Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads

nick cave and the bad seeds murder ballads album chords
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

1 . song of joy ( cave )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Gm
have mercy on me , sir
allow me to impose on you
i have no place to stay
G#
and my bones are cold right through
D#
i will tell you a story
D
of a man and his family
Gm
and i swear that it is true

Gm
ten years ago i met a girl named joy
she was a sweet and happy thing
her eyes were bright blue jewels
and we were married in the spring
i had no idea what happiness and little love could bring
G#
or what life had in store
D#
but all things move toward their end
D
all things move toward their their end
Gm
on that you can be sure

hit it

Gm Cm Cm Gm

Gm
then one morning i awoke to find her weeping
and for many days to follow
she grew so sad and lonely
became joy in name only
within her breast there launched an unnamed sorrow
G#
and a dark and grim force set sail
D#
farewell happy fields
D
where joy forever dwells
Gm
hail horrors hail

Gm
was it an act of contrition or some awful premonition
as if she saw into the heart of her final blood – soaked night
those lunatic eyes , that hungry kitchen knife
ah , i see sir , that i have your attention!
G#
well , could it be?
D#
how often i’ve asked that question
D
well , then in quick succession
Gm
we had babies , one , two , three

Gm
we called them hilda , hattie and holly
they were their mother’s children
their eyes were bright blue jewels
and they were quiet as a mouse
there was no laughter in the house
no , not from hilda , hattie or holly
“no wonder” , people said , “poor mother joy’s so melancholy”
G#
well , one night there came a visitor to our little home
D#
i was visiting a sick friend
D
i was a doctor then
Gm
joy and the girls were on their own

Gm Cm Cm Gm

Gm
joy had been bound with electrical tape
in her mouth a gag
she’d been stabbed repeatedly
and stuffed into a sleeping bag
in their very cots my girls were robbed of their lives
method of murder much the same as my wife’s
G#
method of murder much the same as my wife’s
D#
it was midnight when i arrived home
D
said to the police on the telephone
Gm
someone’s taken four innocent lives

Gm
they never caught the man
he’s still on the loose
it seems he has done many many more
quotes john milton on the walls in the victim’s blood
the police are investigating at tremendous cost
in my house he wrote “his red right hand”
G#
that , i’m told is from paradise lost
D#
the wind round here gets wicked cold
D
but my story is nearly told
Gm
i fear the morning will bring quite a frost

Gm
and so i’ve left my home
i drift from land to land
i Am upon your step and you are a family man
outside the vultures wheel
the wolves howl , the serpents hiss
and to extend this small favour , friend
would be the sum of earthly bliss
G#
do you reckon me a friend?
D#
the sun to me is dark
D
and silent as the moon
Gm
do you , sir , have a room?
are you beckoning me in?
hit it

( la la la la la la la la la la )
( la la la la la la la la la la )

Gm Cm Cm Gm x4

2 . stagger lee ( cave/Bargeld/Casey/harvey/wydler )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Dm Am x2

Dm
it was back in ’32 when times were hard
he had a colt . 45 and a deck of cards
Am
stagger lee

Dm
he wore rat – drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
had A ’28 ford , had payments on that
Am
stagger lee

Dm
his woman threw him out in the ice and snow
and told him , “never ever come back no more”
Am
stagger lee

Dm
he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud
till he came to a place called the bucket of blood
Am
stagger lee

Dm
he said , “mr motherfxxker , you know who i am?”
the barkeeper said , “no , and i don’t give a good goddamn”
Am
to stagger lee

Dm
he said , “well bartender , it’s plain to see
i’m that bad motherfxxker called stagger lee
Am
mr . stagger lee”

Dm
barkeep said , “yeah , i’ve heard your name down the way
and i kick motherfxxking asses like you every day”
Am
mr stagger lee

Dm
well those were the last words that the barkeep said
Am
cause stag put four holes in his motherfxxking head

Dm
just then in came a broad called nellie brown
Am
was known to make more money than any bitch in town

Dm
she struts across the bar , hitching up her skirt
over to stagger lee , she starts to flirt
Am
oh stagger lee

Dm
she saw the barkeep , said , “oh god , he can’t be dead!
Am
stag said , “well , just count the holes in the motherfxxker’s head”
Dm
she said , “you ain’t look like you scored in quite a time .
Am
why not come to my pad? it won’t cost you a dime”
mr . stagger lee

Dm
“but there’s something i have to say before you begin
Am
you’ll have to be gone before my man billy dilly comes
in , mr . stagger lee”

