People Ain't No Good
Feel So Bad · The Boatman's Call [1997]
I think that's well understood
You can see it everywhere you look
People just ain't no good
We were married under cherry trees
Under blossom we made our vows
All the blossoms come sailing down
Through the streets and through the playgrounds
The sun would stream on the sheets
Awoken by the morning bird
We'd buy the Sunday newspapers
And never read a single word
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
Seasons came, seasons went
The winter stripped the blossoms bare
A different tree now lines the streets
Shaking its fists in the air
The winter slammed us like a fist
The windows rattling in the gales
To which she drew the curtains
Made out of her wedding veils
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
To our love send a dozen white lilies
To our love send a coffin of wood
To our love let all the pink-eyed pigeons coo
That people they just ain't no good
To our love send back all the letters
To our love a valentine of blood
To our love let all the jilted lovers cry
That people they just ain't no good
It ain't in their hearts they're bad
They can comfort you, some even try
They nurse you when you're ill of health
They bury you when you go and die
It ain't that in their hearts they're bad
They'd stick by you if they could
But that's just bullshit
People just ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People Ain't No Good
People Ain't No Good stands as a defining track from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' 1997 album, The Boatman's Call. This recording marks a significant departure from the band's earlier, more raucous rock influences, embracing a sparse, melancholic atmosphere that characterizes the album. The song reflects Cave's introspective songwriting during this period, exploring themes of disillusionment and emotional fragility through a minimalist arrangement. As part of a critically acclaimed body of work, the track showcases the band's ability to convey profound sorrow with understated musicality. It remains a staple in their discography, illustrating the shift toward the quiet, piano-driven sound that would define much of Cave's subsequent output. The recording captures a moment of vulnerability, solidifying the album's reputation as a landmark in alternative music history.