The Singer

by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

From the album: Kicking Against the Pricks

Track 6 of 12 on Kicking Against the Pricks (1986).

Duration: 3:08

Kicking Against the Pricks cover art

Lyrics for The Singer

As I walk these narrow streets Where a million passin feet have trod before me With my guitar in my hand Suddenly I realize nobody knows me Where yesterday the multitude Screamed and cried my name out for a song Today the streets are empty And the crowds have all gone home I pass a million houses But there is no place that I belong All I knew to give you Was song after song after song All the truths I tried to tell you Were as distant to you as the moon Born 200 years too late And 200 years too soon I'm a child of this age Locked into the pages of your book And when I am but dust and clay And all the children stop to take a look Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform And the heights I did aspire Or will they tear out the pages of the book To light a fire With the rain on my face There is no place that I belong Did you forget this fucking singer so soon? And did you forget my song?

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More from Kicking Against the Pricks

  1. Muddy Water
  2. I'm Gonna Kill That Woman
  3. Sleeping Annaleah
  4. Long Black Veil
  5. Hey Joe
  6. The Singer
  7. All Tomorrow's Parties
  8. By the Time I Get to Phoenix
  9. The Hammer Song
  10. Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart
  11. Jesus Met the Woman at the Well
  12. The Carnival Is Over