Dm
“i’ll stay here till billy comes in , till time comes to pass
Am
and furthermore i’ll fxxk billy in his motherfxxking ass”
said stagger lee

Dm
“i’m a bad motherfxxker , don’t you know
Am
and i’ll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy’s asshole”
said stagger lee

Dm
just then billy dilly rolls in and he says , “you must be
that bad motherfxxker called stagger lee”
Am
im stagger lee

Dm
“yeah , i’m stagger lee and you better get down on your knees
Am
and suck my dick , because if you don’t you’re gonna be dead”
said stagger lee

Dm
billy dropped down and slobbered on his head
Am
and stag filled him full of lead

Dm Am . . . repeat to fade

3 . henry lee ( cave )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Am
get down , get down , little henry lee
Dm
and stay all night with me
you won’t find a girl in this damn world
Am
that will compare with me
G G7
and the wind did howl and the wind did blow

C
la la la la la
Am
la la la la lee
Dm Am
a little bird lit down on henry lee

Am
i can’t get down and i won’t get down
Dm
and stay all night with thee
for the girl i have in that merry green land
Am
i love far better than thee
G G7
and the wind did howl and the wind did blow

C
la la la la la
Am
la la la la lee
Dm Am
a little bird lit down on henry lee

Am
she leaned herself against a fence
Dm
just for a kiss or two
and with a little pen – knife held in her hand
Am
she plugged him through and through
G G7
and the wind did roar and the wind did moan

C
la la la la la
Am
la la la la lee
Dm Am
a little bird lit down on henry lee

Am
come take him by his lilly – white hands
Dm
come take him by his feet
and throw him in this deep deep well
Am
which is more than one hundred feet
G G7
and the wind did howl and the wind did blow

C
la la la la la
Am
la la la la lee
Dm Am
a little bird lit down on henry lee

Am
lie there , lie there , little henry lee
Dm
till the flesh drops from your bones
for the girl you have in that merry green land
Am
can wait forever for you to come home
G G7
and the wind did howl and the wind did moan

C
la la la la la
Am
la la la la lee
Dm Am
a little bird lit down on henry lee ] x3

4 . lovely creature ( cave/Bargeld/Casey/harvey/wydler )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Cm thoughout

there she stands , this lovely creature
there she stands , there she stands
with her hair full of ribbons
and green gloves on her hands

so i asked this lovely creature
yes , i asked . yes i asked
would she walk with me a while
through this night so fast

she took my hand , this lovely creature
“yes” , she said , “yes” , she said
“yes , i’ll walk with you a while”
it was a joyful man she led

over hills , this lovely creature
over mountains , over ranges
by great pyramids and sphinxs
we met drifters and strangers

oh the sands , my lovely creature
and the mad , moaning winds
at night the deserts writhed
with diabolical things

through the night , through the night
the wind lashed and it whipped me
when i got home , my lovely creature
she was no longer with me

somewhere she lies , this lovely creature
beneath the slow drifting sands
with her hair full of ribbons
and green gloves on her hands

5 . where the wild roses grow ( cave )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Gm Cm Gm
they call me the wild rose
A# D
but my name was elisa day
Gm Cm Gm
why they call me it i do not know
Gm F Gm
for my name was elisa day

Gm A#
from the first day i saw her i knew she was the one
Cm D
as she stared in my eyes and smiled
Gm A#
for her lips were the colour of the roses
Cm D
they grew down the river , all bloody and wild

Gm A#
when he knocked on my door and entered the room
Cm D
my trembling subsided in his sure embrace
Gm A#
he would be my first man , and with a careful hand
Cm D
he wiped the tears that ran down my face

Gm Cm Gm
they call me the wild rose
A# D
but my name was elisa day
Gm Cm Gm
why they call me it i do not know
Gm F Gm
for my name was elisa day

Gm A#
on the second day i brought her a flower
Cm D
she was more beautiful than any woman i’d seen
Gm A#
i said , ’do you know where the wild roses grow
Cm D
so sweet and scarlet and free?’

Gm A#
on the second day he came with a single rose
Cm D
he said : ’will you give me your loss and your sorrow?’
Gm A#
i nodded my head , as i layed on the bed
Cm D
if i show you the roses will you follow?

