All Tomorrow's Parties
Feel So Bad · Kicking Against The Pricks [1986]
To all tomorrow's parties
A hand-me-down dress from who knows where
To all tomorrow's parties
And where will she go and what shall she do
When midnight comes around
She'll turn once more to Sunday's gown
And cry behind the door
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
Why silks and plumes of yesterday's gowns
To all tomorrow's parties
And what shall she do with Thursday's rags
When Monday comes around
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown
And cry behind the door
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
For Thursday's child is Sunday's clown
For whom none will go mourning
A blackened shroud, a hand-me-down gown
Of rags and silks, a costume
Fit for one who sits and cries
For all tomorrow's parties
All Tomorrow's Parties
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' 1986 track "All Tomorrow's Parties" stands as a haunting centerpiece on the album *Kicking Against the Pricks*. Recorded during a pivotal era for the band, the song blends Cave's distinctive baritone with a brooding, post-punk atmosphere that defined their early work. The recording captures the group's transition from raw punk energy to a more textured, gothic rock sound, utilizing sparse instrumentation to create a sense of impending doom and existential dread. Its influence on alternative and indie rock is profound, serving as a blueprint for the dark, atmospheric aesthetic that would characterize their subsequent discography, including collaborations with the Bad Seeds. The song remains a definitive example of late 80s Australian rock, celebrated for its lyrical depth and sonic intensity.