The Ballad Of Robert Moore And Betty Coltrane
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds · Other Songs - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Who was standing at the door
And a little bald man with wing-nut ears
Was waiting in the car
Well, Robert Moore passed the frog-eyed man
As he walked into the bar
And Betty Coltrane she jumped under her table
"What's your pleasure?" asked the barman
He had a face like boiled meat
"There's a girl called Betty Coltrane
That I have come to see"
"But I ain't seen that girl 'round here
For more than a week"
And Betty Coltrane he had hid beneath the table
Well, then in came a sailor with
Mermaids tattooed on his arms
Followed by the man with the wing-nut ears
Who was waitin' in the car
Well, Robert Moore sensed trouble
He'd seen it comin' from afar
And Betty Coltrain she gasped beneath the table
Well, the sailor said, "I'm looking for my wife
They call her Betty Coltrain"
The frog-eyed man said, "That can't be
That's my wife's maiden name"
And the man with the wing-nut ears said
"Hey, I married her back in Spain"
And Betty Coltrain crossed herself beneath the table
Well, Robert Moore stepped up and said
"That woman is my wife"
And he drew a silver pistol
And a wicked bowie knife
And he shot the man with the wing-nut ears
Straight between the eyes
And Betty Coltrain, she moaned under the table
Well, the frog-eyed man jumped at Robert Moore
Who stabbed him in the chest
And as Mister Frog-eyes died he said
"Betty, you're the girl that I loved best"
Then the sailor pulled a razor
Robert blasted it to bits
"And Betty, I know you're under the table"
"Well, have no fear," said Robert Moore
"I do not want to hurt you"
"Never a woman did I love me
Half as much as you
"You're the blessed sun, the meek girl
And you are the sacred moon"
And Betty shot his legs out from under the table
Well, Robert Moore went down heavy
With a crash upon the floor
And over to his trashin' body
Betty Coltrain she did crawl
She put the gun to the back of his head
And pulled the trigger once more
And blew his brains out all over the table
Well, Betty stood up and shook her head
And waved the smoke away
Said, "I'm sorry Mr. Barman
To leave your place this way"
As she emptied out their wallets she said
"I'll collect my severance pay"
Then she winked and threw a dollar on the table
The Ballad Of Robert Moore And Betty Coltrane
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds deliver a hauntingly intimate recording that explores themes of infidelity and moral decay through the lens of a fictionalized couple. The track exemplifies Cave's signature gothic rock style, blending brooding vocals with a somber, acoustic-driven arrangement that underscores the emotional weight of the narrative. While the specific album placement remains unlisted, the song stands as a testament to Cave's ability to weave complex character studies into his broader discography, drawing on the raw, confessional tone found in works like 'Red Right Hand'. It captures a moment of quiet desperation, characteristic of the band's mid-to-late period output, where personal turmoil often bleeds into the music.