Gm Cm Gm
they call me the wild rose
A# D
but my name was elisa day
Gm Cm Gm
why they call me it i do not know
Gm F Gm
for my name was elisa day

Gm A#
on the third day he took me to the river
Cm D
he showed me the roses and we kissed
Gm A#
and the last thing i heard was a muttered word
Cm A#
as he stood smiling above me with a rock in his fist

Gm A#
on the last day i took her where the wild roses grow
Cm D
and she lay on the bank , the wind light as a thief
Gm A#
as i kissed her goodbye , i said , ’all beauty must die’
Cm D
and lent down and planted a rose between her teeth

Gm Cm Gm
they call me the wild rose
A# D
but my name was elisa day
Gm Cm Gm
why they call me it i do not know
Gm F Gm
for my name was elisa day
Gm F Gm
for my name was elisa day
Gm F Gm
for my name was elisa day

6 . the curse of millhaven ( cave )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

repeat progression for entire song

Am
i live in a town called millhaven
Dm
and it’s small and it’s mean and it’s cold
but if you come around just as the sun goes down
Am
you can watch the whole town turn to gold
G G7
it’s around about then that i used to go A – roaming
C Am
singing la la la la la la la lie
Dm Em Am
all god’s children they all gotta die

my name is loretta but i prefer lottie
i’m closing in on my fifteenth year
and if you think you have seen a pair of eyes more green
then you sure didn’t see them around here
my hair is yellow and i’m always A – combing
la la la la la la la lie
mama often told me we all got to die

you must have heard about the curse of millhaven
how last christmas bill blake’s little boy didn’t come home
they found him next week in one mile creek
his head bashed in and his pockets full of stones
well , just imagine all the wailing and moaning
la la la la la la la lie
even little billy blake’s boy , he had to die

then professor o’rye from millhaven high
found nailed to his door his prize – winning terrier
then next day the old fool brought little biko to school
and we all had to watch as he buried her
his eulogy to biko had all the tears A – flowing
la la la la la la la lie
even god’s little creatures , they have to die

our little town fell into a state of shock
a lot of people were saying things that made little sense
then the next thing you know the head of handyman joe
was found in the fountain of the mayor’s residence
foul play can really get a small town going
la la la la la la la lie
even god’s children all have to die

then , in a cruel twist of fate , old mrs colgate
was stabbed but the job was not complete
the last thing she said before the cops pronounced her dead
was , “my killer is loretta and she lives across the street!”
twenty cops burst through my door without even phoning
la la la la la la la lie
the young ones , the old ones , they all gotta die

yes , it is i , lottie . the curse of millhaven
i’ve struck horror in the heart of this town
like my eyes ain’t green and my hair ain’t yellow
it’s more like the other way around
i gotta pretty little mouth underneath all the foaming
la la la la la la la lie
sooner or later we all gotta die

since i was no bigger than a weavil they’ve been saying i was evil
that if “bad” was a boot that i’d fit it
that i’m a wicked young lady , but i’ve been trying hard lately
o fxxk it! i’m a monster! i admit it!
it makes me so mad my blood really starts A – going
la la la la la la la lie
mama always told me that we all gotta die

yeah , i drowned the blakey kid , stabbed mrs . colgate , i admit
did the handyman with his circular saw in his garden shed
but i never crucified little biko , that was two junior high school psychos
stinky bohoon and his friend with the pumpkin – sized head
i’ll sing to the lot , now you got me going
la la la la la la la lie
all god’s children have all gotta die

there were all the others , all our sisters and brothers
you assumed were accidents , best forgotten
recall the children who broke through the ice on lake tahoo?
everyone assumed the “warning” signs had followed them to the bottom
well , they’re underneath the house where i do quite a bit of stowing
la la la la la la la lie
even twenty little children , they had to die

and the fire of ’91 that razed the bella vista slum
there was the biggest shit – fight this country’s ever seen
insurance companies ruined , land lords getting sued
all cause of wee girl with a can of gasoline
those flames really roared when the wind started blowing
la la la la la la la lie
rich man , poor man , all got to die

well i confessed to all these crimes and they put me on trial
i was laughing when they took me away
off to the asylum in an old black mariah
it ain’t home , but you know , it’s fxxking better than jail
it ain’t such bad old place to have a home in
la la la la la la la lie
all god’s children they all gotta die

now i got shrinks that will not rest with their endless rorschach tests
i keep telling them they’re out to get me
they ask me if i feel remorse and i answer , “why of course!
there is so much more i could have done if they’d let me!”
so it’s rorschach and prozac and everything is groovy
singing la la la la la la la lie
all god’s children they all have to die
la la la la la la la lie
i’m happy as a lark and everything is fine
singing la la la la la la la lie
yeah , everything is groovy and everything is fine
singing la la la la la la la lie
all god’s children they gotta die

