For his AMA newsletter, "The Red Hand Files," Nick Cave fulfills a request today by a writer's-blocked songwriter for some spare lyrics, and offers him "Incinerator Man":
The moon holds itself in the dark with its glow
The monster moves through the garden
And waits beneath the window
I take the monster for a walk and plough on into town
My monster has a chimney sticking out of its back
I try to find a single story I can bring home
That won’t give you a flat-out heart attackTo be honest I’m not allowed back home
It’s Bethlehem there with its cribs and moping beasts
I’m either underneath the school desk braced
Or commuting between Auschwitz and outer space
I’m thinking of drinking something truly horrible
I’m a slow moving monster with a giant chimney
Sticking out of my back. Look out!
I’m coming now just like I came before!
I’m all over the place. I’m the same but more.
There never ever was any turning back
I’m coming now! I’m a full on heart attack.
Only Nick Cave knows for sure whether these lyrics were written in earnest or if it's a really well-done joke—but, really, would they sound at all out of place on Push the Sky Away? (A favorite album of mine, so don't read that as criticism.)
Cave tells the other songwriter that this song "isn't that good anyway," and gives some direction on how to prepare yourself to receive words, rather than conceive of them: worthwhile advice for every writer.
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