet Deanna
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna
Well, this is a car (Oh, Deanna)
And this is a gun (Oh, Deanna)
And this a day number one
Our little crimeworn histories
Black and your smoking christmas trees
And honey, it ain't a mystery
Why you're a mystery to me
[Verse 2]
We will eat out of their pantries
And their parlours
Ashy leavings in their beds
And we'll unload into their heads
On this mean season
But his little angel that I squeezin'
She ain't been mean to me
[Hook]
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna (Oh, Deanna)
You are 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
[Bridge]
(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 about its issue
Don't worry about where its been
And don't worry about where it hits
Cause it just ain't yours to sin (Oh, Deanna)
[Hook]
Cause it just ain't yours 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 gettin' 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
Mercy Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
I cried 'Mercy' (Mercy on me)
Have mercy on me (Mercy on me)
And I got down on my knees
Crying 'Mercy' (Mercy on me)
Have mercy on me (Mercy on me)
And I got down on my knees
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
And she cried 'Mercy' (Mercy on me)
Have mercy on me (Mercy on me)
I told her to get down on her knees
Crying 'Mercy' (Mercy on me)
Have mercy upon me (Mercy on me)
I told her to get down on her knees
[Verse 3]
In a garden full of roses
My hands were tied behind me
My cousin was working miracles
I wondered if he'd find me
The moon faced toward me
Like a platter made of gold
My death, it almost bored me
So often was it told
[Chorus]
And I cried 'Mercy' (Mercy on me)
Have mercy on me (Mercy on me)
And I dropped down to my knees (To my knees)
And I cried 'Mercy' (Mercy on me)
Have mercy on me (Mercy on me)
And it put me to my knees (To my knees)
Mercy (Mercy on me)
Have mercy on me (Mercy on me)
And I dropped down on my knees (On my knees)
Crying 'Mercy' (Mercy on me)
Yeah, have 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 got down on my knees
Slowly Goes the Night Lyrics
[Intro]
Darling, that morning you chose to go
I woke in my boots and clothes
You dig in my cards, stole all my cash
Even my 500 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
[Verse 1]
Lover, lover, goodbye
So slowly goes the night
Next to me lies your body
Playing like a map of some forbidden land
And I trace the ghost of your bones with my trembling hand
Dark is my night
And darker is my day
Yeah
I must have been blind, out of my mind
I never never saw the warning sign
How goes it?
It goes lonely
It goes slowly
[Verse 2]
So slowly goes the night
Ten lonely days ten lonely nights
Come
I watch the moon get flayed each night
Till the moon becomes the skinning knife
The skins of my sins I send to cover and comfort you
I know of a heaven
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
"Go slowly through the night"
[Verse 3]
O 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 all right, I don't care
Darling I'm sorry
For all your misery
Yeah
I reach out and embrace
An empty space
A song that slowly slowly fades
Where goes it?
It goes someplace
It goes somewhere where it's lonely
[Verse 4]
And black as the night
Come on home, lets put things right
Put things right
I hang my head and cry, cry, cry
Darling all night I try
To seize on a reason for this mad, mad season
The nights they are so long now
I can't remember them being light
Call it sleep, call it death, call it what you like
But only sleep, 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 goin'
And we both know that its gonna be alright
It ain't you that has to cry, cry, cry
Mm
Ten lonely days
Ten lonely nights
O since you left my side, side, side
The Mercy Seat (video mix) Lyrics
[Intro]
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 again
I am not afraid to die
[Verse 1]
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 ungood
[Refrain]
And the mercy seat is awaiting
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
A tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die
[Verse 2]
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 the sick breath gathering at my hind
[Verse 3]
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
[Bridge 1]
Like, my good hand tattooed E.V.I.L. across its brother's fist
That filthy five! They did nothing to challenge or resist
[Verse 4]
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
[Verse 5]
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
So I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never lied
[Bridge 2]
My kill-hand is called E.V.I.L
Wears a wedding band that's G.O.O.D
'Tis a long-suffering shackle
Collaring all that rebel blood
[Refrain]
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
But I'm not afraid to die
And the mercy seat is glowing
And I think my head is a-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 a-melting
And I think my blood is boiling
And in a way I'm spoiling
All the fun by all of this consequence and 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 awaiting
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 nor a motive why
And the mercy seat is awaiting
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 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
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 awaiting
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 awaiting
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 awaiting
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 awaiting
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 awaiting
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 afraid I told a lie
[Instrumental Outro]