7 . the kindness of strangers ( cave )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

C Am F G

C Am
they found mary bellows cuffed to the bed
Dm G
with a rag in her mouth and a bullet in her head
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
she’d grown up hungry , she’d grown up poor
Dm G
she left her home in arkansas
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
she wanted to see the deep blue sea
Dm G
she travelled across tennessee
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
she met a man along the way
Dm G
he introduced himself as richard slade
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
poor mary thought that she might die
Dm G
when she saw the ocean for the first time
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
she checked into a cheap little place
Dm G
richard slade carried in her old suitcase
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
“i’m a good girl , sir” , she said to him
Dm G
i couldn’t possibly permit you in
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
slade tipped his hat and winked his eye
Dm G
and turned away without goodbye
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
she sat on her bed and thought of home
Dm G
with the sea breeze whistling all alone
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
in hope and loneliness she crossed the floor
Dm G
and undid the latch on her front door
F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
they found her the next day cuffed to the bed
Dm G
a rag in her mouth and a bullet in her head

F G C G
o poor mary bellows

C Am
so mothers keep your girls at home
Dm G
don’t let them journey out alone
C Am
tell them this world is full of danger
Dm G
and to shun the company of strangers
F G C G
o poor mary bellows
F G C
o poor mary bellows

8 . crow jane ( cave/Casey )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

D x4

D
crow jane
D
crow jane
G
crow jane
D
crow jane
ah huh huh

D
horrors in her head
that her tongue dare not name
she lives alone by the river
the rolling rivers of pain
G
crow jane
G
crow jane
D
crow jane
ah huh huh

D
there is one shining eye on a hard – hat
the company closed down the mine
winking on waters they came
twenty hard – hats , twenty eyes
in her clapboard shack
only six foot by five
they killed all her whiskey
and poured their pistols dry
G
crow jane
G
crow jane
D
crow jane
ah huh huh

D
seems you’ve remembered
how to sleep , how to sleep
the house dogs are in your turnips
and your yard dogs are running all over the street
G
crow jane
G
crow jane
D
crow jane
ah huh huh

D
“o mr . smith and mr . wesson
why you close up shop so late?”
“just fitted out a girl who looked like a bird
measured . 32 , . 44 , . 38
i asked that girl which road she was taking
said she was walking the road of hate
but she stopped on a coal – trolley up to the new town
population : 48”
G
crow jane
G
crow jane
D
crow jane
ah huh huh

D
your guns are drunk and smoking
they’ve followed you right back to your gate
laughing all the way back from the new town
population , now , 28
G
crow jane
G
crow jane
D
crow jane
ah hah huh

D . . . to fade

9 . omalleys bar ( cave )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Cm
i Am tall and i Am thin
of an enviable hight
and i’ve been known to be quite handsome
Fm
in a certain angle and in certain light

Cm
well i entered into o’malley’s
said , “o’malley , i have a thirst”
o’malley merely smiled at me
Fm
said “you wouldn’t be the first”

. . . repeat same progression for 14 minutes

10 . death is not the end ( dylan )
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

A A E A

A
when you’re sad and when you’re lonely
and you haven’t got a friend
E A
just remember that death is not the end

A
and all that you held sacred
falls down and does not mend
E A
just remember that death is not the end
A
not the end , not the end
E A
just remember that death is not the end

A
when you’re standing on the crossroads
that you cannot comprehend
E A
just remember that death is not the end

A
and all your dreams have vanished
and you don’t know what’s up the bend
E A
just remember that death is not the end
A
not the end , not the end
E A
just remember that death is not the end

A
when the storm clouds gather round you
and heavy rains descend
E A
just remember that death is not the end

A
and there’s no – one there to comfort you
with a helping hand to lend
E A
just remember that death is not the end
A
not the end , not the end
E A
just remember that death is not the end

D
for the tree of life is growing
A
where the spirit never dies
D
and the bright light of salvation
A E
up in dark and empty skies

A
when the cities are on fire
with the burning flesh of men
E A
just remember that death is not the end

A
when you search in vain to find
some law – abiding citizen
E E
just remember that death is not the end

A
not the end , not the end
E A
just remember that death is not the end
A
not the end , not the end
E A
just remember that death is not the end

A A E A . . to fade