Abattoir Blues

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds · Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus [2004]

The sun is high up in the sky and I'm in my car

Drifting down into the abattoir

Do you see what I see, dear?



The air grows heavy. I listen to your breath

Entwined together in this culture of death

Do you see what I see, dear?



Slide on over here, let me give you a squeeze

To avert this unholy evolutionary trajectory

Can you hear what I hear, babe?

Does it make you feel afraid?



Everything's dissolving, babe, according to plan

The sky is on fire, the dead are heaped across the land

I went to bed last night and my

moral code got jammed

I woke up this morning with a Frappucino in my hand



I kissed you once. I kissed you again

My heart it tumbled like the stock exchange

Do you feel what I feel, dear?



Mass extinction, darling, hypocrisy

These things are not good for me

Do you see what I see, dear?



The line the God throws down to you and me

Makes a pleasing geometry

Shall we leave this place now, dear?

Is there someway out of here?



I wake with the sparrows and I hurry off to work

The need for validation, babe, gone completely

berserk

I wanted to be your Superman but I turned out such a

jerk

I got the abattoir blues

I got the abattoir blues

I got the abattoir blues

Right down to my shoes

Abattoir Blues

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' 'Abattoir Blues' stands as a defining track from their 2004 album of the same name, released alongside 'The Lyre Of Orpheus.' The song encapsulates the band's signature blend of gothic rock and folk storytelling, delivered through Cave's distinctive baritone and the group's intricate arrangements. Recorded during a period where the ensemble explored darker, more visceral themes, the recording features a haunting atmosphere that has become a staple of their discography. It reflects the band's ability to weave narrative-driven lyrics with atmospheric instrumentation, cementing their reputation as masters of gothic rock and alternative folk. The track remains a key reference point for understanding the evolution of Cave's solo and collaborative work in the early 2000s.